Buffalo Sabres division rivals’ 2023 offseasons Part I: Florida vulnerable?
By Sion Fawkes
The Buffalo Sabres were much improved in 2022-23, and they added sensible pieces to their lineup. But what about their seven division rivals?
Welcome to Part I of a seven-part series where I will make an honest analysis of the Buffalo Sabres Atlantic Division rivals, starting with the Florida Panthers. Before we dive in, here is how we are going to conduct this series: For the next seven weekdays, we will break down each Atlantic Division team’s respective offseason, and how they could fare with their respective key players gained and lost.
Depending on where each team finished in the playoffs is the order in which we will discuss them, so naturally, Florida is Lucky #1, followed by the Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins, then the Tampa Bay Lightning. We’ll follow up with the Ottawa Senators, then finish with the Detroit Red Wings, and Montreal Canadiens.
Now that you have a quick rundown on how we’re concocting this series, let’s explore the Florida Panthers, and the overall state of their team heading into 2023-24.
Breaking down the Buffalo Sabres division rivals – Florida Panthers
Florida only lost three key players in Radko Gudas, Anthony Duclair, and Alex Lyon, the latter of whom the Sabres may see when they face the Detroit Red Wings. One thing to remember about the Panthers is that, not only did they lose a trio of good players, and yes, even Lyon had a good season, but Florida could also enter the season banged up.
Matthew Tkachuk had a fractured sternum, while Brandon Montour and Aaron Ekblad both had offseason shoulder surgery, and the jury remains out on their respective statuses. If the trio isn’t ready to return by the beginning of the season, it could put them behind the eight-ball early. However, by the time the Sabres face the Panthers for the first time on February 15th, Florida won’t just have them back; they will also be playing with a sense of urgency.
Buffalo will also only play the reigning Eastern Conference Champions just three times, unless the two teams eventually meet in what could be an epic playoff battle between Tkachuk and Company and Rasmus Dahlin and Company.