No, they couldn't. Right now, in early February, the Sabres are 2 wins or 6 points off their season total from last year. If you don't see that as an improvement, then you are either blind or purposely acting obtuse. I'd be willing to bet that by the end of the year, they are no more than 10 points away from the 8-spot. That isn't some monumental hill to climb. Nobody had them pegged as playoff-bound this year.
The team is being built correctly from the center-out. They are the youngest team in the league, and have the 4th lowest payroll.