Do they make the playoffs this season?

[zenthusiast]

Nice!

On a serious note, if Pegula doesn't want to relocate, what's the mechanism that allows the NHL to relocate a team? I don't know if one exists.

I think the rest of the owners would have to vote to force a sale, like with the NBA and Donald Sterling

Obviously, that’s not going to happen but they could conceivably offer a financial incentive to sell as they recently did in the desert

 

[sabremike]

What's the mechanism in the NHL to tell and owner his team is being relocated?

The owner sells to someone else after he gets tired of losing money?

 

[Der Jaeger]

The owner sells to someone else after he gets tired of losing money?

That's a Pegula thing, not a league thing. There's no forced team breakup or relocation coming.

Pegula has money coming in from other sources. He's not going to go broke because of the Sabres.

 

[Duddy]

Basically everything has to go right for this team to make it to the playoffs. Not seeing it, but would love to be wrong.

 

[zenthusiast]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1816421772230598756

 

[Dubi Doo]

There are a lot of variables at play, but if the entire team buys into the identity Ruff wants, then they'll have a real shot. I dont think we need Tage and Cozens and Tuch to all be close points wise to what they hit two seasons ago. I want them playing within Ruff's system, and making life easier on the defense.

Teams with less talent than ours have made the playoffs on a strong defensive system + good goaltending. We have a bottom 6 that should be committed to the defensive side of the game. That will do wonders. Now we need the top-6 to buy-in consistently. As Ruff said, players need to play outside their comfort zones. If that happens, we have a good shot at a WC spot.

I like our chances, so I'll say yes. It's likely going to be very close.

 

[Butt Ox]

Lord, I believe; help me overcome my unbelief.

 

[HOOats]

Yup. Us against the world (and us), f*** 'em.

 

[Mattilaus]

As others have stated, I think they will be more fun to watch, but ultimately I think they fall short. Most teams around us improved and we redecorated. Maybe the redecorating gives our guys some zing, but I bet a solid top 6 W would have given more.

 

[VaporTrail]

I said no...I don't think we have offensive depth if and when injuries occur
....Also, Cozens and Thompson still have everything to prove for a #1 and #2c....
But the big reason is I just don't see this defense as being a good shut down playoff D....Honestly I like Dahlin but after that you can put question marks on just about everyone...I'm hoping Byram can really up his game and be a top D-man...I don't have faith in Power.

 

[NotABadPeriod]

I've got them between 85-95 points. They hit the top of that range, they can snag a wild card. Bottom and they're in the lotto again.

I think the most likely finish is just a few points out.

 

[thewookie1]

Nice!

On a serious note, if Pegula doesn't want to relocate, what's the mechanism that allows the NHL to relocate a team? I don't know if one exists.

I don’t believe there is one; after all, every team is sort of a individual contractor and barring sudden death without heir or bankruptcy the league is likely not to have many avenues for this.

 

[elchud]

8th seed yes...but if Tage or Dahlin miss significant time, and/or UPL falls off, no

 

[Gras]

 

[Meichel Kane]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1816421772230598756

Yeah but they're losing to Dallas when they get there.

 

[NotABadPeriod]

Yeah but they're losing to Dallas when they get there.

Don't you put that evil on me Ricky Bobby...

 

[Dubi Doo]

I NEED to believe. This is going to be a tough year for me. I'll be ok, but a good distraction from life for a few hours every week is helpful.

The boys just need to buy in. The skill is there. They just need the mindset to get it done now.

 

[debaser66]

Too many question marks in a tough division.
Unless some luck happens I dont think they are competitive enough.

Or top 2 centers are huge question marks, they just delivered once when they missed they playoffs by 1, but since the league figured them out they werent good enough on both ends of the ice.
(plus they dealt the one guy who could substitute for their shortcomings, Mcload isnt good enough to play 1c/2c, especially given injuries)
They are better at the bottom6 but its not enough.

The D make up is still questionable.

Team is also missing an elite playmaker in their top6.
Quinn needs to stay healthy
Samuelsson& Bryam have to stay healthy.

That being said:

 

[Deep Blue Metallic]

Sadly, no.

And it's not so much what the Sabres have done so far this off-season. I really think they'll be a better team.

Will they be better than 8 other Eastern Conference teams though? My head overrules my heart.

 

[Aladyyn]

Looking at the depth charts of teams in our conference... I really do think that with good coaching we'll be right there. Not a lot of teams that look certainly better than us.

 

[TageGod]

If there is an overall positive regression from the players that cratered between the two seasons, this team is probably in. Assuming goaltending holds up.

Bet on Detroit and Ottawa missing just like always. Islanders are cooked. Washington is meh, even with their offseason.

Tampa is probably cooked too.

 

[michaelsaas]

Sadly, no.

And it's not so much what the Sabres have done so far this off-season. I really think they'll be a better team.

Will they be better than 8 other Eastern Conference teams though? My head overrules my heart.

This is closest to where I land it's a coin flip for me. My impression from last season is was the biggest hindrance. We were capable of competing with any team when we felt like it.

For the past several years my biggest complaint was team D, I think they attempted to address that this off-season.

Addressing those three things (mixed in with some bounce back years and further growth from young players) hopefully will make the difference but it won't be easy.

 

[jc17]

There has been some divisional improvement which makes it tough.

The 2 biggest things that held us back last year were

1. bad starts
2. bad PP

and both of those are hopefully improved with coaching. As it happens, as good as NJ was in 22-23, neither of those were their strengths. While UPL was solid, I noticed he got beaten cleanly on a few of the early-game goals. Maybe another area to clean up.

The bit of anxiety I have with next year's outlook comes from the fact that we did decently at 5v5. For all the talk of our new and improved 4th line, the old one had decent results and skinner did contribute there. My hope is that 5v5 will be an area we go from above average to great, but I really hope we don't take a step back with the amount of turnover, particularly early in the season

 

[michaelsaas]

There has been some divisional improvement which makes it tough.

The 2 biggest things that held us back last year were

1. bad starts
2. bad PP

According to my wife the second item also held me back last year

 

[Sabre the Win]

The teams they are competing with got better. The question is were their adds enough to put them into competition for the division? I don't think so. Were their adds enough to be the difference of a wild card? I don't think so.

This season is clearly dependent on if the kids will step up or not.

I want to believe in them but the odds are overwhelmingly stacked against them due to so many variables that need to go right.