The Buffalo Sabres had a marvelous 2025-26 season, and there is a growing feeling that this franchise might be in the right window for some sustained success. But that feeling of positivity doesn't come without a touch of doubt and worry.
Let's go over some of the biggest things to worry about for the 2026-27 season that could potentially sink the momentum gained from the drought-breaking playoff appearance.
Replacing the production of Alex Tuch and Bowen Byram
This summer, the Sabres lost two very big parts of their identity. Bowen Byram was traded to Chicago for the fourth overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, which used to select defenseman Daxon Rudolph. Alex Tuch was moved as well to Washington in a sign-and-trade deal.
For the 2026-27 season, those are two giant holes to fill on the offensive and defensive sides of the ice, and that could spell danger. Both Rasmus Dahlin and Tage Thompson will have to really have an uptick in production to try and have a peck at what they lost in Tuch and Byram.
That departed duo combined for 108 points (44 goals and 64 assists) in 2025-26.
Higher expectations, along with a better Atlantic Division
With the 14-year playoff drought dead and buried, a new set of expectations has been bestowed upon this team. Now, the expectation is that the Sabres will be playing more than 84 games next season, and that they will make it even further than the second round.
Looking at the Atlantic Division, it looks like the landscape is going to shift a little bit. The Toronto Maple Leafs got the first overall selection and used it on a franchise player in Gavin McKenna, which nearly puts them back into the fold. Auston Matthews is going to have two fantastic wingers alongside him to really catapult him back into the elite class of the NHL.
Then the Florida Panthers went all-in this summer with Brady Tkachuk joining his brother Matthew. Picture them as being back as a playoff team next season, if things go according to plan.
All in all, that is now two teams that did not make the postseason last season that are near-ringers to get in at the end of the 2026-27 campaign. The Sabres have a lot of ground to cover with two big losses in personnel, and new teams to worry about are not ideal when the division already sent five clubs to the postseason just a few months ago.
False identity?
Time and time again, we see hockey teams have one-hit wonder seasons. The New York Rangers went from Presidents' Trophy winners in 2023-24 to now being in a complete retool after two missed postseasons. Are the Sabres the next team to fall victim to a sense of false identity?
This roster is going to be competitive, and expect head coach Lindy Ruff to really motivate this group if times get a bit tough. Plus, with the Stanley Cup window being "open," general manager Jarmo Kekäläinen will be utilizing the trade deadline to bring in whatever he can to give this team a legitimate shot at back-to-back playoff appearances.
The Sabres are going to have an interesting 2026-27 season, and it should be a positive one. But, you cannot deny that there are a lot more warning signs then initially expected when the season ended back on May 18.
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