Tage Thompson (Timothy T. Ludwig, USA TODAY Images) [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/55b4a597-3a31-4ed0-9b17-43bad9cbc7b2.jpeg] Tage Thompson (Timothy T. Ludwig, USA TODAY Images) The Buffalo Sabres' 2025-26 schedule has been out for some time now, and in this ongoing THN.com Sabres site [http://thn.com/buffalo] series, we're breaking down Buffalo's chances against every team in the league. We've worked our way through the Atlantic, Metropolitan and Central division teams, and for the last week or so, we focused on the Pacific Division. And in this file, we're examining a team that swept the Sabres last year -- the Seattle Kraken. The Kraken [http://thn.com/seattle] made some notable changes this summer, but they're a team that missed out on the Stanley Cup playoffs last season. So a team like the Sabres needs to target Seattle as a team they can play well against this year. With that said, let's look at the Kraken and see how we believe Buffalo should fare against them: "The Wraparound" BUFFALO SABRES VS. SEATTLE KRAKEN NEW KRAKEN PLAYERS: Mason Marchment, LW; Frederick Gaudreau, C; Ryan Lindgren, D 2024-25 SERIES: Sabres 0-2-0, Seattle 2-0-0 2025-26 GAMES AGAINST EACH OTHER: December 14 at Seattle; March 28 at Buffalo CAN THE SABRES BEAT THIS TEAM? The Sabres got a big dose of the Kraken in a short span last season, playing Seattle twice in a nine-day span in mid-January. And the Kraken handed Buffalo their hats, winning the first game 6-2 in Buffalo, then beating the Sabres 6-4 in Seattle. Thus, you can see why the Kraken would feel confident in their chances against Buffalo this coming season. However, from this writer's perspective, the changes Seattle has made still aren't enough to make them a playoff team in the Western Conference next season. And Buffalo's desperation to make the playoffs means they can't afford to drop both games to any team, the Kraken included. One of the differences between last season's Buffalo/Seattle series is the fact their games are spread out much further than they were last year. Indeed, the second game in the series will be the Sabres' ninth-to-last game of the regular-season -- and that means Buffalo could be fighting for its playoff life at that point in the year. Know Your Enemy, Sabres Pacific Edition: Sweeping Rebuilding Sharks Should Be No Problem For Buffalo [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/b1e44488-f474-4ad5-9501-7756e2b52484.jpeg] Know Your Enemy, Sabres Pacific Edition: Sweeping Rebuilding Sharks Should Be No Problem For Buffalo The Buffalo Sabres' 2025-26 schedule has been out for a while now. And although Sabres fans have known when and where their team will be playing at any given time, it's still worthwhile to examine each Buffalo opponent next year -- and specifically, how the Sabres should fare against team NHL team in 2025-26. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/buffalo-sabres/latest-news/know-your-enemy-sabres-pacific-edition-sweeping-rebuilding-sharks-should-be-no-problem-for-buffalo] To be sure, the Kraken are a proud bunch that is fully intent on earning a post-season berth. But while the addition of Marchment from the Dallas Stars [http://thn.com/dallas] is a solid deal for Seattle, additional additions Gaudreau (formerly of the Minnesota Wild [http://thn.com/minnesota]) and Lindgren (most recently, a Colorado Avalanche [http://thn.com/colorado] defenseman) don't move the needle. That said, the Kraken still have $4.5-million in salary cap space [https://puckpedia.com/team/seattle-kraken], so the Seattle team Buffalo faces in Game 1 of their series next season could be significantly different from the Kraken team the Sabres face after the trade deadline. But even then, unless Seattle GM Jason Botterill hits a home run with a difference-maker on the trade market, it's difficult to envision the Kraken being a force to reckon with. As the NHL's newest team, the Kraken are still on an expansion timeline. That means improvement isn't always linear for them, and more struggles could be ahead as their young core establishes their identity. And that's where the Sabres need to come in and answer back for last season's struggles against Seattle. The Sabres are a better team on paper than the Kraken, and they need to make that translate into the win/loss columns. Know Your Enemy, Sabres Pacific Edition: New-Look Kings May Be Vulnerable In Sabres Series Next Season [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/13659058-0864-4c0c-baa0-77763a07f97f.jpeg] Know Your Enemy, Sabres Pacific Edition: New-Look Kings May Be Vulnerable In Sabres Series Next Season The Buffalo Sabres' pursuit of its first Stanley Cup playoff appearance in 15 years means that there's no room for error for them, at any time of the season. A prolonged losing streak can and will knock down any team's post-season hopes, but the Sabres are particularly desperate, so Buffalo fans will be watching each and every game in the hope <a href="http://thn.com/buffalo">the Sabres</a> can secure a playoff spot. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/buffalo-sabres/latest-news/know-your-enemy-sabres-pacific-edition-new-look-kings-may-be-vulnerable-in-sabres-series-next-season] We've said it before, but it bears repeating: the line between making and missing the playoffs could be one or two standings points. So if Buffalo loses both games against the Kraken -- and worst-case scenario, lose both games in regulation-time -- it could be disastrous for the Sabres' playoff hopes. Buffalo has to get at least one win against the Kraken, but to ease Sabres' fans anxieties, Buffalo should be aiming to win both games -- or one win and one loss in overtime or the shootout. The Sabres have little-to-no-room-for-error next season. Ultimately, if they don't win more series than they lose, a playoff berth is going to be a pipe dream for Buffalo. And beating non-playoff teams like the Kraken has to be a priority for the Sabres. Because if they can't take care of business against the NHL's lesser lights, Buffalo doesn't deserve to be a playoff team.
