Buffalo Sabres Face Crucial Road Trip in 2025-26 NHL Season
The Sabres are entering a pivotal four-game road trip that could significantly impact the direction of their 2025-26 season and beyond. Currently struggling, Buffalo has dropped to last place in the Eastern Conference with a 5-5-4 record and 14 points.
Jeremy White and the Tanking Strategy
Jeremy White, a WGR 550 radio host, was a key advocate of the Sabres' controversial tanking effort known as the "McEichel sweepstakes" a decade ago. This strategy aimed to secure top NHL draft picks like Connor McDavid or Jack Eichel in the 2015 draft. White frequently debated the merits of tanking with Buffalo News reporter Mike Harrington.
Introducing "Operation Gavin McKenna"
Now, White is preparing for a new tanking plan he calls "Operation Gavin McKenna," focused on gaining the likely No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 draft, the dynamic Penn State forward Gavin McKenna.
"Whispers — A bad road trip from the hockey team and it might be time to talk about Totally Another Needed Kleaningofhouse," White wrote on Twitter/X.
Note: This tweet was posted before the team announced that Rasmus Dahlin would take a leave of absence for family reasons. The phrase cleverly encodes the word "TANK."
Current Performance and Outlook
The Sabres have struggled recently, losing five of their last six games after a brief positive stretch following an 0-3-0 start to the season. This shaky performance heightens the stakes of the upcoming road trip and fuels speculation about the team’s direction.
Summary: The Buffalo Sabres’ upcoming road trip could decide whether they seriously pursue tanking strategies to rebuild via the 2026 NHL draft’s top prospects.