Is it okay for fans to feel CAUTIOUSLY optimistic about the Buffalo Sabres?

We are less than a week away from the Buffalo Sabres kicking off their 2024/2025 regular season overseas in Czechia. In terms of the preseason, the Sabres have yet to lose a game. Buffalo face the Columbus Blue Jackets tonight, so that streak could come to an end. However, the players who are locks to make the team have only played two games.

With Buffalo starting their season earlier than other teams as they will face the New Jersey Devils next weekend in Czechia, they had to ramp players up. For the rest of the preseason, it will be players battling to make the roster as well as players who will be in the AHL and/or in the juniors. As I just mentioned, the starters have played two games and are done until next Friday when their season starts.

In the games that the starters have played, they were against the Pittsburgh Penguins AHL players for the most part and Red Bull in Germany. With that being said, it is okay for fans to feel somewhat confident in the team this season? I have to be honest with you, I have a feeling this team will surprise people this year.

I want to emphasize that it's only preseason and the team has not faced an actual NHL roster. But for some reason, I feel like they will have a similar season like they had in 2022/2023 where they missed the playoffs by one pont.

A month or two ago, I wrote an article on how I wasn't sure how to feel about the team. Even though the opposition has mostly been AHL players, they have looked good. Now it doesn't matter at the end of the day since the games don't count, but I am looking forward to seeing what they can do.

So yes, it is fair for fans to be cautiously optimistic about the Sabres this season. It feels like the majority of the fanbase thinks it will be a bad season which is understandable. Until this team learns how to win and make the playoffs, there will be doubts and not a lot of optimism. We will find out once October 4th is here but I'm excited to see what Buffalo can do under Lindy Ruff.