Buffalo Sabres Have Hit Rock Bottom Again

This season, the Sabres have not only given up a goalie goal, but they’ve also managed to score on themselves from their own end during a delayed penalty. That sequence perfectly encapsulates their season. There are plenty of reasons why this team has underwhelmed, but it begs the question—have they finally hit rock bottom? The franchise has endured brutal lows before, particularly between 2013-15 and in 2021, but is this the worst of them all?

Sabres’ Worst Season Since 2021 Shortened Season?

This season has been nothing short of a disaster for the Sabres. From a lack of response to big hits on teammates—like Stefan Noesen’s hit on Tage Thompson—to dreadful special teams and porous team defense, it has been a nightmare. Statistically, you could argue they’re in a similar position to last season. In fact, their offense has slightly improved, averaging 3.10 goals per game (12th in the league), up from 3.00 goals per game. But one glaring issue has changed everything—the goaltending (Ukko Pekka Luukkonen) and team defense have regressed significantly.

The Sabres rank 29th in the NHL with a brutal 3.54 goals-against average (GAA), a sharp decline from last season’s 2.97 GAA. While 2.97 wasn’t elite, it was far better than the defensive disaster unfolding now. It doesn’t matter how many goals you score—if you can’t keep the puck out of your own net, you’re destined to be a bottom-five team.

What makes this season feel eerily similar—if not worse—than 2021 is the hope factor. Heading into that 2021 season, expectations were relatively high. The team signed Taylor Hall in free agency, and Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart were poised to build on strong 2019-20 campaigns. But everything quickly unraveled. Injuries, COVID-19 disruptions, poor play, and internal dysfunction led to a disastrous season. At least that season, fans could cling to the silver lining of landing the first overall pick, which ultimately became Owen Power.

By midseason in 2021, fans and media had accepted the reality that Buffalo would finish at the bottom and secure the draft’s first overall pick. The difference now? The Sabres should be further along. They have a 40-goal scorer in Thompson and two potential No. 1 defensemen in Power and Bowen Byram, yet they’ve taken a massive step backward. In 2021, they still had Reinhart playing at a career-best level and Eichel, who started well before cooling off and ultimately suffering a neck injury against the New York Islanders. That injury led to a messy fallout with the organization, culminating in his trade to the Vegas Golden Knights months later. Fast-forward, and Eichel is now a top player in the league—and a Stanley Cup champion.

The 2024-25 Sabres weren’t supposed to be this bad. Yet, here they are, once again among the league’s worst, with no clear way forward.

Sabres Have No Hope This Season

This season feels different—and not in a good way. The Sabres are bad enough to be nowhere near playoff contention, yet not bad enough to have a real shot at landing the first overall pick. As things stand, they have the highest odds (about 44%) of securing the fifth overall selection in the 2025 NHL Draft, which could land them a player like Porter Martone. While that would be a great pick, the Sabres are in no position to wait on another prospect to develop—even if they end up drafting in the top five.

At this point, the only thing that matters is making the playoffs. It doesn’t even matter if they get swept in the first round; breaking the drought would be a victory in itself. But instead, year after year, they find themselves near the bottom of the standings. That cycle has to end next season.

If there’s any silver lining, it’s the strong play of a few key players. Thompson, J.J. Peterka, Dahlin, Ryan McLeod, and Jason Zucker have been consistent contributors. Beyond that, though, the team has been largely underwhelming. In a last-ditch effort to spark something, Buffalo moved Dylan Cozens to the Ottawa Senators at the trade deadline in exchange for Josh Norris. It seemed to work—for about a week.

Looking at this roster, it doesn’t feel like they should be this bad, which is why I’m leaning toward the idea of trading their first-round pick for a legitimate top-line winger or center. It might seem like a stretch, but at some point, they need to take a swing and accelerate this process.

Should the Sabres move their first-round pick in this year’s draft? Let me know your thoughts!