The Buffalo Sabres have young talent all over the ice. And that means there is a possibility for some mind-blowing statistical improvements.
September is always a fun month if you are an NHL fan because it is the time of year where we can make outrageous and bold predictions. Of course, these projections often fizzle as the season wears on, but it doesn’t mean we can’t have some fun and make some mind-blowing claims for the Buffalo Sabres.
These projections are based on numbers either the Sabres or specific players put up over the last two seasons. The projection comes from the overall statistical improvement from 2020-21 to 2021-22 if that vast improvement remains equal for 2022-23. So if a player scored 0.17 points per game in 2020-21, then 0.34 per game in 2021-22, the mind-blowing projection would stand at 0.51 points per game.
As you can see, we will get some outrageous numbers here that probably won’t hold. But nonetheless, they are worth exploring, so let’s get to the three most interesting numbers.
Mind-blowing statistical projections for the Buffalo Sabres: Projection #1 – Points Per Game
In 2020-21, the Buffalo Sabres accumulated a paltry 0.667 points per game before they improved to 0.914 in 2021-22, good for 75 points. If they improve at the same pace for 2022-23, their overall points projection would stand at 95 points, two short of my 97-point projection when I predicted each game of the Sabres season in August. This also equals 1.161 points per game.
How realistic is it that the Sabres will tally 95 points in 2022-23? Well, if they play anywhere near like they did in March and April 2022, then the odds are pretty good. Over that 28-game stretch, the Sabres would have averaged 106 points over an 82-game span, but this was a healthy Sabres team that had just entered its second full calendar year with Don Granato in mid-March.
While it is more realistic to expect something in the 80 to 90-point range, don’t be surprised if this mind-blowing projection comes true. Unfortunately, it won’t be enough for a playoff berth, but who cares? 95 points would be a massive step in the right direction.