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Breaking! Buffalo Sabres have put the NHL on notice for 2023-24

By Sion Fawkes

Apr 14, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Buffalo Sabres goaltender Devon Levi (27) tends net during the second period against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jason Mowry-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 14, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Buffalo Sabres goaltender Devon Levi (27) tends net during the second period against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jason Mowry-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Buffalo Sabres season ends with a 42-33-7 record and 91 points, narrowly missing their first playoff berth in 12 seasons. 

Oh, if the Buffalo Sabres had just beaten either the Florida Panthers or New Jersey Devils, we’d be having a different conversation. But when you’re the youngest team in the NHL, regardless of how talented you are, you’re going to ride some waves, and sink into seemingly endless troughs.

And in the end, the Blue and Gold missed the playoffs by one point, plus a tiebreaker. But you know what, the NHL should be leery of this young team heading into next season, even the Seattle Kraken, who the Sabres for one reason or another, can’t seem to beat.

Sure, this team still has some issues to work out, just as all young teams do. Their defense, at times, was terrible. Ditto for the goaltending, which seemed to only find stability when Devon Levi jumped on board. And speaking of Levi, he had yet another spectacular performance, saving 29 of 31 shots on goal for a save percentage of 0.935.

Buffalo Sabres have put the other 31 NHL teams on notice

Their penalty kill needs some serious work. And while it improved during the final stretch of games, it remained one of the worst in the NHL. The power play was the oppostie, starting off hot, before tailing off down the stretch.

Offensively, the Sabres were one of the NHL’s hottest, having put up 296 goals on the season, good for an average of 3.6 per game, good for third in the league. Buffalo also had two forwards put up 80 points or more, with Tage Thompson leading the way with 94, and Jeff Skinner, who finished with 82.

There was also improvement all around, with Dylan Cozens enjoying a breakout season while rookies Jack Quinn and J.J. Peterka also starting to come on strong in their respective way. Casey Mittelstadt may have been the team’s most improved player, landing one point shy of 60 on the year.

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Overall, it was a season that few in NHL circles saw coming from the Buffalo Sabres. And while the playoff drought continues, the Blue and Gold have put the NHL on notice. Given this team’s sheer youth, they aren’t going away any time soon.

(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference and NHL.com)

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