I compare them to the 2019 Bills because the Bills were not that good when they made the playoffs in 2017. 2019 was the start of the Josh Allen playoff run. And that's where the Sabres are. And they didn't just "chose a couple of prospects." They have Tage Thompson, scored 48 goals last year, considered a top 10 center. Rasmus Dahlin, a top 5 defenseman. The Sabres were the only NHL team with FIVE players to score 25 or more goals. They were the THIRD highest scoring team last year. They were the 9th best power play. Their GM and coach; Kevyn Adams and Don Granato, are on par with Beane and McDermott. And this year they have one of the best young goalies in Devon Levi. Plus players like Alex Tuch (from the Eichel trade) Dylan Cozens, Jeff Skinner, JJ Peterka, Jack Quinn (injured in the offseason unfortunately) Viktor Olafsson. Oh, and the Athletic rated their prospect pipeline the best in the NHL.
It's pretty obvious you don't follow hockey or the Sabres very closely. But trust me, they are on the verge of being a dominant team.