The Buffalo Sabres looked like they were finally turning a corner when they won four times in a five-game stretch last month. Instead, the Blue and Gold have proceeded to lose six of their past seven contests to arrive in last place in the Eastern Conference.
Buffalo's 14 points (5-6-4 record) are tied for the third-fewest in the NHL, and the MoneyPuck odds already give the Sabres just a 10.4% chance of making the playoffs to end the longest postseason drought in league history.
Sara Civian of Bleacher Report isn't surprised by the Sabres' latest on-ice failures, describing the team as "frauds" in a review of all 32 teams after the 2025-26 season's first month.
"We hope you didn't let those early home games fool you into thinking this year would be different for the Sabres, who didn't do much in the offseason to make this year any different," Civian wrote.
She noted Buffalo is the only Atlantic Division club under .500 and added: "We don't know what that says about the other teams quite yet, but we know it means the Sabres are on fraud alert."
Things don't get any easier for the struggling squad as it continues a four-game road trip that still includes matchups with the Utah Mammoth, Colorado Avalanche and Detroit Red Wings.
Sabres' excuses ring hollow as Buffalo risks letting another season slip away
The Sabres have provided a variety of reasons for their recent run of poor form, ranging from an ever-growing list of injuries and unlucky finishing offensively to working hard but not catching breaks.
Is there some truth to each of those factors? Of course. Buffalo's awful injury luck has decimated its forward group and the underlying metrics suggest the team has been slightly more competitive than its current place in the standings may show.
Here's the problem: Nobody cares about the excuses.
The Sabres haven't qualified for the playoffs since 2011 in a league where half the franchises make the postseason every year. That's unacceptable and the fanbase, which is one of hockey's best despite all the losing, is tired of the front office trying to explain away the misery.
Too many injuries? General manager Kevyn Adams should have signed more depth over the summer, or he should be ultra aggressive on the early trade market right now.
Not enough finishing luck? Start driving the crease and scoring more dirty goals instead of relying on perimeter shots to go in, even if they did find the net in prior years.
No rewards for hard work? This is the NHL. Every team is working hard.
Listen, Buffalo's season isn't over despite the renewed round of criticism. Even a modest winning streak would help the Sabres start climbing back up the closely contested East standings.
As the saying goes, however, it's getting late early. The team's front office can't stand idly by and expect things will magically change. Roster moves are needed to keep the club afloat until some of its injured players begin to return.
If Adams can't manage that task, it'll be time to search for somebody who can.