Buffalo has a standard now. The power play has catching up to do.

Buffalo can point to a division title. It can also point to a power play that finished 21st. Both belong in the conversation about what comes next for the Sabres, who enter camp with a stronger recent résumé and an obvious place to improve.

In its September 16 camp report, Sabres.com put last season’s power-play conversion rate at 19.5 percent, compared with a penalty kill ranked fourth in the NHL. Lindy Ruff’s stated priorities included steadier units and more puck control below the hashmarks. Eric Staal will help with the man advantage and faceoffs.

That gives fans something more useful to watch than whether a preseason final score looks encouraging. Do the combinations stay together long enough to develop? Can Buffalo sustain possession after an entry? A goal can rescue an untidy shift; several good possessions can end without one. The process deserves attention alongside the conversion rate.

Two injury updates, two different situations

The club’s September 18 injury update says Louis Crevier participated fully in the first two camp practices following offseason shoulder surgery. That is progress in his preparation. It is not a confirmed opening-night lineup announcement, and his optimism about October 1 should not be reported as medical clearance for that game.

Jason Zucker’s situation is different. General manager Jarmo Kekäläinen said September 16 that the forward was expected to miss the beginning of the regular season with a sports hernia. He indicated the absence could extend a couple of weeks into the season, without giving a firm return date. That remains an estimate, not a countdown.

An opening created by an injury gives another player a chance to contribute. It does not make the missing player’s production easy to replace. Nor does full practice participation settle how a newcomer will fit once opponents begin testing the pairings and assignments.

What to watch when the games begin

For Buffalo, the useful early test is whether the power play becomes a more dependable part of the offense while the lineup takes shape. Preseason offers a first look. It cannot establish a season-long answer, especially when the players available today may not be the players available in October.