Fourteen seasons without making the playoffs seeps into the minds of the fans, and applies more pressure on the players to perform at higher levels. It forces the front office to make hard decisions on how to move forward. The dawn of negativity from the outside shouldn’t deflect the hard work the Sabres put on the ice this season, as the team in the final two months of the season showed up just a little too late.
Tage Thompson is the leader of the offensive core
Tage Thompson rifled home his second 40 goal season in the last three years for the Blue and Gold, leading him to second among US born players with 120 goals since the 22-23 season. Thompson’s ability to drive the net and quick on his feet allows him to move off defenders with ease, and create havoc in front of the night. With his 6’6” frame and his Ovi powered shot, he’s able to rifle shots into the back of the net with power and accuracy.
Thompson showed that once again this season leading the league in even strength goals with 37. Thompson’s 44 goals this season was the fourth most in the NHL sitting behind guys like Ovechkin, Nylander and Draisaitl. Thompson would say he wouldn’t score those goals without his teammates.
Thompson improved his individual game from last season, as the Arizona native had a significant growth in his shooting % . Thompson shot the puck 6.5% more in 24-25 than he did in the previous season. Thompson is a larger piece to solving the goal scoring issues on the Sabres, as he is the cornerstone to Buffalo’s offense. Thompson recently accepted team USA's invitation to join the squad in Sweden next month for the IIHF World Championship.
Goal scoring is improving
Buffalo goal scoring has been super inconsistent all season. On a good night, Buffalo scored with the best in the league. Other nights, rookie goaltenders would make the Sabres look like one of the worst offenses in the league. Scoring goals with consistency is a big step forward in the growing process for a young team. JJ Peterka, in his third full season in the NHL, has shown massive jumps in his game offensively.
Jumping from a third line winger to now a lock for Lindy Ruff on the top line. Peterka’s shooting a lot and it’s showing. Peterka has seen a 6.1% increase in his shot percentage since his rookie season. With his growth from last season to 24-25 season, he is shooting the puck 3.2% more than he did in the previous year earning him his second straight 20 goal seasons, and an 18-point jump from the prior season.
Peterka's numbers should only continue to climb each season, hopefully leading him to becoming a consistent 30 goal scorer for the Sabres. Alex Tuch also saw significant jumps in his numbers in his age 29 season.
Tuch had a 14-goal jump from a lousy season in the goal collum in 23-24. The jump can also connect with shooting the puck more, as Tuch shot the puck at a 18.3% clip this season. More shots on the net always will lead to more goals for the Sabres offense. Buffalo averaged 3.4 goals per game in the final two months of the regular season. If Buffalo can carry this kind of offense on a consistent level next season, Buffalo will be a playoff team.
Owen Power is the Sabres Number Two defenseman
Entering this season, the Sabres pushed Owen Power to become a better defenseman in all aspects of his game. The former first overall pick did just that for the Sabres this season. Power can be one of the best offensive defensemen in the league if he puts in the work.
Coming out of college, Power could be the point guard of the power play, and with his slick passing ability he’s able to put the puck in high danger areas for scoring opportunities. Offense being generated from the back end of the team is always a plus to have. If you remember the Nashville Stanley Cup run, Nashville had one of one the highest scoring defenses.
The Michigan alum had 34 even strength points this season ranking him 17th among NHL defensemen. When Power entered the offensive zone, he shot the puck more this season. He had 299 shot attempts up 73 from the previous season. One area Power needs to add to his game is physicality, at his size Buffalo can’t have him tallying 24 hits in a season when Dahlin totals 101. When Power can add that to his game, he will be on his way to becoming one of the best in the game.