Buffalo Sabres: Top 3 bold predictions for the 2023 offseason

The Buffalo Sabres are heading into the 2023 offseason with more momentum than they’ve had over the past decade. Let’s make some predictions. 

With so many high hopes heading into 2023-24, making bold offseason predictions for the Buffalo Sabres isn’t as gloomy as it’s been in the past. Even last season, things looked a bit brighter, even if we weren’t anticipating a big splash or a blockbuster.

Now that general manager Kevyn Adams built a solid foundation for Buffalo thanks to his ability to stick to and trust the process, you might see a bit more excitement in the months to come. What do I believe the Sabres have in store for us? Here are three bold offseason predictions.

Top 3 predictions for the Buffalo Sabres this offseason

1 – Sabres land a high-end prospect in the 2023 Draft

If the NHL Draft Lottery had every team picking in conjunction to their final points total, the Buffalo Sabres would pick 13th. And let’s assume, for a second, they keep that pick, meaning the likelihood of them landing a Top 10 prospect just became null.

That’s not the case, however, as a high-profile defenseman falls into their lap at 13. Kevyn Adams wastes no time in snagging the pick, and everyone in the Queen City is happy to have the ‘Jiri Kulich’ of defensemen.

2 – Kevyn Adams signs a big name for the defensive rotation

Speaking of defensemen, I’m looking for Adams to start branching out a bit in his rebuilding project that’s now more than just under construction. The Buffalo Sabres have their core almost completely intact, and now the time’s come for the general manager to add a few missing pieces, and one of those pieces will be a high-profile defenseman.

Look for this player to join the Blue and Gold, and immediately line up next to Owen Power, where they will have the potential to, in time, create a Mattias Samuelsson-Rasmus Dahlin type of duo. The addition of this blueliner could wind up as the missing piece for a potential playoff run for the upcoming season.

3 – Sabres enter 2023-24 projected to finish in division’s top three

And finally, speaking of playoff runs, analysts will be expecting a lot more from the Buffalo Sabres, since the Blue and Gold made it clear this past season they’re further ahead than the Detroit Red Wings and Ottawa Senators, respectively. This time last season, it was hardly the case, as analysts seemed to favor those building through free agency and trades.

That won’t happen this season, and most in the NHL universe will be wise enough to at least project the Sabres to land a wild card spot. But you will see plenty more get even bolder and predict a top three finish in the Atlantic.