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Major network predicts Buffalo Sabres as potential dark horse Cup winner

By Sion Fawkes

BUFFALO, NEW YORK - JANUARY 07: Victor Olofsson #71 of the Buffalo Sabres stands after scoring the game-winning goal in the overtime period of an NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild at KeyBank Center on January 07, 2023 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Joshua Bessex/Getty Images)
BUFFALO, NEW YORK - JANUARY 07: Victor Olofsson #71 of the Buffalo Sabres stands after scoring the game-winning goal in the overtime period of an NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild at KeyBank Center on January 07, 2023 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Joshua Bessex/Getty Images) /
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The media is starting to love the Buffalo Sabres, and in The Athletic’s latest predictions, the Blue and Gold are quite successful. 

While The Athletic admits these are “way too early” predictions, it’s still fun to see the Buffalo Sabres in the thick of them as opposed to what we’ve grown accustomed to over the past few years. And while the Blue and Gold aren’t favored to win the Stanley Cup in 2024, The Athletic predicted them as one of seven dark horse contenders to win it.

Buffalo finished third in the voting with 9.7% of the vote, behind the Los Angeles Kings and the Seattle Kraken. And they were tied with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Ottawa Senators, while also finishing ahead of the Calgary Flames and the St. Louis Blues.

What’s more, is that the Blue and Gold’s division rivals did not fare as well, with none finishing in the rankings to win the Cup, while only the Toronto Maple Leafs were a projected runner-up. The Boston Bruins, Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning, and the Maple Leafs were all projected to be disappointments this year, with Boston leading the votes with 41.9% and Florida clocking in at third with 12.9%.

Buffalo Sabres projected to make playoffs, potential dark horse Cup winner

The Sabres also snuck into the projected Eastern Conference playoff field as the eighth seed, winning 67.7% of the vote. They were one of five teams from the Atlantic projected to snag a spot, along with Boston, Florida, Tampa Bay, and Toronto, and they were also the only projected playoff team in the Eastern Conference that did not earn a spot the previous season.

While these are nothing more than predictions that shouldn’t be taken overtly seriously, they should nonetheless bring excitement to a fanbase that hasn’t seen a playoff appearance in 12 seasons. Projected as one of the youngest teams once more this year, if the Buffalo Sabres indeed sneak into the playoffs, it may also mark the beginning of annual trips to the postseason.

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The question from there is: Can the Sabres find a way to succeed in playing playoff hockey? We may get some preliminary insight come April 2024.

Source: Way-too-early predictions for the NHL 2023-24 season: Stanley Cup winner, dark horse, playoff field, awards, more by The Athletic Staff, TheAthletic.com

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