The Buffalo Sabres don't appear to be breaking any playoff droughts this season. But you can't deny that they have quite a few cornerstones within the franchise at both forward and on the blue line.
And those cornerstones are capable of putting up big numbers in any given season. They did it before, and now that they're seasoned veterans in the thick of their primes, look for them to elevate not only their game but those young players they take the ice with.
The result? An uptick in points and career highs that could lead to an unexpected playoff berth. How high can they go? It's time to get bold.
Tage Thompson finally hits 100 points
Somebody on this team must make up for JJ Peterka's absence following his trade to Utah. And while Zach Benson and Jiri Kulich will take some steps forward, Tage Thompson's the kind of player who can pick a team up offensively and carry them.
Last season, Tage put up 44 goals and an 18.2 shooting percentage, but when he takes it up another gear this season out of necessity, he's a shoo-in for a 50-goal, 50-assist year. And if you don't think that's possible, just remember, Tage snagged 47 goals and 47 assists in 2022-23.
Rasmus Dahlin finishes in the top three for the Norris
Rasmus Dahlin just missed the top five last season when he finished sixth for the Norris Trophy after a 17-goal, 68-point season. Now in his age-25 campaign, Dahlin is in his prime years, and he's put up between 13 and 20 goals every year starting in 2021-22, plus between 53 and 73 points.
This season, he'll be dishing the puck up the slot often to Thompson, accounting for some of those 50 goals predicted in the earlier section. That effort will lead to a 60-assist season, since Dahlin will also help Benson and Kulich in their respective breakout campaigns. Add another 20 goals for Dahlin, and you're looking at his first 80-point year.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen reclaims his 2023-24 form
What version of Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will show up this season? In 2022-23 and 2024-25, Luukkonen looked like a player who had no business being a No. 1 goaltender, with a save percentage of 0.891 and 0.887, respectively, to go with a 3.69 and 3.20 GAA.
In 2023-24, Luukkonen looked like a brewing star, with a 0.910 save percentage, a 2.57 GAA, and five shutouts. While five shutouts may be a stretch, Luukkonen is more than capable of putting up his best save percentage and GAA this season, especially with Michael Kesselring and Conor Timmins joining the blue line.
Overall, Tage is the cornerstone you want on this Sabres team if you need a high-octane scorer to pick up the slack for a player now playing elsewhere. Meanwhile, Dahlin has quietly established himself among the league's best defensemen, and he's also in the stage of his career where he can elevate those around him, especially the youngsters. And finally, Luukkonnen may have more help than he's had at any other point in his career, which will lead to a rebound.