The Buffalo Sabres blueline is one of the most talented groups in the NHL, but that talent has yet to manifest itself into results for the team. Who will have to step up this season to end the playoff drought? Sneaky Joe looks at where Owen Power can take steps, how the team can fit Bowen Byram back into the picture, and what Michael Kesselring is going to be for them.

Plus, what Rasmus Dahlin has to do to win the Norris, and why the Sabres made a mistake not buying out Mattias Samuelsson this offseason. Even though he'll be on the third pair, Samuelsson represents little value to where this team is trying to get to.

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The Buffalo Sabres brought in goaltender Alex Lyon this offseason, who has had better production than Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen over the last three seasons. Will he unseat UPL as the team's #1 goalie and play the most games in 2025-26? Sneaky Joe looks at how the Sabres may treat the situation early in the season, what happens to UPL if he loses his job, and how Devon Levi effects this mix.

Plus, new jersey numbers for the Sabres, including Zach Benson and Josh Norris. And what a recent report about Connor McDavid says about his future plans, going into a contract season.

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Sneaky Joe breaks down why he believes Norris will help a lot on the powerplay, but also why he is not a good fit to play with Tage Thompson to start the season. What about the contract? If Norris can't stay healthy this season, could the Sabres look to move on before a no-trade clause kicks in in 2026? Also, whether just being better than Dylan Cozens is a win for the Sabres.

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If the Buffalo Sabres end their 14-year playoff drought this season, it'll most likely come from a Wild Card position. Which means, fighting with teams from the Metro Division like the Rangers, Blue Jackets, Islanders, and Devils. How likely are the Sabres to beat out all but three of the teams in the Metro?

A quiet offseason from everyone, except the Hurricanes, gives the Sabres an opportunity. Also, did the Capitals have a lucky season fueled by Alex Ovechkin's goal chase? How likely are they to make the playoffs, again.

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The Toronto Maple Leafs have finished top-three in the Atlantic Division every season since 2017, but now will have to do it again, this time without Mitch Marner, who has left for Vegas. Do the Maple Leafs have the depth up front to replace a 100 point player? Sneaky Joe points to some of the Leafs 5v5 numbers in 2024-25 that indicate a team that is going to have trouble matching what they did last season.

No one expects the Buffalo Sabres to finish anywhere near the Leafs in the standings this season, but there's one path to the two teams being within a few wins of each other in the standings. It will all likely come down to how Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll hold up this season.

Plus, what form John Tavares is in at this age, as he'll be asked once again to play a huge role offensively.

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Next up in our look through the Atlantic Division, the Tampa Bay Lightning, who showed signs of decline last season, but are still built to be a playoff team every single season. A group of superstars at the top of the lineup featuring Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, Victor Hedman, Brandon Hagel, Jake Guentzel, and Andrei Vasilevskiy is enough to lift up a horrible group of depth players. Can just six great players carry Tampa deep into the playoffs at this age?

While Tampa shows signs of decline, Sneaky Joe believes future increases in the salary cap will allow the Lightning to stay above teams like the Buffalo Sabres. Also, why the Lightning should be considered the favorite to land Connor McDavid, should he make it to free agency.

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The Sabres and Senators struck a big trade last season sending Dylan Cozens to Ottawa. In 21 games, Cozens put up good numbers with the Sens... or did he? Sneaky Joe argues that Cozens is the same lost player we saw in Buffalo the last two years, and he is not in line for success in Ottawa. HOWEVER, the Senators should have more than enough talent with the likes of Tim Stuzle, Jake Sanderson, and Linus Ullmark to be not just a playoff team, but a team that could finish top three in the division, and even win a playoff round.

A look at how the Senators built a team like this shows important lessons for Kevyn Adams and the Sabres. Do the Sabres have any chance to leap frog Ottawa in 2025-26?

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