Buffalo Sabres rivals get harsh treatment in these NHL predictions

While I’m not a huge fan of The Athletic, their latest round of predictions are some that Buffalo Sabres fans would love to see. 

The Athletic has not been kind to the Buffalo Sabres, despite the team proving they could win consistently with the guys they got in March and April 2022. It was a healthy Sabres team that kept fans on the edge of their seats most of the time, and more often than not, they won games.

Yet, The Athletic predicted them as one of three teams to have 0.0% of making the playoffs. And while I won’t deny the Sabres, at best, have a slim chance at even snagging a wild card, this team is one year better and one year more experienced. Even the goaltending situation, which remains bleak, is better than it was heading into 2021-22.

But that doesn’t mean there aren’t a few predictions from The Athletic that Sabres fans would love to see emerge into reality. Many that involve division rivals and others that involve a new inter-conference rival.

Buffalo Sabres fans would love to see these actually happen

First are the Stanley Cup odds, where the Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs find themselves in the top nine. Each team, however, pale in comparison to the Colorado Avalanche and Carolina Hurricanes, who both have a 28.2% chance to win it all.

The Panthers sit at just 7.7% while the Maple Leafs clock in at a measly 5.1%, ahead of only the Pittsburgh Penguins and St. Louis Blues. As for the biggest projected disappointment, Sabres fans will love this one: The Panthers, Vegas Golden Knights, and Maple Leafs hold the top three spots. 

The Athletic is giving the Panthers a whopping 28.5% chance of being the biggest disappointment in the league this year, while 17.9% of the vote goes to Vegas. The Maple Leafs hold a 10.3% chance, tied for third with the Washington Capitals.

Predicting the first coach fired, D.J. Smith of the Ottawa Senators does not fare so well, holding a 17.9% chance. He sits behind only Seattle Kraken coach Dave Hakstol (25.6%). Sheldon Keefs of the Toronto Maple Leafs is fifth, with a 10.3% chance.

Granted, most fans of the Sabres do not like what The Athletic, EA Sports, and other outlets have said about their team. But there may be a few predictions fans can be appreciative of and hope for. Those projections listed above are great places to begin.

Article Source: NHL 2022-23 season predictions: Stanley Cup winner, dark horse, biggest disappointment and full playoff fields by The Athletic NHL Staff