The Buffalo Sabres kicked off their season with high hopes and big changes, bringing back longtime former coach Lindy Ruff and naming Rasmus Dahlin as the new team captain. But just four games in, the Sabres’ start hasn’t gone as planned. Sitting at 1-3 after consecutive losses to the Devils in Prague, tensions seem to be running high, as seen during Monday’s practice when Dahlin and teammate Peyton Krebs got into a physical altercation.
The skirmish reportedly started when Dahlin landed a hip check on Krebs, following a hit Krebs had made earlier in the session. Dahlin, wearing the captain’s “C” for the first time this season, didn’t hold back, throwing punches at Krebs, sparking speculation about the team’s chemistry under mounting pressure. While it’s too early in the season to push the panic button, it’s clear that the Sabres, who haven’t seen playoff action in 13 years, are feeling the weight of high expectations.
Buffalo’s decision to end the Don Granato era after last season, replacing him with Ruff, was meant to instill a winning culture reminiscent of Ruff’s first tenure with the team, where he led them to eight playoff appearances. And with a new captain in Dahlin, the Sabres hoped to set a tone of intensity and accountability. However, Monday’s incident raises questions about how well the team is handling that intensity—and whether these early signs of frustration might disrupt what the Sabres hope to be a breakout season.
For now, it’s a bump in the road that Buffalo fans hope will fuel a turnaround rather than deepen their struggles. The Sabres will look to reset when they face the Penguins on Wednesday, knowing the stakes are high to end the longest playoff drought in the NHL.
