Analysts are ignoring one team that could dethrone the Avalanche next NHL season
Photo credit: Isaiah J. Downing / USA TODAY Images
Many analysts seem to be overlooking the Buffalo Sabres, a team that could very well challenge and potentially dethrone the Colorado Avalanche in the upcoming NHL season.
The Sabres have all the pieces in place, and after extending defenseman Bowen Byram, analysts believe the next season could finally be the year Buffalo takes the next big step forward.
Can the Sabres finally compete with the Avalanche next season>
Adam Proteau from Yahoo Sports writes that the Sabres compete in the NHL's toughest Atlantic Division, but their 2025-26 schedule offers little respite.
The Avalanche were an elite force last season, even if they settled for third place in the Central Division. But if the Sabres are finally going to snap their 14-year playoff drought, they'll need to prove they can beat top-tier opponents like Colorado.
"The Sabres did not fare well against the Avalanche last year, losing both games by a combined score of 11-9. Buffalo did squeeze out one standings point in the two games, losing by a shootout in their last game against each other Jan. 2. But the Avalanche team they'll be facing this year is just as good, if not better than the Avs team that played last year." -Proteau
Colorado will have captain Gabriel Landeskog back for a full season, and considering how well they performed without him last year, his return feels like a major trade acquisition. On top of that, the Avalanche's defense corps, already one of the NHL's most formidable units, got even stronger with the addition of veteran blueliner Brent Burns.
"At 40 years old, Burns is the oldest player in the NHL, and while his offensive stats have ebbed in recent years, he's likely going to be very valuable in limited action on Colorado's third defense pairings. And Burns' snarl and size will also make the Avalanche even tougher to battle in their own zone." -Proteau
And how can we forget about the acquisition of star forward Martin Necas.
That move made it a tad easier for the Avalanche to part ways with former winger Mikko Rantanen. With the cap space freed up from Rantanen's contract, GM Chris MacFarland brought in Necas from Carolina and Brock Nelson from the New York Islanders.
"And after all those moves, MacFarland still has $3.3 million in cap space. That's a masterclass in cap management. And that's going to make it extremely difficult for the Sabres to beat the Avalanche." -Proteau
An intriguing wrinkle in the Sabres' matchups with Colorado is timing, both games take place early in the season. The first meeting will be Buffalo's third game of the regular season, with the second coming exactly one month later.
"That could open up a potential quick-strike action on the Sabres' behalf, with the Avalanche vulnerable as they potentially experiment with lines and chemistry early in the season. Playing the Avalanche early is far better for Buffalo's chances to beat Colorado than they would be if their games came later in the season, after a trade deadline that almost certainly will see the Avs spend every bit of their cap space." -Proteau
Buffalo couldn't get past the Avalanche last season, so a statement win or two against Colorado early on could be just what the doctor ordered for the Sabres' playoff hopes.
Time will tell how Buffalo ultimately fares against Colorado, but the mission is clear: send a message that this Sabres team is different by pushing back and avenging last year's losses, or risk falling into the same frustrating pattern with another pair of defeats to the Avalanche.
| POLL | ||
AOUT 9 | 31 ANSWERS Analysts are ignoring one team that could dethrone the Avalanche next NHL season Will the Avalanche sweep their season series against the Sabres again this year? | ||
| yes | 24 | 77.4 % |
| no | 7 | 22.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
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