Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - Hockey season is back in Western New York, but can't help feeling a bit down on the Buffalo Sabres following their disappointing start to the 2024-25 season in Prague.
Heading into the NHL Global Series, there was some promise that the team has embraced the changes brought about by new head coach Lindy Ruff, and Buffalo could get off to a better start than in years past. However, the Sabres struggled just as bad as they did to start last season under the tutelage of Don Granato.
The good news, though, is the Sabres are back home in North America, and ready to open their home portion of the schedule on Thursday night against the Los Angeles Kings at KeyBank Center.
While much of the group in Buffalo remains unchanged since the end of the 2023-24 campaign, Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams did make a few additions to the bottom-six group in an attempt to make the team harder to play against. Additions like Ryan McLeod, Sam Lafferty, Beck Malenstyn and Nicolas Aube-Kubel were intended to not only bring more of a physical presence, but also some speed and tenacity.
And, of course, the biggest change to the Sabres this past offseason has been the return of Ruff behind the bench to lead this group with the hopes of finally getting over the hump and back into the playoffs. It was Ruff who last led Buffalo to the postseason in the 2010-11 season.
Is this finally the year for Buffalo to put a run together to end their record 13-season playoff drought? Can the Sabres find a way to surpass a team atop the relatively stacked Eastern Conference and punch their ticket to late April or even May?
Let's take a look at five bold predictions for the upcoming season that may have a substantial impact for the Sabres:
1.) Thompson stays healthy, returns to form with 50 goals
Sabres center Tage Thompson dealt with a myriad of injuries over the course of his 2023-24 season in Buffalo.
Earlier in the year, Thompson broke his hand blocking a shot, and then came back too early and never really looked like the dominant force he was the season prior when he had 94 points (47+47) in 78 games played. Thompson only ended up scoring 29 goals in 71 games.
It will be imperative for Thompson to remain healthy for the Sabres throughout the course of the season. If he does, it's possible we see the 6-foot-6 behemoth get back to the torrid pace we've seen him play at in the past.
While much emphasis has been placed on the Sabres not likely feeding Thompson as much on the power play from his spot on the left faceoff circle, the 26-year-old still has that lethal shot in his arsenal that makes him a dangerous goal scorer.
If he takes to Ruff's teachings and becomes an even more complete player from the middle of the ice, it's possible we could see Thompson really taking the next step with a 50-goal season, the first since Alexander Mogilny (76) and Pat LaFontaine (53) did so in the 1992-93 season.
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2.) Kulich solidifies regular roster spot, approaches 20-goal rookie season
Over the last five seasons in the NHL, there have only been 14 players to have scored 20 or more goals as a rookie.
While Jiri Kulich currently sits as one of the extra forwards sitting in the press box, there is certainly a chance he can work his way into the lineup and become a permanent fixture, likely as a middle-six forward.
During the team's trip to Prague, Ruff said the Czech-born winger looked a little nervous and made some "young plays", but also believes he's a good player. Sure, while it may take a few games to back get on the ice and into game action, as we've seen during his playing days with the Rochester Americans, once he finds his groove, there's not much stopping Kulich.
By the end of the season, it's very possible we could see the 2022 first-round pick (28th overall) in a regular roster spot, and also a player that can be a weapon for Buffalo on the power play.
If he finds that groove and can prove to be a reliable player that can't be taken out of the lineup, that means Kulich is producing, and probably doing so in the goal scoring department.
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3.) Power scores double-digit goals, approaches 60-point mark
There's no doubt the struggles have been prevalent for Owen Power in the first three years of his NHL career, but it finally appears the 21-year-old is starting to find his stride on the Buffalo blue line.
While we only saw the defenseman in spurts this preseason and through two regular season games, Power has looked much stronger on his feet and with his shot. He's looking fluid with his thought processing, and is making the appropriate decisions when to jump up on the play versus when to be defensively responsible.
Rasmus Dahlin is still going to be relied upon as the No. 1 defenseman, but Power will grow exponentially in his third full season with the Sabres as the No. 2 guy. And if Dahlin happens to struggle with injuries or his on-ice play, Ruff should be able to rely on a guy like Power to take some of those minutes and situations (not to say Dahlin is going to lose his edge or anything of the sort).
This is finally the year we start to see what made Power the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft.
4.) Sabres go 1A-1B approach in net, advantage Levi
Back when Ryan Miller and Jhonas Enroth were manning the crease in Buffalo, Ruff said a few times they were approaching the goaltending situation with a 1A-1B approach. That usually means the two goalies in your lineup are almost splitting games right down the middle or fairly close.
That situation never truly unfolded, as Miller still ended up getting a majority of the workload as the Sabres' No. 1 goalie.
Fast forward a decade-plus later, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Devon Levi are more so in the category of going 1A-1B in the Buffalo net.
Levi started the year last year in Buffalo, and struggled early on before dealing with an injury, as well as some growing pains as a rookie goaltender. The best thing that happened to Levi over the course of the year was playing time in the AHL with the Amerks, where he shined on a regular basis.
As for Luukkonen, he started the 2023-24 season as the No. 3 goalie behind Levi and Eric Comrie, but quickly vaulted to the No. 1 spot and never looked back. The 25-year-old put up his most consistent showing in net over the course of the year, and ended up finishing as one of the better statistical goalies in the league.
While Luukkonen was able to shine in his 54 games played, Levi has really started to prove what made him such a commodity when the Sabres acquired him in the Sam Reinhart trade with the Florida Panthers. And if you don't have to put any extra pressure on one particular goaltender over the other, why not take advantage of utilizing both of them, if neither guy gets particularly hot over the other.
I'll admit, I've always been a huge believer of Levi and what he's capable of in the Sabres crease. Despite not being the large goaltender that Luukkonen is, he moves incredibly well in-and-around the crease, and has a great sense for the game and how to read plays as they develop. I think that par of his game takes another leap this season, as it appears he'll be a part of the tandem this year in Buffalo.
As long as both Luukkonen and Levi stay healthy, and both prove to be suitable options night-in and night-out, give me the slight edge in games played and other statistical categories this season to the 22-year-old.
Regardless, if Buffalo gets the goaltending again this season, all they need to do is score some goals.
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5.) Ruff corrals the troops to help Buffalo squeak into the playoffs
Yes, while the 0-2-0 start is not great, especially with the way the team looked, Ruff also started 0-2-0 a couple seasons ago with the Devils, and still led New Jersey to a 52-22-8 record and a second place finish in the Metropolitan Division.
This point has been hammered home plenty, but I'll make it again: If anyone knows what it takes to be a Sabre, it is Ruff. He knows what the logo means on the chest, what this team means to the fans of Western New York, and how much this fanbase can rally behind the team when things are going very well.
While there's still plenty of work for Ruff to get this group where he'd like them to be, if he can get the ship righted in a matter of a few games, the Sabres should be fine with the talent they have on the roster.
It's about the talent on the ice putting it all together, while understanding Ruff's message and executing. The players also need to act on what they preached after Granato was fired by holding each other accountable when things go well or when the team struggles.
If it all comes together for this group and everything starts to fall into place (even if it isn't going to be perfect), to quote the late, great Rick Jeanneret: "Here come the Buffalo Sabres!"