Buffalo Sabres: What will make 2023-24 a successful season?

After they finished the 2022-23 season with 91 points, the Buffalo Sabres realize that heightened expectations will come in 2023-24. 

The Buffalo Sabres enjoyed a successful 2022-23 season, as most of us in the fanbase realized the playoffs weren’t going to happen. Well, for the most part of 82 games there, sans a slump in November and another one in March, the unthinkable nearly happened, and that was fun to watch.

But it only made the Sabres more successful in 2022-23, as meaningful games in March 2023 probably would have satisfied most fans. But no, the Blue and Gold kept things interesting until the New Jersey Devils eliminated them from contention following the 80th game of the season.

Now, expectations are higher. So at the absolute least, the Sabres need to make the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs for the year to be considered successful. And The Athletic’s recent survey of 1,202 fans reflects this, as 61.2% of them said the Sabres must make the playoffs while a sliver stated an improved points total would suffice.

Do the Buffalo Sabres need to accomplish more than a playoff appearance?

While an improved points total is undoubtedly needed for Buffalo to sneak their way into the playoffs, even if the Eastern Conference’s eighth-best team nabbed at least 100, there are no excuses for the Sabres in 2023-24. But there is still a cluster of fans, a good 37.7% of them from that same survey, who stated making the playoffs isn’t enough.

Their claim is that the Buffalo Sabres must win at least one playoff round, or the season is a waste. To be honest, I was shocked, because Buffalo will still be one of the league’s youngest teams again, and one with little playoff experience on the roster even if they added a blueliner or two who has been to the postseason numerous times.

Because of their youth, the Sabres only need to earn a playoff berth for 2023-24 if they want things to keep pointing north. We don’t need to get too far ahead of ourselves here, as Year 4 in this long plan often entails an appearance, and any round that they win beyond that would be a bonus.

Though I will say this: If Buffalo wins a round or two next season, then they will organically raise expectations for 2024-25. Win one playoff round? Then you better win two the following season. Win two rounds? Then you better be contending for the Stanley Cup next year. You get the point.

Source: Sabres fan survey results: Casey Mittelstadt’s future, Devon Levi’s workload and more by Matthew Fairburn, TheAthletic.com