If the Buffalo Sabres are going to make the playoffs next season, they are going to have to knock another team out that made the playoffs last season. When looking at the teams that made the playoffs from the Eastern Conference, there are a few that seem like locks.
That starts with the Florida Panthers, who have won back-to-back Stanley Cups and will be going for a third straight this season. The moves they made this offseason to essentially keep the same roster from last season put them in a great position to achieve that.
The Washington Capitals and Carolina Hurricanes are two other teams that should once again be some of the best teams in the Eastern Conference and finish in the Top 3 in the Metropolitan Division.
After these three, it gets a little murkier as the remaining teams have concerns entering the season. When looking at those remaining five playoff teams, these are three in particular that could be on the outside of the playoffs looking in, with the Buffalo Sabres being one of the new teams to make the playoffs.
New Jersey Devils
Last season, the New Jersey Devils finished third in the Metropolitan Division but were tied for the lowest point total among the playoff teams. When looking back at last season, they were lucky to even make the playoffs, as they would lose four of their last five games and only beat out the Columbus Blue Jackets by two points.
This summer, the Devils really didn't do much to improve the roster and will find themselves right on that playoff bubble. While the Sabres might not be able to take their spot directly, if a team like the Blue Jackets or Rangers improve, then Buffalo will be competing for a Wild Card with the Devils, and may cost them a back-to-back playoff trip.
Montreal Canadiens
The other playoff team that the Devils were tied with was the Montreal Canadiens, but entering this season, the Canadiens have to feel better about their chances. They made one of the bigger moves in the NHL with the trade for Noah Dobson, and he joins a young core of players for Montreal to build around with Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, and Lane Hutson.
As bright as the future looks for Montreal, they are far from being a playoff lock, and they don't have the element of surprise that they did last season. There is no question that teams won't be taking them lightly, and that can make a repeat trip to the playoffs a little tougher, and something the Sabres might be able to capitalize on.
Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators got back to the playoffs this past season after missing it for seven consecutive seasons. They made a notable improvement over the prior season, when they had only 78 points to finish the season with 97.
For the Senators to get back to the playoffs, their chances seem to hinge on a couple of former Sabres in Dylan Cozens and Linus Ullmark. The Sabres traded Cozens to Ottawa right before the trade deadline, and he had 16 points in 21 games.
As for Ullmark, he joined Ottawa before the season in a trade with Boston and was good but saw his numbers decrease slightly from the season prior to have a save percentage of .909 and a goals against average of 2.72.
The Senators had a good season but are far from being a lock and is a team that the Sabres realistically could surpass this season to take their playoff spot.