The Buffalo Sabres’ 2024-25 season was forgettable at best: the team finished second-to-last in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference, just ahead of the Boston Bruins with 79 points. The commencement of the 2025-26 season could have held new possibilities, but that prospect seems to have faded into oblivion. The Sabres’ first three games of the season brought three humbling defeats.
Buffalo lost 4-0 to the New York Rangers, 3-1 to the Boston Bruins, and 3-1 to the Colorado Avalanche. Not long ago, Gary Bettman expressed his faith in the Sabres and their owner, Terry Pegula, despite the team’s painfully long playoff drought. However, not everyone will agree with the NHL Commissioner, as an NHL insider had a painfully critical assessment of the team and the organization.
Buffalo Sabres’ Future Remains Shrouded in Uncertainty as Insider Offers Reality Check
Bettman had encouraging words to offer as he marked his presence at Buffalo’s season-opener.
“Team performance is something I leave to the teams, and no team enjoys having to go through a rebuilding process in a drought. But there is no doubt in my mind that Terry Pegula is dedicated to hockey, committed to hockey, committed to Buffalo, and I assure you, he is not any happier than any fan is about the fact that he’d like to see the team perform better than it has, and I know he is committed to doing it.”
Despite Bettman’s assurance and kind statements about the Sabers and the ownership, insider Chris Johnston recently shared his take on the team’s situation, which seemed firmly rooted in reality.
“Clearly, it’s a failing at many levels to get to where they’ve sort of slipped as an organization. I know it’s something the NHL isn’t too happy about.” Despite the league commissioner’s apparent faith in the team, the NHL does recognize the team’s shortcomings and may not be happy about Buffalo’s inability to devise a remedy.
Chris Johnston: Re Sabres: Clearly it’s a failing at many levels to get to where they’ve sort of slipped as an organization, I know it’s something the NHL isn’t too happy about – Chris Johnston Show (10/13)
— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) October 14, 2025
This is far from the first time analysts and insiders have discussed the issue. In a December 2024 Sportsnet article, Jason Bukala analyzed the reasons why the team consistently fell short of its true potential. According to Bukala, Buffalo has made the mistake of filling their roster with too many young players:
“The fact of the matter is the Sabres have thrust too many of their young players into the NHL before they were ready for full-time duty, and tasked them with important roles and assignments.”
Bukala also stated that Buffalo hands off too many players to the AHL for them to hone their skills, apparently, but does so without any reserve of veterans on the NHL team. “On the surface, this process could make sense if you allow the prospect enough time to work off his warts as a young pro in the AHL.
But management hasn’t acquired or signed enough veteran players to insulate and allow for the growth of their prospects, which has resulted in players making mistakes at the NHL level that should have been ironed out at the AHL level.”
Clearly, the Sabres need something extraordinary to pull them out of their current slump. Could Buffalo prove the naysayers wrong by turning the tables in the remaining season?