Buffalo, with 58 points (23-36-12), is 46 behind Nashville. Only the Arizona Coyotes, with 57, have less than the Sabres, who were eliminated from the playoffs on Saturday.
"I know there are a lot of differences between the two teams," Housley said. "That's obvious.
"But to tell you the truth, this version of our team has a lot in common to the one in Nashville during my first year there in 2013."
The Predators missed the playoffs in 2013-14 but made them in each of the following three seasons. Nashville reached the Final for the first time in franchise history in 2017, losing 4-2 against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
"I look at Nashville the first year I got there and I see a lot of similarities to this team," Housley said. "I mean, our record is a little bit different. But the development of the young players, the guys going up and going down, and the subsequent development, those are the things I can relate to dating back to my early days in Nashville.
"I like to think I've helped in the development (of Predators players). I think it's a terrific D-corps. And the forwards have done a terrific job. But a lot of those guys have had to come up the hard way and I think they appreciate that.
"I'd like to think I've had a hand in some of their success. But when Monday comes, well, we're trying to win hockey games."
Indeed, when the puck is dropped, friends will become foes, especially when Housley looks over at the Predators bench at coach Peter Laviolette. Housley was a member of Laviolette's coaching staff for his final three seasons in Nashville.