Atlantic Division Power Ranking: Where did the Buffalo Sabres finish?

The Buffalo Sabres played far better this season than most expected, and it reflects their final place in the Atlantic Division Power Ranking.

The Buffalo Sabres may not have punched a ticket into the playoffs, but given their overall development goals, it was a successful season, nonetheless. Of the teams that finished in the bottom half of the standings, Buffalo was the best of the four, and you can see that reflected in the power rankings below.

So how did the Sabres fare vs. all their cousins in the Atlantic Division? Keep reading for the complete breakdown.

Where did the Buffalo Sabres finish in the Atlantic Power Ranking?

8 – Detroit Red Wings/35-27-10 (80 points)

The Red Wings were a massive disappointment this past season. Expected to be a legitimate playoff contender thanks to a series of high-profile signings and acquisitions, Detroit fizzled down the stretch and perhaps no other team in the league finished so short of expectations. Oh, and the Sabres swept them, which was ultra satisfying.

7 – Montreal Canadiens/31-45-6 (68 points)

The Montreal Canadiens may have finished with the lowest points total in the division, but with a larger looming window of success than Detroit, they get bumped up to the seventh position. Look for this team to potentially make some strides heading into 2023-24.

6 – Ottawa Senators/39-35-8 (86 points)

The Ottawa Senators are building a strong hockey team. And though they too fell short of expectations this season, they could be just one solid acquisition from giving the Sabres and the rest of the Atlantic some serious headaches.

5 – Buffalo Sabres/42-33-7 (91 points)

The Buffalo Sabres are laughing at their critics at this point, as they fell just one win shy of ending their infamous streak without a postseason appearance. Like Ottawa, Buffalo is just a piece, maybe two, away from becoming an upper-echelon team in the NHL.

4 – Florida Panthers/42-32-8 (92 points)

I saw the Florida Panthers struggling more than most anticipated given the turnover they experienced in the summer of 2022. Unfortunately for the Sabres and Company, this team might just now be brewing something big in the foreseeable future.

3 – Tampa Bay Lightning/46-30-6 (98 points)

I’m looking for the Tampa Bay Lightning to make another big run before they start to age out a bit. Not saying they will be passing the torch to anyone immediately, but you could see leaks in the foundation emerging if they don’t start acquiring more younger talent.

2 – Toronto Maple Leafs/50-21-11 (111 points)

The Toronto Maple Leafs are another team you could count on to stick around for a while. And it’s highly likely this group breaks its own infamous drought of seasons without a playoff series win in the next couple of weeks.

1 – Boston Bruins/65-12-5 (135 points)

We’ve never seen a season like the one the Boston Bruins put up this year, and it’s something we will probably not see again for quite some time. However, Boston’s sense of urgency is likely at an all-time high like Tampa’s, given the team’s sheer age.

Overall, the Buffalo Sabres were far better than advertised in 2022-23. And with the likes of Boston and Tampa potentially backsliding because of age next year, it’s realistic to believe this team will make a leap heading into 2023-24.

(Information provided by Hockey-Reference)