Who Are The Three Most Important Sabres to Getting Back to the Playoffs?

[SabreFinn]

1. Goalie, and I assume UPL will be back on track to start the season. The question is how long will he keep it together, what does it take to break him again?

2. and 3. Kesselring and Byram. They will be paired with Power and Dahlin and get over 20min each every game. Kesselring is new to me, I just know he is big, shoots hard, but is unexperinced. Byram is a great puckmover that had a hard time on defense last season. He finds himself out of position way to often and I have wanted to see him traded for a player that has defensive positioning in the DNA for two summers.

If Kesselring and Byram can show us a defensive game at a level of a top4 D wingman. And UPL is back on track to play at his best. Then we might be playing meaningful games in April.

[Drag0nDan]

On 8/11/2025 at 7:04 PM, Taro T said:

1.  UPL or whomever wins the goaltending derby.

2.  Seth Appert.  Having a useful PP would do wonders for this team.  His getting his head out of his bippy would be incredible.  Literally.

3.  Marty Wilford.  If somebody could help him figure out what sort of a farm animal HIS head is stuck up; it could be a start towards his extricating said head from said farm animal's bippy.  There'll still be effort required to extract it, but he has to find that melon before he can even plan the extraction process of it.

Listed that one as #3 because it is the least likely to happen.

Have to agree on fixing the PP.  If they can go from bottom 10 to like 10th - that is like 15 goals which would help offset some of the likely loss of 5on5 goalscoring after the peterka trade.  Same with the PK - get that from bottom 10 to 10th and that is 10 fewer goals allowed.  

[Drag0nDan]

On 8/24/2025 at 5:57 AM, SabreFinn said:

1. Goalie, and I assume UPL will be back on track to start the season. The question is how long will he keep it together, what does it take to break him again?

2. and 3. Kesselring and Byram. They will be paired with Power and Dahlin and get over 20min each every game. Kesselring is new to me, I just know he is big, shoots hard, but is unexperinced. Byram is a great puckmover that had a hard time on defense last season. He finds himself out of position way to often and I have wanted to see him traded for a player that has defensive positioning in the DNA for two summers.

If Kesselring and Byram can show us a defensive game at a level of a top4 D wingman. And UPL is back on track to play at his best. Then we might be playing meaningful games in April.

Byram and Dahlin have some chemistry, both seem to be able to play both sides which is a benefit, but i agree his defensive game has been lacking.  Him and Power need to tie up sticks around the net better, move people around more.  

[gilbert11]

UPL, Power, Norris

Better goaltending is needed.

Power needs to step it up.  A former #1 pick needs to be better than inconsistently solid.

All about health with Norris.  He’s likely produce if he’s on the ice.

[PerreaultForever]

1. New Owner

2. New GM/Director of Hockey Ops (preferably 2 people)

3. New coaches

[Porous Five Hole]

3 hours ago, PerreaultForever said:

1. New Owner

2. New GM/Director of Hockey Ops (preferably 2 people)

3. New coaches

I’m fine with this list. But I am also a realist and a new owner isn’t going to be a thing. A new GM should have already happened, but the owner isn’t changing…and he chooses the GM. The head coach is a realistic change the following season.  I believe that Lindy has lost his fastball and 2025-26 is it for him. 
 

At the end of the day, this is a fair list. But I wouldn’t bother mentioning owner or GM because we are stuck with these guys this upcoming season. There isn’t much they can say or do that will get this team to the playoffs.  You’re probably better off choosing roster guys who could exceed expectations and drag the Sabres until the playoffs.  
 

A guy who I was recently considering is Benson. If he’s a top six guy, can he produce points at a top six level? That’s what I am thinking about when I reflect on the original question.  Or maybe it is Kulich?

UPL must be on the list no matter what.