The Buffalo Sabres have put themselves in a position where the matchups can start to mean something again.
After reaching the playoffs for the first time in 14 seasons, they beat the Boston Bruins in a round before falling in seven games to the Montreal Canadiens. That return to the postseason did more than give the fan base a long-awaited run - it opened the door for rivalries to sharpen up fast if the Sabres keep competing with the league’s best.
One of the most natural flashpoints from last season came with the Tampa Bay Lightning. The two teams were battling down the stretch for the Atlantic crown, and the games got nasty in a hurry.
There were full line brawls, and Rasmus Dahlin took plenty of the physical punishment. The Sabres and Lightning never got the chance to meet in the playoffs, but that kind of intensity was already pushing the rivalry toward another level.
The Canadiens and Bruins are right there too. Buffalo already saw both teams in the playoffs back in April, and that alone tends to pour gasoline on old grudges. These are familiar enemies, and postseason hockey has a way of making those feelings stick.
Then there’s the one that always stands out: the QEW rivalry with the Toronto Maple Leafs. For years, Maple Leafs fans taking over KeyBank Center felt like part of the routine because the games usually didn’t carry much weight in the standings.
The geography, the border crossing, and the fan tension have all helped make it one of the most obvious rivalries on Buffalo’s schedule. What it really needs now is a mean playoff series to pull everyone back in.
And beyond the Atlantic, the Sabres could stir things up in the Metro Division as well. The New York Islanders and Rangers figure to be the two biggest potential rivals there.
In Other News...
Sabres May Finally Have Their Goalie But The Cost Looks Serious
Connor Hellebuycks future in Winnipeg is suddenly looking like one of the bigger goalie stories in the league, and Buffalo is right in the middle of it. EJ Hradek said the Jets may have already seen Hellebuyck play his last game for them, with Winnipeg planning to move him and the Sabres among the teams in trade discussions as they explore whether to land a true difference-maker in net.
The appeal is obvious for Buffalo, which would be getting a proven star if it can get the deal done, but the price is shaping up to be steep. Winnipeg is believed to want a second-center type back, not just a spare part, and the Sabres have already seen their depth tested by the loss of Alex Tuch and Bowen Byram, making any major swing a delicate balancing act as talks continue without a final agreement. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres May Be Eyeing Another Risky Answer To A Familiar Need
The Sabres are still shopping for a proven way to bolster their top six after missing out on Patrick Kane, and the search has them looking at players who can bring more than just finishing touch. Buffalo wants someone who can slide into a meaningful role without being a one-dimensional scorer, which is why the latest name tied to the conversation is drawing attention around the league.
Bryan Rust has surfaced as a possible fit because he brings offense and reliable two-way play, the kind of profile that can help a team beyond even-strength minutes. He put up 29 goals and 36 assists in 72 games last season, and that kind of production is exactly why he has been mentioned as someone who could stabilize Buffalos second line while also helping on special teams. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres May Have A Real Answer For Their Scoring Problem
The Sabres are still looking for ways to patch the scoring they lost with the departures of Alex Tuch and Bowen Byram, and the front office appears to be keeping an eye on a familiar kind of solution: a proven veteran winger who can still put the puck in the net. Buffalos cap situation leaves it searching for value, which is why the market for an unsigned scorer has become worth monitoring as the summer drags on.
Vladimir Tarasenko fits the profile of the kind of player that can change the conversation around a lineup in a hurry. He has six 30-goal seasons on his rsum and has still shown he can finish at a useful rate in recent years, including 23-goal seasons in two of the last three campaigns. For a Sabres team trying to replace offense without overcommitting, the question now is whether the fit is as clean on paper as it looks on the ice. [Read more 🡒]