In the world of hockey, the Buffalo Sabres are making headlines for more than just their new coach and new captain. Lindy Ruff has taken the reins behind the bench, while Rasmus Dahlin has been awarded the prestigious role of captaincy. But it’s not just the leadership that’s new in Buffalo – the team has also made some major upgrades to their arena, with a flashy new scoreboard and a newly installed roof to fix the leaks that have been plaguing them for years.
However, despite all these changes, there’s one thing that remains constant in Buffalo: the team’s NHL-record 13-year playoff drought. The Sabres have been unable to make a splash in the postseason for over a decade, leaving fans wondering what this season has in store.
General manager Kevyn Adams is acutely aware of the skepticism surrounding the team’s future. “Until you get the results, until you become a contending team and winning in the playoffs and putting yourself in position to win, then there’s going to be people that question decisions you make,” Adams explained in an interview with The Associated Press before the team’s trip to Europe for their season opener against the New Jersey Devils.
Adams has spent the last three years revamping the roster, most notably by trading former captain Jack Eichel to the Vegas Golden Knights in a blockbuster deal in November 2021. The focus has shifted towards building a young core of players who are committed to the team’s success.
“Our plan has been to get into this spot where we can get this young core that wanted to be here for the right reasons and play together,” Adams said. “That’s the simplest way for me to say that I believe in the people in our locker room. I believe in the coaching staff. And now we have to turn them into results, for sure.”
The Sabres have had a tumultuous past, with seven coaching changes since Lindy Ruff’s departure in 2013. Despite a strong fan base in the past, the team has seen a decline in attendance, ranking 28th in the NHL last season.
The challenges facing the Sabres are daunting, with the team finishing last overall four times in recent years. The ownership of Terry and Kim Pegula has brought about little success since their acquisition of the team in 2011, despite various attempts to turn the team around.
As the Buffalo Sabres prepare to embark on a new season, the pressure is on to break the playoff curse and bring success back to a team with a rich history but a recent string of disappointments. Only time will tell if this new era in Buffalo will be the one to finally turn the tide for the Sabres.
