3 outrageous predictions for the Buffalo Sabres 2024-25 season

Right before the season begins, all 32 franchises’ fanbases should be more than optimistic that their team will exceed expectations and make a run at the postseason. Yep, that even includes teams whose chances to earn a playoff berth are minimal. As for the Buffalo Sabres, they can go either way, as they look like a mid-tier group on paper. 

Since Buffalo’s lineup is at least good enough to contend to end the league’s longest postseason drought ever, let’s make a few outrageous predictions that would put a few players into elite categories, along with one team statistic. 

Sabres end the year in the top five in goals allowed

Last season, the Sabres allowed 244 goals, thanks mainly to Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen’s solid play in the net. While they missed the playoffs by more than a few points, the Blue and Gold still ended the year 11th in the league in the goals allowed category. 

Now, with a better bottom six and a hard-hitting mentality due to the rehiring of head coach Lindy Ruff, the Blue and Gold are more than equipped to finish the year even better defensively. If Luukkonen takes another stride or two, and the Sabres bottom six has improved the way we know it should, this prediction may not be so outrageous. 

Tage Thompson (finally) scores 50 goals

Tage Thompson went from scoring 47 goals in 2022-23 to just 29 last season, and while he still led the team, it was an 18-goal drop-off. We also need to factor in injuries not only to Tage but to the Sabres forwards, and that hurt his production in so many ways. 

Add into the fact that the team was, for the most part, dysfunctional when in the offensive zone, Tage’s decrease in production should surprise none of us. Going back to that improved bottom six, Tage and the Sabres top six should get more chances this year, so, health willing, he’s finally transforming into the player we thought he’d be last season. 

Rasmus Dahlin finishes in the top three for the Norris Trophy

After earning a well-deserved label as team captain, Sabres blueliner Rasmus Dahlin should benefit from a better, more physical team with an upstart goaltender and his usual defensive pairing partner back from injury. Dahlin has finished in the top 15 for the Norris over the past two seasons, including an eighth-place finish when he put up a career-high 73 points two seasons ago. 

Now well into his prime and with a coach whose style should unleash the best version of him yet, nobody in the Sabres defensive rotation should improve more than Dahlin. Career highs all across the board aren’t out of the question for the face of the Sabres franchise.