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Buffalo Sabres center Tage Thompson (Photo by Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

3 Encouraging Signs From the Sabres’ 2024-25 Season

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers | By Zach Berta | Last updated Apr 11, 2025 3:45 PM ET

The Buffalo Sabres have endured another tough season, once again falling short of expectations and set to miss the playoffs for the 14th-consecutive year. With a current record of 34-36-6 (74 points), they’re on track to finish below the .500 mark for the first time since the 2021-2022 campaign, when they ended with 75 points. From a 13-game losing streak that stretched from around Thanksgiving to a six-game skid that followed a promising seven-game winning run, the season has been a roller coaster — and not in a good way. Still, despite all the frustration and setbacks, there are a few bright spots to take away from the Sabres’ 2024-2025 season. Here are three positives worth highlighting.

Tage Thompson Is a Superstar

After a down 2023-2024—where he managed just 59 points (29 goals, 27 assists) in 71 games — Tage Thompson came into this season needing a bounce-back performance. And bounce back he did.

With significant roster turnover during the offseason, the Sabres aimed to strengthen their bottom six by adding players like Beck Malenstyn in a draft day trade, trading for Ryan McLeod from the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for top prospect Mathew Savoie, and parting ways with Jeff Skinner via a buyout. Leadership changes followed suit—Zemgus Girgensons left in free agency, and longtime captain Kyle Okposo was dealt to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers at the 2024 Trade Deadline. With those vacancies, the Sabres named Thompson an alternate captain ahead of this season—something that had been speculated and ultimately proved to be well-deserved. He’s taken on that role with confidence, serving as a steady leader both on and off the ice.

Now in the midst of his second 40-goal season—both in a Sabres sweater—Thompson has been an offensive force. He previously posted a 38-goal season in 2021-2022, and with four games left this season, he’s sitting at 44 goals and 27 assists for 71 points in 72 games. He’s just four goals shy of surpassing his career-best 47 goals from the 2022-2023 campaign, and there’s a good chance he hits that mark before season’s end.

Thompson is currently riding the hottest stretch of his career, scoring in five of his last six games—a personal best—and finding the back of the net in seven of his last eight, with 10 goals over that span. He also notched his second hat trick of the season (both against Boston) in a 6–3 win over the Bruins on April 6, marking the eighth hat trick of his career.

All in all, Thompson has been the brightest spot in an otherwise frustrating season for Buffalo and has reminded fans exactly why he’s a cornerstone of the franchise’s future.

Consistent Offensive Production Throughout the Lineup

It’s no secret that, for much of the season, the Sabres have been one of the more dangerous offensive teams in the league. They’re averaging 3.27 goals per game, good for seventh in the NHL, and have netted 179 goals at even strength—third most in the league behind only the Washington Capitals and Columbus Blue Jackets. That firepower has been spread across the lineup, with seven players hitting the 40-point mark, a 40-goal scorer, a 30-goal scorer, and three others with 20-plus goals. Jason Zucker currently sits at 19 and could easily join that club. Oh—and let’s not forget about Rasmus Dahlin, who’s once again flirting with point-per-game production from the blue line.

This offensive depth hasn’t been limited to just the top line. It’s been a full lineup effort. McLeod has stepped up in a big way, recording 19 goals and 31 assists for 50 points in 75 games. Zucker has also surpassed expectations, tallying 21 goals and 30 assists for 51 points in 68 games—a performance that earned him a fresh two-year contract extension.

The defense has been just as involved in driving the offense. Dahlin continues to deliver his usual 65–70 point pace, while Owen Power has hit career highs across the board: seven goals, 33 assists, and 40 points. Bowen Byram has also been a solid contributor, notching career highs in assists (31) and points (38).

If there’s one big takeaway for Sabres fans heading into next season, it’s that this team has finally started to click offensively—especially down the stretch. There’s real momentum building and something worth being optimistic about.

Sabres Fought Their Way Back to Near .500

Since enduring their annual early-season slump — this year, a brutal 13-game losing streak — the Sabres have quietly put together a solid stretch of hockey. Since that skid, they’ve gone 24-18-2, bringing them within two games of .500. Over a full 82-game pace, that record projects to 93 points—playoff-caliber hockey. The problem is, their start through Christmas had them near the bottom of the standings, and digging out of that kind of hole is always an uphill battle.

Missing the playoffs this season is undoubtedly a disappointment, especially with expectations higher than they’ve been in years. But the way the team has closed out the last two to three months offers real encouragement. Several key players have stepped up to help claw the Sabres back into competitive form, including Jack Quinn, who has tallied 10 points (four goals, six assists) over his last nine games.

Overall, since the calendar flipped to 2025, the Sabres have looked like a different team. In a season filled with setbacks, it’s easy to dwell on what went wrong—and there was plenty—but there are also clear signs of growth and promise. If this group can carry that momentum into next season, start strong out of the gate, and sustain it, they could finally snap their 14-season playoff drought.

It’s shaping up to be a pivotal offseason for general manager Kevyn Adams—a chance to build on the positives and fix the lingering issues. The pieces are there. Now, it’s about putting it all together.