The 2025-26 NHL season is now upon us as the Buffalo Sabres are set to take the ice on Thursday against the New York Rangers. Once again, the focus is ending a 14-season playoff drought but unlike some past seasons, this is a roster that has enough talent to be a legitimate playoff contender.
In the offseason, they would solidify their defense by bringing back Bowen Byram with a new contract while trading for Michael Kesselring and Connor Timmins in separate deals. Among the forwards, Josh Doan was the notable addition, although the biggest change might be a healthy Josh Norris. The Sabres traded for him during last season, but he was dealing with injuries that limited him to three games.
When looking ahead to the upcoming season, these are some of the top predictions for the Buffalo Sabres.
How many points will the Buffalo Sabres finish the regular season with?
Prediction: 92 points
The Buffalo Sabres have only broken the 90 point mark once over their 14-season playoff drought when they had 91 in 2022-23. However, this season they have a great chance to finish even better and 92 points shouldn't be out of the question.
This is a prediction that fans will likely know early on if it is going to come true as the Sabres have a favorable start to the season with seven of their first 10 games at home. There are certainly winnable games early against New York Rangers, Boston Bruins, Ottawa Senators, and Detroit Red Wings.
If they are able to finish with a point percentage around .600 over the first 10 games, it will help build some momentum that can carry deeper into the regular season.
What place will the Buffalo Sabres finish in the Atlantic Division?
Prediction: 4th
One of the reasons that the Buffalo Sabres should surpass 90 points this season is due to an Atlantic Division that is much weaker than in past seasons. They have teams like the Boston Bruins, who are clearly rebuilding, and teams like the Ottawa Senators, who overachieved and will struggle to match the same production.
Even the teams at the top of the division, like the Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers, are still going to be good but won't be as dominant as they were last season. The Panthers are missing key parts of their team due to injuries to Matthew Tkachuk and Aleksander Barkov, while the Maple Leafs saw Mitch Marner depart this summer.
A weaker division should allow the Sabres to finish 4th in the division and secure one of the wild card spots this season to end their playoff drought.
Who will finish in second in points on the Buffalo Sabres after Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin?
Prediction: Josh Norris
There really isn't much question in terms of who will be leading the Buffalo Sabres in points, and the Top 2 will be Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin in some order. However, after these two there are plenty of questions as JJ Peterka, who finished third, was traded this offseason to the Utah Mammoth.
Alex Tuch certainly will be a strong contender for this spot with 59 or more points in three consecutive seasons, including 79 in the 2022-23 season. However, Josh Norris is the biggest unknown that could have the biggest impact on the Sabres' success this season.
Norris has emerged as the team's top center and has already built a connection with Tage Thompson. The talent is there but injuries have limited his time on the ice, and that is still a question for this season. However, assuming he can play over 70 games, he has a great chance to record 60 or more points with the opportunity he is in.
I believe he can do that and is one of the Sabres' most productive forwards this season.
What position could hold back the Buffalo Sabres this season?
Prediction: Goalie
The pieces are certainly all there for the Buffalo Sabres to end their playoff drought, especially with Norris, Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch among the forwards and a better defensive core with Michael Kesselring and Connor Timmins.
However, the team has one big question mark, which is at goalie and unfortunately, the question has only grown heading into the regular season. The Sabres were hoping for Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to bounce back after a down season, but he was able to play only one period of hockey this preseason after entering training camp with an injury and then suffering an injury in his first game of the season.
The Sabres will now turn to Alex Lyon to begin the season as the starting goalie, who has looked good at times in his career. If Lyon comes out and plays well, it isn't out of the question that he would remain the starter even after Luukkonen returns.
Where it will become a challenge is if he struggles and Luukkonen is not able to play at the level he did in 2023-24, then it could be another season that ends without playoffs.