Playoffs or not, the Buffalo Sabres climbed another rung in 2022-23

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The Buffalo Sabres are fighting for their first playoff berth in over a decade, but even if they miss the postseason, they still showed immense progress.

As it stands, the Buffalo Sabres playoff hopes are slipping. Losers in four of their last five, and with a formidable opponent in the Dallas Stars on Thursday night, the Blue and Gold seem to be wearing down.

And it’s a story we’ve read plenty of times. The Sabres start off or enjoy a strong portion of a respective season, then drop-off. But this year, despite them threatening to do the same as the season winds down, is different than past drop-offs.

The Sabres actually have a foundation in place and a plan for long-term success that’s actually working. And as the youngest team in hockey, hardly a soul outside optimistic Buffalo fans thought they’d even be playing meaningful games at all, as short-lived as those meaningful games may be.

For the Sabres, it’s a sign of progress. And with a roster full of primarily 20-somethings, more than a few of whom are locked in with long-term deals, the future is bright, not uncertain. We got players who want to be here, and they can perform at elite levels, as we’ve seen so many times this season. Something that was hardly a thing in recent memory.

The 2022-23 Buffalo Sabres have climbed a rung regardless of the outcome

Lance Lysowski of Buffalo News was quick to point this out when he addressed the difference between Buffalo’s loss to the Islanders this season and the one they suffered exactly two years prior. Although the Isles could have easily blown out the Sabres, it was nothing compared to that fateful 5-2 loss on March 7th, 2021.

Many, and Lysowski implied it in his piece, mark that game as the catalyst for then first-year general manager Kevyn Adams dismantling what was a terrible hockey team. Ralph Krueger was fired shortly thereafter, while Adams traded the likes of Taylor Hall, Brandon Montour, and Eric Staal. Jack Eichel never suited up for the Sabres again.

Mar 7, 2023; Elmont, New York, USA; Buffalo Sabres defenseman Henri Jokiharju (10) checks New York Islanders left wing Anders Lee (27) along the boards during the third period at UBS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Schneidler-USA TODAY Sports /

State of the Buffalo Sabres

Fast forward two measly seasons, and the Sabres, with 68 points, are a better team than most would have given them credit for. Unlike the state of the franchise two seasons ago, Buffalo has pieces in place for the long haul. Among the most likely candidates, we got:

Forwards: Jeff Skinner, Tage Thompson, Alex Tuch, Dylan Cozens, Jack Quinn, Peyton Krebs, J.J. Peterka.

Jordan Greenway, Casey Mittelstadt, Zemgus Girgensons, and Tyson Jost are also names that we can’t count out. And remember, Jiri Kulich and Matt Savoie could also find their way onto the roster next season, and potentially long-term.

Defensemen: Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Power, Mattias Samuelsson.

Riley Stillman and Henri Jokiharju could easily be long-term fixtures on the third pairing, and don’t be surprised if Adams adds another young piece to the rotation in the offseason. There is also a chance Ryan Johnson signs and eventually becomes the missing link in the Top 4.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is also a strong candidate for the backup goaltending role. Once Devon Levi ends up signing, then the future at goaltender is also a bright one with a potential Levi-Luukkonen tandem.

Mar 7, 2023; Elmont, New York, USA; Buffalo Sabres defenseman Owen Power (25) shoots against New York Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson (8) during the third period at UBS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Schneidler-USA TODAY Sports /

The Sabres are a far cry from what they were

Overall, when you look at where the Buffalo Sabres are now compared to what they were following that debilitating loss on March 7th, 2021, there is no argument. The Blue and Gold are a much better hockey team today than they were two years ago.

This team’s progress has been fun to watch over the past 13 months especially. No, it hasn’t always been pretty. It won’t be for young hockey teams. But that’s beside the point.

The Sabres were the youngest team in hockey this season that few, if any analysts, predicted that would even remotely find themselves in playoff contention come March. But here they are, even if they’re hanging on by a few threads, trying to find a way into the postseason.

In March 2021, and even this time last year, the Sabres were playing little more than spoiler. So if they made such progress in two seasons, what will they look like in March 2025, with so many core players, with a few more on the way, set to be here for the long haul?

Related Story. 2022-23 playoffs have started early for Buffalo Sabres. light

Buffalo will be two years older, with two more seasons worth of chemistry built. And with teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs and Tampa Bay Lightning seemingly going all-in, along with an older Boston Bruins team, the Buffalo Sabres might just find themselves in the Atlantic’s Top 3 come 2024-25, and perhaps even sooner.

Source: Inside the Sabres: Meaningful games are a sign of progress since ‘brutal’ 2020-21 season
by Lance Lysowski

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