The Buffalo Sabres 2023-24 season wasn’t successful, and we know this given how quickly they let former head coach Don Granato go and replaced him with a familiar face in Lindy Ruff. We know Ruff seems like the only coach in recent Sabres history capable of taking this team beyond an 82-game slate, so the early returns for the 2024-25 report card look pretty good.
And no, don’t take that quip literally, as we have hopefully another 400 to 425 days before anyone writes up such a letter grade for the 2024-25 Sabres. Note that I didn’t say 365 because, with Ruff back in town, we’re all expecting playoffs next season.
But what needs to happen for Ruff to take this team to a place they haven’t been since his first stint as the Blue and Gold’s head coach? For one, general manager Kevyn Adams can’t make any major mistakes, but he’s off to a good start avoiding them. For another, he needs to take a look at just how well this team performed offensively, defensively, and on special teams this past season, then make moves accordingly.
Grading the Buffalo Sabres performance is a good place to start
Whether Kevyn Adams evaluates his team and writes up a report card for them is a mystery, and even if he did, we’re not likely to see it. So instead, this slideshow will give you a sound idea of how well (or not so well) the Sabres played in 2023-24.
This report card is not an evaluation of every player but one of an overall team performance between October 2023 and April 2024. If you watched the Blue and Gold this season, you may have an idea of what this assessment might say.
Or, if Lindy Ruff’s return has brought back your interest and you’d like to know where the Sabres currently stand, keep reading.