Buffalo Sabres tank commander readies troops for a new NHL standings battle
The Buffalo Sabres find themselves on uncertain footing as they begin a challenging four-game road trip that could significantly affect the direction of their 2025–26 season and possibly their future trajectory.
A decade ago, WGR 550 radio host Jeremy White became a central figure during the “McEichel sweepstakes,” a not-so-secret tanking campaign aimed at securing Connor McDavid or Jack Eichel in the 2015 NHL Draft. White often debated Buffalo News reporter Mike Harrington over the value and ethics of that strategy.
Now, White appears to be advocating for a new stealth campaign — “Operation Gavin McKenna” — referring to the standout Penn State forward widely expected to be the top pick in the 2026 draft class.
“Whispers — A bad road trip from the hockey team and it might time to talk about Totally Another Needed Kleaningofhouse,”
White posted this comment on Twitter/X on Friday, before the Sabres announced that Rasmus Dahlin would be taking a leave of absence for family reasons. The playful phrasing was no coincidence; the acronym formed by those words spells “TANK.”
White’s quip arrives as Buffalo sits at the bottom of the fiercely competitive Eastern Conference standings with a 5–5–4 record and 14 points. Despite an early revival, the team has dropped five of its last six games after opening the season with a disappointing 0–3–0 start.
Author’s Summary
The Sabres face a critical stretch as Jeremy White revives old tank debates, hinting at a new draft-focused strategy while the team struggles at the bottom of the standings.