The Buffalo Sabres enter a pivotal four-game road trip that could shape their entire 2025-26 season and beyond. Their current performance places them at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, with a record of 5-5-4 and 14 points. The team has struggled recently, losing five of their last six games after briefly recovering from a poor 0-3-0 start.
Jeremy White, a WGR 550 radio host, was a prominent voice during the Sabres' controversial tanking effort known as the McEichel sweepstakes back in 2015. That strategy aimed to secure top draft picks Connor McDavid or Jack Eichel. Now, White is hinting at a similar approach with a new operation named after the likely No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, 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, cleverly using an acronym to hint at "TANK."
This message by White was posted before the Sabres announced that defenseman Rasmus Dahlin would take a leave of absence for family reasons, adding to the team's challenges.
"They've lost five of their last six games after a brief hot streak following a miserable 0-3-0 start to the 2025-26 campaign."
As the Sabres navigate this difficult stretch, the direction of the team and their draft strategy remains a crucial topic among fans and analysts.
Author's summary: The Sabres’ challenging season and recent struggles highlight a renewed debate about tanking, led by voices revisiting past strategies to secure top draft picks.