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. Owen Power (John Hefti. USA TODAY Images) [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/b1e44488-f474-4ad5-9501-7756e2b52484.jpeg] Owen Power (John Hefti. USA TODAY Images) We've made our way through the Atlantic, Metropolitan and Central Division teams thus far in this THN.com Sabres' site series [http://thn.com/sanjose], and of late, we've switched focus on the Pacific Division teams. And in today's file, we're looking at a team that was the league's worst team last season --the San Jose Sharks. It wasn't as if San Jose was one or two standings points behind the next-best team in the NHL standings. The Sharks [http://thn.com/sanjose] were a full nine points behind the 31st-overall team (the Chicago Blackhawks [http://thn.com/chicago]) last season, giving you an indication of how far San Jose is in their rebuilding stage. But should the Sabres sweep their season-series this time around? That's the focus on our "Know York Enemy" series. Read on below for our best guesstimate as to how Buffalo should be prepared to beat San Jose both times this year. "The Wraparound" BUFFALO SABRES VS. SAN JOSE SHARKS NEW SHARKS PLAYERS: Jeff Skinner, LW; Adam Gaudette, C; Ryan Reaves, RW; Filipp Kurashev , LW; Dmitry Orlov, D; Nick Leddy, D; John Klingberg 2024-25 SERIES: Sabres 1-1-0, San Jose 1-1-0 2025-26 GAMES AGAINST EACH OTHER: March 10 at Buffalo; March 19 at San Jose CAN THE SABRES BEAT THIS TEAM? The Sharks are in the midst of a full rebuild, but slowly but surely, they're putting a dynamic young core together. And that means the Sharks are going to be a very difficult team to play against and a Stanley Cup playoff team -- just not this coming season. Instead, San Jose will be focusing this season strictly to be a team that consistently is a worthy opponent. And that's not going to be easy, as the Sharks are going to be throwing veteran bodies overboard as San Jose GM Mike Grier works on building out his core. 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] To wit: Grier has gone about signing up or acquiring players with one year on their contract coning into next season. Defensemen Nick Leddy and John Klingberg fall into that department, and up front, winger Jeff Skinner also is under contract for the 2025-26 season only, That means that, if Buffalo plays well but still isn't anywhere close to a playoff spot, Grier has the options of trading many veterans for prospects and draft picks, It's a very good plan by Grier, but until such time as San Jose's young core emerges as difference-makers at the NHL level, it's going to be tough for this dog's-breakfast-of-a-Sharks team to give opponents a run for their money. And that means the Sabres have no excuses to lost to this San Jose squad. As budding stars Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith continue their development, the Sharks eventually will find a way to get out of their woes. But at the moment, San Jose isn't going to be a realistic playoff contender, and the Sabres need to take care of their opportunities both times they square off against the Sharks. Know Your Enemy, Sabres Pacific Edition: High-Octane Oilers Will Be More Than A Handful For Buffalo [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/48a4a3a9-5acd-4f34-a428-0c0ea0d4d86e.jpeg] Know Your Enemy, Sabres Pacific Edition: High-Octane Oilers Will Be More Than A Handful For Buffalo The Buffalo Sabres are a 14-year reclamation project, and losing so consistently is currently the norm for the franchise. But every year brings some hope that things will change for the better, and <a href="http://thn.com/buffalo">the Sabres</a> will have 82 opportunities to show they're an improved team that's finally going to make it into the Stanley Cup playoffs. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/buffalo-sabres/latest-news/know-your-enemy-sabres-pacific-edition-high-octane-oilers-will-be-more-than-a-handful-for-buffalo] The Sharks' games against Buffalo come in a nine-day span in mid-March, so the Sabres willl see them near the tail-end of their season. But the Sabres are likely to be pushing for a playoff berth at that point, so they can't see their games against the Sharks as "gimme" games or guaranteed wins. Indeed, at that point in the year, the Sharks could be in spoiler mode, and that's potentially extremely dangerous for the Sabres. But Buffalo can't allow San Jose to surprise and upset them. The only thing that will be a positive for the Sabres is to beat the Sharks. Anything less that will be a hugely-disappointing part of their year,
