This story is powered by Betalytics — the intelligent platform for sports betting — and by Rude Hockey apparel.
The Buffalo Sabres are coming off a season that dramatically changed the direction of the organization.
In early December, the club seemed destined to extend an unprecedented fourteen-year playoff absence and found itself at the bottom of the National Hockey League’s Eastern Conference standings.
On a West Coast road trip beginning on December 8th, the team’s fortunes changed. They strung together multiple lengthy winning streaks and captured the top spot in the highly competitive Atlantic Division.
In the postseason, the Sabres won their first-round matchup with Boston and were one goal away from reaching the Eastern Conference Finals.
The fan base is energized once again, and now the question is what the 2026-27 Sabres will be able to do for an encore.
The club’s top winger, Alex Tuch, left for Washington in free agency, and one of the core members of Buffalo’s blueline, Bowen Byram, declined to sign a contract extension and was moved to the Blackhawks.
Although the defensive additions of Olen Zellweger and Louis Crevier will provide options, replacing the speed and offensive ability delivered by Byram is by no means a certainty on the current roster.
Upfront, the Sabres will be looking to young forwards Juri Kulich, Noah Ostlund and Konsta Helenius to replace the thirty-three goals lost with Tuch’s exit.
In addition to the loss of Tuch’s contributions at even strength, Buffalo will have to move forward without its two best penalty killers in Tuch and Jordan Greenway.
The Atlantic was the best division in the NHL last season and appears poised to continue that level of play in the fall.
A healthy Florida Panthers team will make the Atlantic battle for crucial points even more daunting.
The Sabres will need to get off to a strong start to avoid falling behind in what is sure to be a tight postseason race.
If no further lineup changes are in the offing, a return to the playoffs is by no means a given in Buffalo.
A fallback season would be difficult foaccept given what the 25-26 edition of the Sabres was able to accomplish.
Follow Dave on X @DaveNHL, Facebook at [email protected] & [email protected]
Home › Forums › Sabres Will Be In Tough In Atlantic
Tagged: Buffalo Sabres, nhl