Even after a month filled with optimism, Buffalo still has plenty of work to do. The good news is there’s a plan in place and several successful ones to mimic.



As the Sabres build a new core around Jack Eichel, Rasmus Dahlin and Casey Mittelstadt, they’ll know exactly who they’re facing for the next three years — for the most part, Buffalo’s division rivals have already locked up their principal players.



It’s quite the arms race, and while the Sabres are behind now, they’ll have room to add quickly in the coming years as free-agent classes beckon and opponents get up in age.



Here’s how the Atlantic Division will look for the foreseeable future:



— Tampa Bay continues to reward the players who’ve turned the Lightning into a perennial contender, signing Nikita Kucherov to an eight-year, $76 million extension. The 25-year-old winger is locked up through the 2026-27...