The 2023-24 Buffalo Sabres season is a perfect example of regression
A multitude of issues have caused the Buffalo Sabres to regress in 2023-24,..
Well, it's safe to say the Blue and Gold have underachieved this season. After having one of their best seasons in a long time and missing the playoffs by only one point, the Buffalo Sabres have taken a huge step back this year.
As we turn the page to 2024, the season has not been a good one. It's been very rare to see Buffalo going on a winning streak. One thing that's been consistent is that the team was very inconsistent throughout the first three months of the season.
They would win a game then lose the next one, or win a game and then go on a mini losing streak. While there is time to turn it around, the 2023-24 Buffalo Sabres are the perfect example of a team regressing. I hate to label them as regressing after the high hopes I had but unfortunately, it's the truth.
Buffalo Sabres have dramatically regressed so far in 2023-24
The truth can sometimes hurt but they are the complete opposite of the team we saw last year. There are many examples of how the team regressed. First and foremost, the power play is the biggest example of regression.
Buffalo's man advantage, which was a top ten power play unit last year, sits 28th best in the NHL at 12.8%. It has been an utter disappointment. Assistant coach Matt Ellis deserves part of the blame as he runs it but at the end of the day, the players need to execute.
There are times where I wish you could decline a power play because Buffalo has been AWFUL during them. The strategy of passing the puck multiple times or not gaining entry is very frustrating and it baffles me that they are that bad. There are a couple of examples of the Sabres going 0/6 or 0/4 on the power play.
Buffalo's core players are struggling
Another example of regression is their core players not putting up good numbers. Guys like Alex Tuch and Dylan Cozens are not racking up goals as expected. At this current moment, Cozens has six goals and 14 assists for 20 points in 36 games played after signing a huge contract extension with Buffalo.
As for Tuch, he scored nine goals and registered 15 assists for 24 points in 31 games played. Obviously they are not the only ones who are not producing but the point is the top guys are not helping the cause and have also taken a step back like the team itself.
The defense and goaltending have not been the best either. Despite signing Connor Clifton and Erik Johnson in free agency, the blue line is still a nightmare for the Sabres. As for the goaltending, the three-man rotation didn't work out as Eric Comrie was placed on waivers with Devon Levi and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen being the two guys between the pipes.
The buck stops with Adams, Granato
It's as if not acquiring a PROVEN goaltender for your two young goalies wasn't the best decision. At the end of the day, both Don Granato and Kevyn Adams need some blame as well for the regression. After what seemed to be a hopeful offseason turned out to be a complete dud.
Whatever Granato is doing is clearly not working and Adams not doing enough in the offseason is coming back to get them. At the end of the day, both the team and management deserve the blame. It is basically the same team from last year and from watching them this season, they look like a rebuilding team which fans know all too well about.
While they still have four more months to turn it around, the Buffalo Sabres have regressed and something needs to change if they hope to turn it around before it's too late.
(Information provided by Hockey-Reference)
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