Where will the Buffalo Sabres finish in the Atlantic in 2023-24?
Where will the Buffalo Sabres finish in the Atlantic Division this season? Here is a way-to-early prediction for the 2023-24 season.
We are almost in the middle of August but talking about hockey is always a good time. Even though the 2023-2024 regular season is still a couple of months away, it will be here before you know it. With that being said, let’s have some fun.
In this article, I am going to give you my WAY too early Atlantic Division predictions. I will be going off of the offseason and how each team the season before. Spoiler alert, I don’t think there will be much distance in between teams. As a Buffalo Sabres fan, I believe this is the hardest division in the NHL. Let’s get into it!
Where will the Buffalo Sabres finish in the Atlantic?
8. Montreal Canadiens
I see the Montreal Canadiens finishing in last place in the division. They had a rough year last year as they were going through a rebuild. However after Martin St. Louis took over, they performed much better. Looking at their offseason, they didn’t do anything that stands out to me.
They got a top five pick which turned out to be David Reinbacher in the NHL Draft. Even with the additions they made in free agency, they don’t seem to be much of a threat. Even though I have them in last place, it doesn’t mean they will be easy to face.
7. Detroit Red Wings
The two teams who finish in 6th and 7th are pretty similar. Coming in at Number 7 are the Detroit Red Wings. Going back to last year, the Red Wings were near the basement of the Atlantic. They were in the playoff race for a bit but as the season came closer to ending, Detroit fell off.
Even with the addition of Alex DeBrincat, I think it will be another tough season for the Wings. With the two first round picks they had in this years Draft, it will be another transition season for them.
6. Ottawa Senators
The only reason why I have the Ottawa Senators above the Red Wings is because I think they are a better team overall. They have a solid group of players and were not easy to play against last year. I do think they will be a solid team again but in a tough division, I’m not sure if they will crack the top five.
Their only major move was acquiring Dominik Kubalik in a trade with the Red Wings as well as signing goaltender Joonas Korpisalo. If Jakob Chychrun can stay healthy, they can be a team who makes a run for a playoff spot. They had a record of over .500 last year as well.
5. Boston Bruins
This might be a bold prediction but I have the Boston Bruins finishing fifth in the division. Yes I know they were absolutely dominant until the playoffs started but they had a very rough offseason so far at least.
Just in free agency alone, they lost Patrice Bergeron who retired. On top of that, they traded Taylor Hall and Nick Foligno. One of their trade deadline acquisitions last year Tyler Bertuzzi signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Connor Clifton signed with Buffalo but those are just a few. I know they still have two solid goalies but I’m not sure if they can have a good season like they did last year.
4. Buffalo Sabres
I expect big things from the Buffalo Sabres this season. After having one of their best seasons last year in forever, it’s very possible they can break the playoff drought. It won’t be the divisional route where you have to be in the top three but they can very well get one of the two wild card spots.
After bringing back a couple of their leaders, the Sabres improved their blue line with the additions of Clifton and Erik Johnson. They didn’t do anything else major but I think they have a good and young team. The offense was absolutely epic last year and even with a bad blue line, they were only a win away from the postseason.
The biggest question is the goaltending and defense. With what could be a three man rotation, it will be interesting to see how the blue line does.
3. Toronto Maple Leafs
As we enter the top three, I think the point differential will be small when it comes to where these next three teams finish. But I have the Toronto Maple Leafs in third place. The Maple Leafs will be the Maple Leafs. A good team that will be in the postseason.
For the first time since 2004, they finally won a playoff round last season. They will still be a good team but looking at their offseason, Tyler Bertuzzi was really the biggest addition. They got Max Domi, Ryan Reaves and Martin Jones. Like I said, they have a good team already but nothing they did in the offseason makes me think they will be in first.
2. Tampa Bay Lightning
The top two teams will be both teams in the state of Florida. With that being said, I have the Tampa Bay Lightning finishing in second. Just like the Maple Leafs, the Lightning have a scary team. But again, their offseason moves don’t get my attention that much.
Yes they will be good, yes they will be in the postseason. But with what I saw in the offseason, I think they finish in second place.
1. Florida Panthers
Last but not least, I think the Florida Panthers will be the 2023-24 Atlantic Division champions. After a slow start to the season last year, they finished in the second wild card spot and found their way representing the Eastern Conference in the Stanley Cup Finals.
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With them not making an impact in the offseason, they have a very good team already. Sergei Bobrovsky had a reborn postseason in relief of Alex Lyon and was arguably the main reason why the Panthers had the run they did.