Predicting the Buffalo Sabres best and worst-case scenarios in 2022-23

The Buffalo Sabres can reach a point not seen since 2010-11. But they can also sink into the doldrums in 2022-23. Here are the best/worst-case scenarios. 

The Buffalo Sabres have a lot of high hopes for the 2022-23 season following a strong finish to 2021-22. While the playoffs are not likely, it is also not realistic to count the Sabres out since they finally achieved franchise stability to a certain degree.

So what can we expect from the Sabres in 2022-23? I’m going to outline a range regarding the absolute best and absolute worst scenarios, with high hopes that they lean toward the north end of the spectrum.

The best case for the 2022-23 Buffalo Sabres: A playoff appearance as a wild card

It is way too farfetched to believe the Sabres will finish the season any higher than fourth in the Atlantic Division. So in a best-case scenario, I have them finishing behind the Toronto Maple Leafs, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Florida Panthers.

In this scenario, the Sabres stay healthy all season long. They take advantage of the relative easy schedule in October and November 2022, and finish 0.500 when things get tough between December 2022 and March 2023. When April 2023 rolls around, they will finish the season the way they started, as winners.

In a best-case scenario, the Sabres can accumulate between 100 and 106 points, which will be good enough for a playoff appearance as a wild card. My most realistic guess is that they will finish toward the lower end, closer to 100 points, which judging from last season’s totals, would barely put them into the playoffs as a wild card.

The worst-case scenario for the Buffalo Sabres in 2022-23: One-year wonders plus inconsistency at goaltender

In 2021-22, the Sabres were lucky to see some decent performances, starting with defenseman Rasmus Dahlin. Jeff Skinner saw his career turn around, Tage Thompson removed the bust label, Peyton Krebs saw ice time, Victor Olofsson started taking over games, and Alex Tuch became part of the top lines.

But none of the above have strung together back-to-back decent seasons. At least in Buffalo. So what if their uptick in production was just that? A fluke, a one-year fling, or just an elite stretch of games? In this case, expect the Sabres to play as they did between November 2021 and February 2022, about the most pitiful hockey you can think of.

Further, with the Detroit Red Wings and Ottawa Senators in win-now mode, the Sabres finish seventh in the Atlantic in this scenario. Expect several season sweeps from division rivals and for a lowly finish between 58 and 64 points, which would put them in danger of falling even below the rebuilding Montreal Canadiens.

And of course, inconsistency at goaltender on top of all of this would just put the Sabres in an unbelievably bad place. With Craig Anderson showing his age often in 2021-22 and Eric Comrie having never been relied on as the guy, it is possible that the goaltending can be really bad this year.

Overall, the Sabres can sneak into the wild card in a best-case scenario, and fall back to Earth if the goaltending is spotty while key players from last season falter. Especially those who enjoyed memorable outings.