As the NHL heads into its Olympic roster freeze, teams across the league are facing decisions about how to best manage their rosters with a temporary halt on trades and transactions. For the Buffalo Sabres, that means navigating a tricky stretch where development, recovery, and roster flexibility all come into play. While the team won’t be able to make trades after the freeze kicks in Wednesday afternoon, they still have a few levers to pull-especially when it comes to sending players down to Rochester.
Let’s break down what Buffalo’s options look like and which players might be on the move-temporarily or otherwise.
The Waiver Wire Rulebook
First, the rules. The NHL’s guidelines are pretty specific about who can be assigned to the AHL during the Olympic break.
Players who are waiver-exempt can be sent down unless they’ve played in 16 of the team’s last 20 games or have been on the NHL roster for at least 80 days before January 21. That narrows the list considerably.
So, while names like Noah Ostlund and Zach Metsa are off the table, there are a few others who could be headed to Rochester-either for development, conditioning, or simply to make room for returning players.
Konsta Helenius: Flash, Then Fade?
Konsta Helenius made an early splash after being called up in mid-January. He wasted no time making his presence felt, tallying three points in just the first period of his second NHL game. That kind of debut turns heads.
Since then, though, his production has cooled-just one point over the last five games. And with injured players expected to return after the Olympic break, Helenius could find himself squeezed out of the lineup. Sending him back to Rochester could be a smart move-letting him log top-line minutes and continue developing rather than sitting in Buffalo’s press box.
He’s shown flashes of what he can do, and there’s no doubt he’s in the Sabres’ long-term plans. But for now, a stint in the AHL might be the best path forward.
Ryan Johnson: The Seventh Defenseman Shuffle
Ryan Johnson is another player likely to be reassigned during the freeze. Called up after Jacob Bryson went down, Johnson hasn’t seen any game action during this stint-serving as the team’s seventh defenseman.
Earlier in the season, he did get into three games, but with Bryson close to returning and Conor Timmins also expected back post-break, Johnson’s spot on the NHL roster is likely to disappear. Sending him back to Rochester gives him a chance to play meaningful minutes rather than ride the bench.
Conor Timmins: Rehab with Rochester?
Now we get into a different category-players who are still on injured reserve but could be eligible for a conditioning loan during the Olympic break. That includes defenseman Conor Timmins, who’s been sidelined since December 18th with a broken leg.
The original recovery timeline had him out six to eight weeks, putting him on track for a mid-February return. If that holds, a short stint in Rochester could be exactly what he needs to shake off the rust and get back to game shape before rejoining the Sabres.
Timmins was quietly one of Buffalo’s most effective blueliners before the injury-racking up six assists and 70 blocked shots in 33 games. When he’s healthy, he likely slots back in on the third pair alongside Michael Kesselring. But the Sabres will want to make sure he’s fully up to speed before tossing him back into NHL action.
Josh Norris: A Conditioning Call to Make
Josh Norris is another player to watch. He landed back on IR with an upper-body injury suffered on January 14th, but head coach Lindy Ruff has hinted that Norris could return before the Olympic break.
That creates a bit of a wrinkle. If Norris returns before the freeze, he won’t be eligible for a conditioning loan. So if the Sabres are considering sending him to Rochester for a few games to ease him back in, they’ll need to hold him out of NHL action until after the freeze begins.
It’s a delicate balance. Norris has only played in 19 games this season but has made the most of them-putting up 17 points and recording at least one point in seven of his last nine appearances.
When healthy, he’s a top-six forward. The Sabres just need to make sure he’s fully ready before throwing him back into that role.
Justin Danforth: Skating Toward a Return
Justin Danforth is still in the early stages of his comeback. After signing a two-year deal with Buffalo over the summer, he managed just four games before suffering a broken kneecap. Lindy Ruff recently shared that Danforth has begun preliminary skating, and there’s optimism he could return after the Olympic break.
Given how long he’s been out, a conditioning loan to Rochester seems like a logical next step. It’s tough to jump right back into NHL action after that kind of layoff, and a few AHL games could help him find his legs before rejoining the big club.
Final Thoughts
The Olympic roster freeze doesn’t mean everything grinds to a halt. For the Sabres, it’s a chance to recalibrate-get young players more ice time, ease veterans back into action, and start setting the stage for the final stretch of the season.
Whether it’s Helenius getting valuable minutes in Rochester, Johnson staying sharp, or injured players like Timmins, Norris, and Danforth using the break to get back into rhythm, these decisions matter. Buffalo’s depth will be tested in the second half, and how they manage this stretch could go a long way in determining how strong they come out of the gate once the Olympic flame is extinguished.