This season, I’m doing things a little different for the Atlantic Division Power Rankings, posting them on Monday. So where do the Buffalo Sabres rank?
The Buffalo Sabres are drawing different vibes this season. And although critics like to keep them in the doldrums, one upset win against a supposedly stronger opponent and a near-miss against an elite team shows us the Sabres are still that above-average team who can beat anyone when healthy.
That said, they won’t rank as low in the first installment of our Atlantic Division Power Rankings as you may otherwise think. But it’s also important to be realistic, so they aren’t exactly light years ahead just yet. That can change though if they get some consistency on their first road trip of the season.
Where do the Buffalo Sabres rank after Week 1?
The Senators opened their 2022-23 season with a 4-1 loss to the Buffalo Sabres. Then they lost in a closer affair to the Toronto Maple Leafs, becoming just one of seven teams to start the season 0-2. I once said the Senators may need time to adjust to their revamped lineup, and so far, that is proving to be correct.
The Canadiens deserve credit, as they scored an upset win over the Toronto Maple Leafs to kick things off. Then they reverted back to their former selves and were outscored 6-1 in their previous two affairs. It will be a long season for Montreal and it won’t surprise me if they find a permanent spot in the basement sooner than later.
The Buffalo Sabres could be in the top four right now had they completed their comeback against the Florida Panthers. But the loss showed obvious flaws in what has otherwise been a much improved team in the season’s early going.
The good news is that the Lightning are beating teams they are supposed to beat, like the Columbus Blue Jackets. The bad news? In two games against last season’s playoff teams, they have been outscored 9-3. One not so bold prediction is that Tampa will get it together, but if this keeps up early, expect a freefall in the rankings.
So much for being lauded as the Eastern Conference’s best team. The Leafs fell to Earth quickly following a season opening loss to the Montreal Canadiens. They have since bounced back with wins over the Capitals and Senators, but they have shown zero dominance in those contests.
So much for the early season injuries and a new coach. The Bruins look as though they can take on anyone right now. While I’m sure there will be speed bumps, Boston has shown early on that the ‘next man up’ mentality is working for them.
I predicted the Red Wings to struggle early, but guess what? They’re 2-0-0 and playing some convincing hockey right now. The only real bad news is that their wins came against weak opponents in Montreal and the New Jersey Devils. The good news? The blew out teams they are supposed to beat.
A new coach and a new star player would theoretically require an adjustment period, right? Not in Florida. And while the Buffalo Sabres played them well, the Panthers did what great teams do: They found a way to win the game against a surging underdog. That came after a convincing 3-1 against the New York Islanders over on Long Island.
Overall, expect these power rankings to change and change often as the season continues. Hopefully, we will see the Sabres move into the Top Four at some point in the season. If that occurs, it will further show just how far this team has come in such little time.