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The 2024-2025 Buffalo Sabres season is one that fans will want to forget. The result: a 14th straight year of missing the playoffs. General manager Kevyn Adams announced last summer the team was in “win mode now.” They finished with 79 regular season points and a 36-39-7 record. Their worst finish in the past three seasons. The team placed 7th in the Atlantic division and 14th in the Eastern Conference. A far stretch from the playoffs, and far from restoring hope into a now heartbroken fanbase. Although the season went far from expected, it wasn’t a complete waste for the team. Some things went well, others did not. In this article, we’ll break down the good things that happened for the Sabres in 2024-2025.
What Went Right
Established Superstars
Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin have officially made their case to be NHL superstars. Tage Thompson finished the season with 44 goals on the season. This year is the second time in his career he surpassed the 40 goal mark. He’ll finish the season with 72 points in 75 games played, just shy of a point per game player.
Lindy Ruff
In game 82 of the regular season, the Sabres notched a 5-4 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. The win marked 900 total wins for Ruff in his career. Ruff will be back next season, he brings experience and poise behind the bench. After years of Don Gronato being soft on younger players, Ruff’s accountability is a breathe of fresh air that Sabres fans will be happy to see behind the bench next year.
900 CAREER REGULAR SEASON WINS FOR LINDY RUFF
The fifth coach EVER to accomplish this feat. pic.twitter.com/qD6OhRaUrg
— The Sabre Report (@TheSabreReport) April 18, 2025
Alex Tuch
The Sabres are wasting years of having Alex Tuch on a friendly contract. The guy is a menace. This season, Tuch scored 36 goals. Six of those goals came while shorthanded. With 112 blocked shots, Alex Tuch becomes the all time blocked shots leader by a forward. He’s fantastic defensively, he scores goals, he kills penalties, there is probably not a more well rounded forward in Buffalo than Alex Tuch right now. The Sabres will have one more year of him on a 4.75 million deal. After, that price tag will skyrocket.
1⃣1⃣2⃣ blocked shots this season for Alex Tuch ?
A new @NHL single-season record by a forward. pic.twitter.com/ejLRd9Cj5t
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) April 18, 2025
Promising Young Players
JJ Peterka is the most promising young player in Buffalo right now. He’ll round out his third full year with the Sabres scoring 27 goals and a career high 68 points. At just 23 years of age he saw minutes on the top line with Thompson and Tuch this season. Peterka is a RFA in need of signing this offseason, it’ll be interesting what cap hit he will bring to the roster next season.
Jiri Kulich might not return to the American Hockey League after this season. Despite just 24 points in 61 games, he passes the eye test. Strong on the puck with a wicked release, the 2022 28th overall pick should be starting with the Sabres next October.
Zach Benson didn’t quite have the sophomore jump people were hoping to see this season. He bounced around the lineup a lot and mustered a mere 28 points in 74 games. However, there were flashes of nice offensive playmaking late in the season. He found himself on a line with Tage Thompson late in the year and made an impact. One thing all Sabres fans respect about this 19 year old’s game is his tenacity. Benson is not shy from conflict. He isn’t a fighter by any means but he will not back away from a scrum and be the first to jump in and defend his teammates. The future is bright for this young man, it will be interesting to see what next season has in store for him.
Ryan Mcleod
Last summer, the Sabres traded Matt Savoie for Ryan Mcleod and Ty Tullio. Fans were split on the trade. Savoie was a 9th overall pick in 2022, and Mcleod hadn’t had more than 30 points in a season. This season, Mcleod put the doubters to rest. Scoring career highs in all statistical categories, 20 goals and 33 assists for 53 total points. Change of scenery, an increased role, whatever factored into his success paid off big time. Mcleod will cash in off this, his performance made him a top priority for the Sabres front office to resign as he hits restricted free agency this summer.
This season was far from perfect, and no fan is calling it a success. But these things were all successes for the organization. Moving forward, the Sabres will need to build off the performances of these coaches/players, and hopefully break the drought in 2025-2026.
More must-reads:
- Blue Jackets sign former first-round pick to professional tryout
- Red Wings set to finally honor franchise legend Sergei Fedorov
- The '2024 NFL rushing TD leaders' quiz
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TODAY'S BEST
Red Wings set to finally honor franchise legend Sergei Fedorov
It's been a while since Detroit Red Wings fans have truly had something to celebrate. No matter what happens with the current team this season, that will change come Jan. 12, 2026. A long-awaited honor will take place as part of a celebration of the franchise's 100th season. On Tuesday, the Red Wings announced they will retire Sergei Fedorov's No. 91. Even though fans may care more about seeing the once-proud Red Wings back in the playoffs, the decision to finally honor Detroit's last Hart Trophy winner provides a moment to reflect on the past. The big news even included a statement of gratitude from Fedorov himself. "I'm extremely grateful for this tremendous honor. Thank you to everyone with the Red Wings organization, especially those who helped bring me to Detroit and gave me the chance to play for such a historic franchise. I was fortunate to be part of some unforgettable teams, and above all, I'm proud of the three Stanley Cup championships we won for our amazing fans in Hockeytown. The memories made along the way — with legendary teammates, coaches, and exceptional ownership — will stay with me forever." No. 91 will become the ninth number raised to the rafters by Detroit, joining Terry Sawchuk (No. 1), Red Kelly (No. 4), Nicklas Lidstrom (No. 5), Ted Lindsay (No. 7), Gordie Howe (No. 9), Alex Delvecchio (No. 10), Sid Abel (No. 12) and Yzerman (No. 19). Some could argue that Fedorov taking his rightful place among fellow Red Wings legends is long overdue — he played his last NHL game in 2012 and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2015 — but it's finally happening nonetheless. Fedorov has always deserved the honor for his accomplishments on the ice, but his story has been a complicated one since he became one of the faces of the NHL in the 1990s after defecting from Russia. From that point on, the Russian superstar would become one of the league's best players and a marketing sensation off the ice as well. He scored exactly 400 goals and registered 954 total points in 13 seasons with the Red Wings. Fedorov was an All-Star six times, named league MVP in 1994 and helped Detroit capture three Stanley Cup titles. Fedorov would finish his career with 483 goals and 1,179 points, also spending time with the Anaheim Ducks, Columbus Blue Jackets and Washington Capitals. However, despite his brilliance on the ice, Fedorov's relationship with the Red Wings has been rocky since he left Detroit 22 years ago. The initial drama began in 1997 when Fedorov held out as a restricted free agent early in the season during a contract dispute. He even signed an offer sheet with the Carolina Hurricanes. Detroit matched the offer, but the wounds between Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch and Fedorov never fully healed. Then came Fedorov's actual departure as an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2003. At that time, he rejected a larger offer to stay with Detroit and instead decided to sign with the Ducks, the team that just upset the then-defending champion Red Wings in the first round. Fedorov's decision was viewed as a betrayal by fans, leading to the former fan favorite being booed mercilessly upon his return to Joe Louis Arena the following season. Unfortunately, this led to Fedorov being separated from the Red Wings for many years, even after retiring. Fast forward to the present day, and the two sides are united again, this time forever. And it feels right because, in Fedorov's own words from his Hall of Fame induction speech, he's a Red Wing at heart. But now that one hockey injustice has been corrected, the pressure remains on general manager Steve Yzerman, Fedorov's former teammate from 1990-2003, to ensure the Red Wings' future is as bright as its past.
Shaquille O'Neal makes peace with longtime enemy — mostly
Shaquille O'Neal and Dwight Howard patched things up Sunday after years of feuding. But even while describing their rapprochement, O'Neal couldn't keep from teasing his longtime nemesis. The "Big Aristotle" was at the BIG3 playoffs Sunday to watch Howard's L.A. Riot play the Chicago Triplets. In the middle of describing to Rachel Nichols how he and Howard had made peace, O'Neal broke off his explanation to make fun of Howard for missing a dunk. The two Hall of Fame centers had sparred for years, despite their common ground as former members of the Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Lakers. Some of the tension seemed to be due to Howard adopting O'Neal's "Superman" nickname, though O'Neal claimed to Nichols that he was simply being tough on Howard to motivate him. That explanation doesn't account for the time O'Neal mocked Howard for playing basketball in the Taiwanese league or the decade-plus he's spent roasting Howard on his podcast, in public appearances and on "Inside the NBA." Still, it appears that the two have made peace. Despite O'Neal being left off the original list of presenters, he insisted that he'll be among a group of Hall of Famers inducting Howard Sept. 6, including Dominique Wilkins, Robert Parish, Dennis Rodman and Patrick Ewing. It means that two of the most dominant big men of their eras have finally buried the hatchet. It's added a new level of interest to the Hall of Fame ceremonies, and it should be a sweet moment between O'Neal and Howard. As long as Howard doesn't mention Superman.
Chicago Bears looking at bringing back familiar face at running back
The Chicago Bears don’t appear satisfied with their running back room with one week left to decide the 53-man roster. The Bears have until Aug. 26 to make their final cuts before preparing for the Minnesota Vikings in Week 1. The Bears entered training camp with questions at running back. Veteran D’Andre Swift had a down year in 2024. Roschon Johnson isn’t a long-term solution, and seventh-round pick Kyle Monangai will have a steep learning curve when the regular season begins. The Chicago Bears worked out a former running back Per Aaron Wilson of KPRC, the Bears worked out running backs Royce Freeman, undrafted rookie Kylin James and former Carolina Panthers practice-squad player Dillon Johnson. Royce Freeman played with the Bears in 2024 Of the three, Freeman is the only running back with stats at the NFL level. Freeman, a third-round pick by the Denver Broncos in 2018, has appeared in 79 games and started nine games. He’s rushed 471 times for 1,472 yards and 10 touchdowns. The Bears signed Freeman to the practice squad in December. He was then signed to the Los Angeles Rams practice squad in January. He last played a regular-season game in 2023, when he added 319 yards and two touchdowns in 14 games for the Rams. The Bears are signaling their need for a running back this summer. There are other options available in the trade market, as the Washington Commanders are shopping Brian Robinson Jr. during the preseason. More running backs will be available after other teams trim their rosters to 53 players, but they might not be the type of athletes to make a significant boost for the offense early in the regular season.
Commanders' Terry McLaurin reportedly wants more money than previously thought
Previous reports indicated that unsettled Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin was looking to land "parts" of the five-year, $150M contract that the Pittsburgh Steelers gave DK Metcalf earlier this year. For an article published on Wednesday morning, Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic offered an update regarding why McLaurin and the Commanders haven't come to terms on an extension after the 29-year-old requested a trade on July 31. "One person with knowledge of McLaurin’s contract negotiations said the veteran receiver has asked for more than DK Metcalf," Jhabvala revealed. McLaurin is in the final year of his current deal and will turn 30 years old in September. To compare, Metcalf will turn 28 in December. That said, McLaurin emerged last season as the favorite target for quarterback Jayden Daniels as Daniels guided the Commanders to the NFC Championship Game. "McLaurin believes he’s one of the best receivers in the NFL," Jhabvala added. "He’s been the Commanders' leading receiver every season since he entered the league (in 2019), and last year had the second-most receiving TDs in the league behind Ja’Marr Chase’s 17. He also ranked third in (expected points added) on targets and seventh in catch rate among receivers with at least 100 targets last year, but among that same group, McLaurin’s total receiving yards (1,096) ranked 12th and his average yards after the catch ranked 25th." Daniels seemed optimistic while speaking about the ongoing contract standoff during the ESPN broadcast of Monday's preseason game between the Commanders and Cincinnati Bengals when he said he knew McLaurin would "be coming through the door soon." However, Jhabvala noted that "it wouldn’t be a surprise if the [Commanders have] set a maximum range of $27M to $28M a year in average annual value for McLaurin." That seems to suggest the two sides aren't all that close to coming to terms on an agreement. It's unclear if McLaurin is willing to forfeit money by sitting out Washington's Week 1 game against the New York Giants on Sept. 7 amid his desire for a pay raise. If he isn't, he may have to soon accept the offer that's on the table to guarantee himself future earnings beyond the upcoming season.
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