As the NHL calendar flips to December, the pressure is starting to build in more than a few hockey towns-but nowhere is the tension more palpable than in Buffalo and with the defending Presidents’ Trophy winners.
Let’s start with the Sabres, where the annual anxiety around the playoff picture is once again creeping in. The franchise hasn’t made the postseason since 2011, and while there was optimism entering this year, the product on the ice hasn’t matched the promise.
The biggest issue? The three-goalie rotation that’s quickly turning from a strategy into a liability.
Buffalo’s goaltending carousel-featuring Devon Levi, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, and Eric Comrie-was manageable when injuries were a factor. But now that the roster is getting healthy, carrying three netminders is a luxury the team can’t afford.
It’s creating roster inflexibility and preventing the Sabres from addressing other needs. At this point, it’s less about development and more about survival.
Something has to give.
Luukkonen has arguably earned the net with his recent play, while Levi, the highly touted prospect, continues to show flashes but also growing pains. Comrie’s role?
Increasingly unclear. The organization has a decision to make-and soon.
The longer they wait, the more it could cost them in the standings.
Now, shift your focus to the defending Presidents’ Trophy winners. What looked like a team built to contend again has suddenly hit a full-blown crisis.
Their offense, once a high-octane machine, has sputtered. Their structure, once airtight, is showing cracks.
And their goaltending situation? It’s raising red flags.
Before his injury, Connor Hellebuyck was having his roughest season since 2021-22. His numbers were down, and his confidence looked shaken.
That’s a problem, because when he’s not sharp, the team’s defensive flaws become glaring. Hellebuyck has long been the safety net.
Without him at his best, the margin for error shrinks drastically.
The team’s struggles aren’t just about personnel-they’re about identity. They’ve lost the edge that made them so dominant last season.
The forecheck isn’t as aggressive. The transition game isn’t as crisp.
And the special teams, once a strength, are now inconsistent at best.
There’s also a leadership void that’s becoming harder to ignore. Veterans who were expected to carry the load haven’t stepped up consistently, and younger players are still finding their voice. That’s a dangerous mix in a league where momentum-and confidence-can shift quickly.
Meanwhile, the Sabres are dealing with their own leadership questions. Head coach Lindy Ruff has praised his team’s road efforts, especially in a recent win against the Wild, calling it “a night where we played the game the right way all night.”
But those performances have been too few and far between. The inconsistency is maddening, and it’s putting Ruff and his staff under the microscope.
The Sabres are also facing tough decisions beyond goaltending. Roster spots are tight, and with players returning from injury, there’s less room to experiment. Forward lines are being shuffled, defensive pairings tweaked, and still, the results remain uneven.
It’s not all doom and gloom-there are bright spots. Rookie Zach Benson has shown poise beyond his years.
Rasmus Dahlin continues to anchor the blue line with elite-level play. And when the team is clicking, they can skate with anyone.
But the margin for error is razor-thin, and in the Eastern Conference, you can’t afford to tread water for long.
Back to the Presidents’ Trophy winners-this isn’t just a slow start. It’s a wake-up call.
The roster is largely the same, but the results are wildly different. That suggests something deeper than just an early-season slump.
Whether it’s a systems issue, a locker room disconnect, or a confidence crisis, the coaching staff has work to do.
The clock is ticking. December might not decide a season, but it often defines the direction.
For both Buffalo and the defending regular-season champs, the next few weeks could be pivotal. Either they recalibrate and make a push, or they risk falling into a hole that’s tough to climb out of.
In short: the time for patience is over. It’s time for answers.