Where do the Buffalo Sabres stand in mid-summer?

The Buffalo Sabres may have a better team in 2024-25, but the real question mid-summer is, at least given how they look on paper, whether those improvements will translate into better performance against their Atlantic Division rivals.

Here’s the short answer: a better team, no doubt, and with a better coach in place. But, and I feel like I’ve been saying this for a while, until they get a proven top-six scorer, they’re going to remain in a familiar spot in these power rankings. No, they’re not the worst team in the division, but they’re also far from the best.

There may not be a more intriguing young team in the Atlantic in 2024-25, but the Montreal Canadiens have proven nothing. There’s a chance they’ll get younger throughout the season if they struggle early and trade older players, but they’ll also give the younger players in their system, especially on the blue line, time to settle in and gain valuable NHL experience.

This is the one team that wouldn’t surprise me if they surprised us all with the addition of Linus Ullmark at goaltender. Sure, Ullmark is just a “player,” but he’s a former Vezina winner with an underrated dynamic duo in front of him in Brady Tkachuk and Tim Stutzle. That said, it would be a mistake to discount the Senators, even if they don’t look as strong on paper as most of their Atlantic Division rivals.

Yes, I’d like to put the Sabres higher, and I can tell you right now that if Kevyn Adams could find a way to acquire that elusive top-six forward, I’d put them at fourth. Until then, they’re an incomplete team that doesn’t look as strong as the top five in this ranking.

The Red Wings accomplished a lot last season and with several key forwards back, they should have another good season when they get the puck. The blue line is a concern, but with a better goaltender in place, there’s a good chance they won’t give up as many goals this season if their defensive rotation contributes in any way.

The Tampa Bay Lightning lost a leader in Steven Stamkos, but they made up for it with Jake Guentzel. Imagine what happens when Guentzel and Nikita Kucherov develop some chemistry, not to mention other valuable players like Victor Hedman, Brandon Hagel and Anthony Cirelli. Tampa may not be the team it used to be, but it’s not on the right track yet.

If I had to make a prediction for the Toronto Maple Leafs, it would be that they’ll have the same outcome we’re all used to. They’ll be good enough in the regular season to clinch a top-three playoff spot, then they’ll be eliminated in the first round. They’ve essentially traded players on the blue line, and neither Matt Murray nor Anthony Stolarz are exactly what you’d call elite goalies, although they could be a solid tandem.

The addition of Elias Lindholm and Nikita Zadorov has been huge, and if Jeremy Swayman can continue to be the effective goalie he is as the undisputed No. 1, the Bruins won’t be sitting in second place for long. This team has been so close so many times, and they may have finally figured it out.

As long as no one knocks them off their pedestal, the Florida Panthers will hold the top spot in these rankings until further notice. Even though they ended up struggling to win the Stanley Cup Final last season, they have clearly shown that they are not only the best team in the Atlantic, but also in the Eastern Conference.