Playoffs or not, Buffalo Sabres fans will enjoy a postseason
The Buffalo Sabres have a slimmer than slim chance to make the playoffs, but the Rochester Americans could be singing a different tune.
If the Buffalo Sabres lose to the New York Rangers tonight, their playoff hopes, even if they aren’t mathematically over, have pretty much sunk down the drain. But you can’t say the same for the Rochester Americans, who at the time of this writing, have 70 points and are just one point away from surpassing the Utica Comets for second place in the North Division.
Even if the Amerks don’t finish in second, chances are, they will snag a spot in the Calder Cup Playoffs, and fans will get an extended look at the likes of Jiri Kulich, Lukas Rousek, Brandon Biro, and Brett Murray, among others. You could see all four names in Buffalo next season in some capacity, depending on what general manager Kevyn Adams decides to do.
Buffalo Sabres fans have a reason to tune into a playoff
Each of the prospects listed above should bring excitement to fans, especially Kulich. When the Sabres traded Sam Reinhart in 2021, no one could have predicted that they not only landed a potential franchise goaltender, but also what might be one of the 2022 NHL Draft’s top players – at 28th overall.
We already got a taste of what Rousek can do in the NHL in his first game, and you can expect many more outings like that in the coming seasons. Biro is another one to watch. Though he’s struggled with injuries, he still leads the Amerks in points per game and is second on the team overall, behind only Rousek.
Finally, there’s Murray, who could find himself playing for the Sabres in a part-time role next season. Murray is third on the team in points with 43 in 63 outings, but his physicality could find him a long-term role in the NHL.
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Overall, just because the Sabres will likely miss the playoffs (again), the season shouldn’t end for the fanbase. Barring some unforeseen collapse, the Amerks won’t just be in the playoffs; they also have several players that could be wearing a blue and gold uniform next season.
(Statistics provided by theAHL.com)