Are the Buffalo Sabres good enough to make the playoffs in 2023-24?

Mar 21, 2023; Buffalo, New York, USA; Buffalo Sabres center Tage Thompson (72) celebrates his goal during the second period against the Nashville Predators at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 21, 2023; Buffalo, New York, USA; Buffalo Sabres center Tage Thompson (72) celebrates his goal during the second period against the Nashville Predators at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
3 of 3
Buffalo Sabres goaltender Devon Levi
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 10: Devon Levi #27 of the Buffalo Sabres plays against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on April 10, 2023 in New York City. The Sabres defeated the Rangers 3-2 in the shootout. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Then they have Eric Comrie and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. Both of them can play in the NHL and have proven that.

While Comrie is the more experienced of the two, the Sabres don’t want to risk putting UPL on waivers to start the season and lose him for nothing. If Levi is the number one, the Sabres have to decide if they want to go with experience in Comrie, or see if they can keep developing UPL alongside Levi. It will be an interesting situation to watch going into training camp and the start fo the season.

The Buffalo Sabres were right on the brink of making the playoffs last season and going into the 2023-24 season, that is going to be the goal. They need to build of the success of last season and with the additions they have made, they are a better team. While there are going to be struggles, this Sabres team has the best shot of making the playoffs of any Sabres team of the past few years.

(Statistics and data provided by Hockey-Reference)