The Buffalo Sabres’ 2024-2025 season has officially come to an end. They closed things out on a positive note with a 5-4 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday night. The Sabres finished 26th overall in the league standings with a record of 36-39-7, totaling 79 points. Simply put, it was a disappointing season.
Despite the tough outcome, there were still some bright spots. Several players turned in outstanding individual performances, making it all the more frustrating that those efforts weren’t enough to end the team’s playoff drought—now at 14 consecutive seasons.
That said, those standout seasons deserve to be recognized. So, without further ado, here are my 2024-25 Sabres team awards.
Hart Trophy: Rasmus Dahlin
Rasmus Dahlin takes home the Hart Trophy honors as the Sabres’ most valuable player. While a few players were certainly in the conversation, no one meant more to this team than Dahlin. Without him in the lineup, Buffalo looked completely lost—going 0-7-2, including the final eight games of their brutal 13-game losing streak. The only other game in that stretch was a 7-4 loss to the Flyers on March 29. With Dahlin on the ice, the Sabres posted a respectable 36-32-5 record, which translates to a .527 points percentage—an 87-point pace over a full 82-game season.
Statistically, Dahlin had an excellent season, finishing with 17 goals and 51 assists for 68 points in 73 games. That put him fourth among NHL defensemen in scoring, trailing only Cale Makar (92), Zach Werenski (82), and Quinn Hughes (75). He also ranked fifth in goals and sixth in assists among defensemen. Beyond the numbers, Dahlin was a driving force at both ends of the ice—commanding play offensively and holding his own defensively. He continues to evolve into one of the premier two-way defensemen in the league.
Vezina Trophy: Ukko-Pekka Lukkonnen
The Vezina Trophy, awarded to the Sabres’ top goaltender, goes to Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. After signing a new five-year deal over the summer, expectations were high for him to build on a solid 2023-24 campaign. He started the season strong, but things quickly took a turn. During the team’s brutal 13-game losing streak, Luukkonen struggled mightily. He did rebound a bit leading up to the 4 Nations Face-Off break, but his play dipped again afterward—and at one point, he even lost the starting job to James Reimer (yes, he’s still in the league).
Despite the inconsistency, Luukkonen gets the nod here due to his workload—appearing in 55 games for the Sabres. He finished the season with a 3.20 goals-against average (GAA) and an .887 save percentage (SV%). There’s hope he can bounce back next season—if he’s still with the team. Elliotte Friedman recently reported on the 32 Thoughts podcast that there’s a belief around the league the Sabres may look to move Luukkonen this offseason.
Most Surprising Player: Ryan McLeod
Ryan McLeod, acquired from the Edmonton Oilers on July 5 in a trade that sent Matthew Savoie the other way, turned out to be a pleasant surprise for the Sabres this season. In 79 games, McLeod put up a career-best 53 points, including 20 goals and 33 assists—shattering his previous high of 30 points. He made the most of his opportunities, even seeing time on the second line throughout the season.
Honestly, if you had told me before the season that McLeod would hit 20 goals and 50-plus points, I would’ve assumed the Sabres clinched a playoff spot. He was everything Buffalo hoped for and more—but unfortunately, defensive breakdowns and inconsistent goaltending ultimately kept this team out of the postseason picture.
Most Exciting Player: Tage Thompson
Tage Thompson had an outstanding season, racking up 72 points in 76 games—including 44 goals, which tied him for third in the NHL alongside Alex Ovechkin. Every time he stepped on the ice, it felt like something electric was about to happen. Whether it was his lethal toe-drag release from the slot—arguably the second-best in the league behind Auston Matthews—or his smooth hands in tight spaces, Thompson was a constant threat.
He led the entire NHL in even-strength goals with a staggering 37. If he can carry that even-strength scoring touch into next season and improve his power-play production, there’s no reason he can’t hit the 50-goal mark—or even contend for the Rocket Richard Trophy. Of course, that hinges on the Sabres improving a power play that ranked in the league’s bottom 10. Without that, he might be stuck just short of his full potential.
Most Improved Player: J.J. Peterka
JJ Peterka earns the honors as the Sabres’ Most Improved Player. After setting a career high with 50 points last season, he took a major step forward this season, finishing with 68 points (27 goals, 41 assists) in 77 games. That made him Buffalo’s third-best forward this season, trailing only Thompson and Alex Tuch.
Now entering the offseason as a restricted free agent (RFA), Peterka is due for a well-deserved long-term deal. Looking ahead to next season, he’s got legitimate 30-goal, 80-point potential—especially if he continues playing alongside talented linemates like Tuch and Josh Norris. The breakout is real, and the ceiling is only getting higher.
Best Defensive Forward: Alex Tuch
The final award goes to Tuch, recognized as the Sabres’ Best Defensive Forward. He set an NHL record for most blocked shots in a season by a forward with an incredible 113. As the team’s top penalty killer, he was a force all over the ice—relentless on the forecheck, dependable on the backcheck, and consistently in the right position in the defensive zone. Often tasked with covering the point on the penalty kill, his shot-blocking prowess also translated into offense, with six shorthanded goals this season.
Tuch wasn’t just a defensive standout—he was the Sabres’ best overall two-way forward, posting 67 points in 82 games and tying his career-high in goals with 36, a mark he previously hit during the 2022-23 season.
Looking ahead, extending Tuch should be at the top of Buffalo’s offseason priorities. With just one year remaining on the seven-year deal he originally signed with Vegas, locking him up long-term would be a major step toward building a more competitive future.
While the Sabres missed the playoffs once again, these standout players delivered night in and night out. And they weren’t alone—guys like Bowen Byram, Owen Power, Jason Zucker, and others also made meaningful contributions. If Buffalo can make the right moves this offseason, there’s real hope that this team could finally return to the playoffs next year.
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