Will the Sabres take the next step in 2023-24? 

The Buffalo Sabres were oh-so-close to making the playoffs last season. With a new season upon them, the Sabres look motivated to turn the corner and become a contending team. Frank Seravalli and Tyler Yaremchuk discuss whether or not this is the year the Sabres take the next step.

Tyler Yaremchuk: Let’s take a minute to talk about the Buffalo Sabres. It feels like it’s been two or three years since people look at this Sabres team and say, “Oh, they’re ready to take a step forward,” and it just hasn’t quite materialized for them yet. They had an off-season that wasn’t incredibly busy; they shored up their blueline with Connor Clifton and Erik Johnson, but their forward group remains the same, and they’re running with a young goaltender in Devon Levi as a big part of their goaltending duo. That’s where I want to start. Is that a big gamble, or are you a believer in Devon Levi?

Frank Seravalli: Big believer in Levi. I think he’s right on the cusp of becoming a star goalie in this league. Look, it’s a huge jump from college to the NHL, and almost every goalie, even the most pedigree goalies, take a step in between to the AHL, whether it’s Carey Price or whoever it might be, they almost got some type of AHL experience. That’s okay that Levi is bypassing this step; I think he’s got the mental acuity to make it happen I think he’s got all the skill in the world. When you consider other options that the Sabres had in front of them, whether it’s UPL or Eric Comrie, I feel like Levi is a level above those guys. So when you consider that, and I love the mantra that the Sabres have put into place. They and Kevyn Adams are not going to acquire anyone who’s going to get in the way of their young players. Some might say, “Hey, this is a year you can talk about making a step, but need to make the step.” They followed that path last year and look at the huge momentum they gained. They only missed the playoffs by two points last year, and I think this Sabres team is a playoff team this year. 

Tyler Yaremchuk: I have a hard time disagreeing with that. When you look at the Eastern Conference, there are going to be more points on the board; with a team like Boston, who probably isn’t going to be a 135-point team again, I think the door is open for this Sabres team. I mean, they really just missed it last year, which is crazy, I know a lot of people were caught up down the stretch in the Florida versus Pittsburgh race; it’s kind of easy to forget Buffalo was right there. They were a 91-point team last year; this isn’t an 80-point club that needs some miraculous jump this season to get into the playoff picture. They just need to be a bit better this season, and I think they can be. I wanted to pick your brain on Tage Thompson as well, Frank. Do you think they can get 45-plus goals out of him again? That’s also a massive reason why they were able to get to 91 points. He had 47 goals, seven of them came in that crazy run with the five-goal game. Is he a legit 40-goal guy, or do we see a step back? 

Frank Seravalli: No, I think he’s a legit 40-goal guy. I think he takes a step forward and can be a 50-goal guy. I know consistency is a factor in any player scoring 50 goals, and I think maybe there were a couple of stretches last year because he did score so many goals in bunches, and maybe it left you wanting more. I think going from 48 to 48, the next step is the 52-53 range, and I can see it happening for Tage Thompson. I was thinking before about that unbelievable breakout year he had, 78 games, 38 goals two years ago and then getting that massive contract extension; I was like, “Oh, I don’t know if that bet is one that makes sense” and boy I was absolutely wrong about that. Seven years, $50 million is an absolute bargain for where Tage’s game is at. Not every development is linear, but for Thompson, there have been fits and starts, and now at age 24/25, he’s arrived and is a legitimate star bordering on superstar.

Before we move on from the Sabres, I just want to say quickly to love that Kyle Okposo is back, and you heard Okposo talk about Zemgus Girgensons and what he means. There’s a chemistry. There’s something going on with this Buffalo team; they’ve really come together, specifically under Don Granato. You get a sense that these guys like each other and want to play for each other, which I think means something. 

Tyler Yaremchuk: We didn’t touch on their blueline, but maybe a Norris season for Rasmus Dahlin and a big year for Owen Power? There’s so much to be excited about with this Sabres team.

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