The Buffalo Sabres played well enough that they redefined the word ‘bold’ for at least the foreseeable future. But we’re getting bold anyway.
The Buffalo Sabres have earned the right for fans to start making bold predictions on their behalf. This team showed us this past season that they are more than capable of making a playoff run, and you can only call 2023-24 a success if the Blue and Gold end up playing meaningful games in the back half of April. Translation, they must make the playoffs.
So what can you expect from the Sabres next year? Right now, anything is possible, but if I were to get bold, I would make the following projections.
Way too early predictions for the 2023-24 Buffalo Sabres
1 – Sabres get younger….and better
While there will be talks about Kyle Okposo and Zemgus Girgensons returning next season, odds are, the Buffalo Sabres will keep just one of them. Victor Olofsson is also the likeliest Sabre for general manager Kevyn Adams to move, so don’t be surprised if you see Jiri Kulich, Matt Savoie, or both players on the roster come October.
Further, Lukas Rousek played in two games, and in both outings, he more than looked like he belonged. Finally, with Craig Anderson retiring, it will significantly bring down this team’s average age. Vinnie Hinostroza, another older skater on a younger team, is also slated to leave.
2 – Devon Levi wins the Calder Trophy…and it’s not even close
Yeah, yeah, I know all about Connor Bedard. But not only will Levi shut out Bedard next season, he’s also going to receive twice as many first place votes, and easily defeat him for the Calder Trophy after the 2023-24 season concludes.
While Levi has only seven games of NHL experience, he played exceptionally for the greater part of those contests, snagging a 0.905 save percentage, a 2.94 GAA, and although I’m not one to prioritize them, a 5-2 record. And this came with no repetitions whatsoever in the AHL. He’s winning the Calder next year, hands down.
3 – Sabres snag a top three finish in the Atlantic
I’m going to get irrationally bold here: The Boston Bruins are going to collapse in 2023-24, and they will be equivalent to what the Los Angeles Rams were in the NFL this past season. Further, I also see the Tampa Bay Lightning regressing, while the blockbuster-laden Detroit Red Wings and Ottawa Senators remain mired in mediocrity.
The Buffalo Sabres and Florida Panthers will rise, and fight it out with the Toronto Maple Leafs for the Atlantic Division crown. While I won’t be so irrational as to project the Blue and Gold to win the Atlantic, I’m looking for them, at this point, to take third in the division, setting the stage for a playoff meeting against the Panthers.
(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)