For the reason that begin of March the Buffalo Sabres have been enjoying their finest hockey of the season, going 10-4-3 over their previous 17 video games and beating quite a few playoff groups and Stanley Cup contenders.
It’s clearly a case of too little, too late, as a result of they’re nonetheless far down the NHL standings.
Although they weren’t in motion on Wednesday they have been nonetheless formally eradicated from playoff rivalry due to the Washington Capitals’ 4-3 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. That’s important as a result of it means this would be the eleventh consecutive season the Sabres have didn’t qualify for the playoffs, setting a brand new NHL report for futility.
It’s been 3,999 days since their final playoff recreation.
Getting into 2021-22, the Sabres had been tied with the Florida Panthers (2000-01 to 2010-11) and Edmonton Oilers (2006-07 to 2015-16) for the longest drought. Technically talking Florida’s drought additionally lined 11 years, however that solely included 10 seasons due to the 2004-05 lockout.
It has been fairly a stretch for the Sabres.
Just a few of the issues which have occurred for the workforce throughout this run.
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They’re on their fourth totally different common supervisor (Darcy Regier, Tim Murray, Jason Botterill, Kevyn Adams).
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They’re on their seventh totally different head coach (Lindy Ruff, Ron Rolston, Ted Nolan, Dan Bylsma, Phil Housley, Ralph Krueger, Don Granato).
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They’ve picked within the top-two of the NHL draft 4 totally different instances, together with No. 1 total picks Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Energy, in addition to No. 2 total picks Sam Reinhart and Jack Eichel.
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The best they’ve completed within the league standings: nineteenth, within the first yr of the streak.
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They’ve completed with the worst report within the NHL 4 totally different instances.
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Their 301 wins throughout that point are thirtieth out of 32 NHL groups. The one two groups beneath them are Vegas and Seattle, two groups that didn’t enter the NHL till the previous 5 years. Vegas is barely 89 wins behind the Sabres regardless of enjoying in 455 fewer video games.
The larger concern for the Sabres and their followers must be when this really ends.
In addition to the Sabres have performed for the previous month, and towards some actually good groups, that is nonetheless a workforce that has a variety of holes and a variety of areas that want mounted, and a variety of floor to make up towards groups which might be manner additional forward of them. That is nonetheless most likely not a playoff workforce subsequent season, and even when all the things in its newest rebuild goes completely, it nonetheless is likely to be one other yr or two till they get again.
The excellent news: There are no less than some optimistic indicators right here. Tage Thompson has lastly had a breakout season. Dahlin seems to be again on observe and Energy is on the best way. Peyton Krebs and Alex Tuch appear to be a very robust return for Eichel. That every one no less than provides them some items to construct round. However there’s nonetheless a really lengthy technique to go.
Extra NHL Information
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Adam Gretz is a author for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Drop him a line at phtblog@nbcsports.com or observe him on Twitter @AGretz.
Sabres playoff drought reaches NHL-record 11th consecutive season initially appeared on NBCSports.com
