The Buffalo Sabres have already done some real work reshaping the roster this offseason, and the next step is figuring out which young players are ready to take off. With the NHL set to unveil the 2026-27 schedule on July 16, it’s a good time to look at the three Sabres who have the clearest breakout potential.
Zach Benson sits at the top of that list, and it’s not hard to see why. After landing a seven-year extension worth $7.5 million per season, he’s heading into his fourth NHL season at only 21 years old. He already has 211 regular-season games behind him, and last year he handled a bigger workload, averaging a career-high 15:53 of ice time per game while setting personal bests with 13 goals, 30 assists, and 43 points.
Benson’s playoff run only strengthened the case. In 13 games, he put up nine points, including five goals and four assists, and was arguably Buffalo’s most impactful performer.
His style fits the postseason perfectly: he gets under opponents’ skin, battles hard in the greasy areas, and lives around the net front. Some have even compared his relentless approach to Brad Marchand.
He’s one of the league’s best forecheckers and doesn’t back away from physical or mental confrontations.
That’s why a jump into the 55-60 point range doesn’t feel out of reach, especially if his playmaking keeps trending up. Hitting 40 assists this season would not be a shock.
Konsta Helenius is another name that could pop in a big way. He only appeared in nine regular-season games last season, so he’ll count as a rookie this year, but he already flashed enough to suggest there’s a lot more coming.
In those nine games, he had four points, with one goal and three assists. He also got a taste of playoff hockey, playing four games in the second round and scoring two goals.
What makes Helenius so intriguing is the full package. He can rip the puck, find open teammates, and create space for everyone on his line.
His hockey IQ stands out, and he brings just as much value without the puck. His forechecking is already among the best on the roster, and he’s smart in passing and shooting lanes.
At 20 years old, he may still be early in his NHL climb, but the ceiling is obvious. A 20-goal, 50-plus-point season is in play, and so is a real run at Calder Trophy buzz.
Noah Ostlund rounds out the group, and his case is built on more than the box score. When healthy last season, he produced 27 points, with 11 goals and 16 assists, in 60 games before an injury ended his regular season.
He did make it back for the first round of the playoffs, but another injury cut that short after three games. Even then, he managed two points in that brief postseason stint.
Ostlund’s value comes from how complete his game is. He backchecks, forechecks, wins puck battles along the boards, and forces turnovers.
He also has a knack for finding open ice, thinking the game at a high level, and using his skating to separate himself. Lindy Ruff clearly trusted him before the injury, giving him time on the second power-play unit and using him in tight late-game situations.
That kind of usage says plenty.
Now entering just his second season, Ostlund looks set for a noticeable step forward on both sides of the puck. A 45-plus-point season is a realistic target if he stays healthy, and he could settle in as a steady presence on Buffalo’s second or third line.
The Sabres have more than just optimism heading into next season. If Benson, Helenius, and Ostlund all move the way Buffalo believes they can, and the core of Tage Thompson, Rasmus Dahlin, and the rest keeps producing, the team could be a tougher out when playoff time comes around.
In Other News...
Sabres May Finally Have An Answer In The Hellebuyck Chase
Ryan McLeod has quietly become one of the more interesting names in Buffalos ongoing search for a difference-making goalie. The Sabres have spent plenty of time trying to sort out their forward depth, and McLeods recent growth has only made him more appealing as a possible piece in any bigger conversation. His past connection with Jets forward Cole Perfetti adds another layer to why Winnipeg could view him favorably, especially if the Sabres ever get serious about chasing Connor Hellebuyck.
For now, though, this remains more of a fit than a finished deal. Buffalo has other young forwards who could enter the discussion, including Konsta Helenius, Zach Benson, Josh Doan, Jack Quinn and Peyton Krebs, but the exact shape of any potential package is still unclear. McLeods value has risen enough to make him a logical talking point, yet the Sabres are still in the speculative stage, waiting to see whether this chase ever turns into something concrete. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres Goalie Chase Just Took A Twist Fans Wont Ignore
The Jets took one bit of uncertainty off the board by agreeing to a five-year deal with Cole Perfetti, sidestepping arbitration and keeping one of their young core pieces in place. For Buffalo, though, the bigger storyline still sits in the background: Winnipegs long-running speculation around Connor Hellebuyck, a name that has hovered over the Sabres goalie search and kept trade chatter alive around the league.
Ryan McLeod has surfaced as a logical piece in any return package, which makes the conversation around Buffalo even more interesting given the other names that have been floated. Jack Quinn and Peyton Krebs have also been mentioned as possible components, but the market still feels fluid, and the Sabres are waiting to see how far Winnipeg is willing to go before the real shape of a deal comes into focus. [Read more 🡒]
Why Sabres Fans Are Suddenly Talking Themselves Into Louis Crevier
Louis Crevier is the kind of defenseman Sabres fans can talk themselves into pretty quickly. After coming over in the deal involving Bowen Byram, the 25-year-old arrived with a season in Chicago that hinted at real growth, the sort of step forward that makes a player look less like a throw-in and more like a piece with a future. He set career highs across the board with the Blackhawks, and for a Buffalo blue line that always has room for more size and stability, that matters.
The appeal starts with the physical profile. At 6-foot-8, Crevier already stands out before he takes a shift, and he backed that up with a heavier, more complete season that showed he can contribute at both ends and play with bite. The Sabres are still sorting out what their long-term top four looks like, but Crevier has at least given the fan base a reason to wonder whether he can grow into that conversation sooner rather than later. [Read more 🡒]