The Atlantic Division is shaping up to be a competitive division. Where do the Buffalo Sabres finish in the division? Here is a bold prediction.
As crazy as it sounds, the Atlantic Division could very well be the best division in the NHL. So, the Buffalo Sabres have a challenge ahead of them. It begs the question: Where will the Sabres finish within the division? Obviously breaking the playoff drought is more important but it’s a good thing to wonder about.
Before we talk about the Sabres, let’s talk about the division itself. Obviously the top three teams are the Tampa Bay Lightning, Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs. I think it’s fair to say those three teams will finish in the top three in the division. After that, it gets interesting.
Could the Buffalo Sabres end up as the fourth-best team in the Atlantic Division in 2022-23?
One team that is having a sneaky good offseason is the Ottawa Senators. With the addition of Alex DeBrincat, they could be fighting alongside with the Sabres. The Montreal Canadiens are a mystery team as well as the Detroit Red Wings. Lastly, the Boston Bruins are a wild card. With multiple players out to start the season, it will be interesting to see what happen with them.
Okay, back to the Sabres. Buffalo finished in 5th place last year. I expect them to be a little bit better this season. Will they be a playoff team? That is to be determined. However, I predict that they will be battling it out with Boston and Ottawa for a wild card spot.
A few years ago, the Bruins were in the Stanley Cup Final. Now, they are trying to figure out their future. Patrice Bergeron will probably come back but he’ll be out of the league in a couple of years. David Pastrnak’s future with them is up in the air and Brad Marchand is still a good player but he isn’t getting any younger.
Just like Buffalo, the Red Wings had a better year than most people expected. I think the Sabres will finish 5th in the division once again, MAYBE 4th. It won’t be easy but I can see them fighting for a wild card spot with Boston within the division. If fans saw what they saw last year but improving on that this season, then it’s a possibility.