Sabres’ Untouchables: Who’s Safe in Buffalo as Jarmo Kekalainen Shapes the Roster?
When Jarmo Kekalainen took over as general manager of the Buffalo Sabres in mid-December, he didn’t waste time sugarcoating the situation. His message to the locker room was blunt, direct, and exactly what this franchise needed to hear.
“You are all pretty much all expendable, and no one is safe,” Tage Thompson recalled on the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast. “We are going to start working, and if you don’t want to work, you’re not gonna be on the team.”
That kind of tone shift was long overdue in Buffalo. After six seasons under Kevyn Adams where the front office often felt overly protective of a core that never even sniffed the playoffs, Kekalainen’s approach signals a new era-one defined by accountability and results.
But let’s be real: not everyone is expendable. Even in a shakeup, there are pieces you build around. So as the Sabres approach the NHL’s roster freeze for the 2026 Winter Olympics and the March 6 trade deadline, the question becomes: who are the true untouchables in Buffalo?
Let’s break it down.
1. Rasmus Dahlin - The Heart of the Blue Line
If there’s one player who’s earned untouchable status, it’s Rasmus Dahlin. You could make a strong case for Tage Thompson, but Dahlin gets the edge-not just for his elite play, but for the way he’s carried the captain’s mantle through some tough years.
When trade rumors swirled last March, Dahlin didn’t just brush them off-he fired back with conviction.
“I have never said I want out of here,” he told reporters. “I’m not happy where we’re at.
I don’t want to lose. We have to get better.
I haven’t even mentioned the word ‘leave.’ That bugs me, actually.”
That’s not lip service. That’s a player who wants to be part of the solution.
On the ice, Dahlin is everything you want in a franchise defenseman. He’s a true No. 1, a power-play quarterback, and a legitimate Norris Trophy candidate. He’ll be suiting up for Sweden at the Olympics, and his presence on the Sabres’ blue line is the kind you just don’t trade away.
2. Tage Thompson - Buffalo’s Offensive Engine
Tage Thompson is putting up the kind of numbers that make GMs around the league envious: 25 goals and 25 assists through 48 games. He’s on pace to top 40 goals for the third time in his career, and he’s doing it while carrying a massive offensive load for a team that lacks other true scoring threats.
But what makes Thompson even more valuable is his contract. At $7.1 million annually through 2029-30, he’s a bargain in today’s NHL economy-especially with the salary cap expected to rise. That’s top-line production at a second-line price.
There’s no replacing a player like Thompson in Buffalo’s current lineup. He’s not just untouchable-he’s foundational.
3. Josh Doan - The Breakout Star Nobody Saw Coming
Josh Doan has been a revelation since arriving from Utah in the blockbuster JJ Peterka trade. With 15 goals and 19 assists in 48 games, he’s producing like a top-six forward. But it’s his all-around game that’s really stood out.
Doan brings relentless energy on the forecheck, a strong defensive stick, and a compete level that sets the tone. He’s the kind of player who makes life miserable for opponents and inspires teammates to elevate their own games.
At just 23, Doan is already looking like a long-term piece. If he continues to refine his offensive touch, he’s got the tools to become a complete, two-way force.
4. Zach Benson - Still Developing, But Worth the Patience
Zach Benson might be the most polarizing name on this list. With just 80 points in his first 181 NHL games, the offensive production hasn’t exactly popped. But context matters.
He’s only 20 years old. And while the scoring hasn’t fully arrived, the skillset is undeniable.
Benson brings a playmaking ability that’s rare in Buffalo’s current forward group. He sees the ice well, makes smart reads, and creates chances that others can’t.
He may never become a 40-goal scorer, but there’s a lot more to his game than goals. If the Sabres are serious about building a sustainable contender, Benson’s upside and hockey IQ make him a player worth holding onto.
On the Bubble: Key Players Who Could Be Moved (But Probably Shouldn’t Be)
Not everyone is untouchable, but there are a few players who fall into the “probably should stay” category-unless a monster deal comes along.
- Ryan McLeod is the kind of third-line center coaches love. He wins faceoffs, plays with pace, and brings structure to the bottom six.
That’s a role Buffalo has struggled to fill consistently.
- Owen Power catches flak for not being more physically dominant at 6’6”, but the analytics still like his game. He’s a work in progress, sure, but the upside is still very real.
- Konsta Helenius just made his NHL debut and already looks like a future middle-six staple. He’s one of the organization’s most promising forward prospects.
- Radim Mrtka isn’t quite NHL-ready yet, but the towering defenseman has top-pair potential. The Sabres can afford to be patient with him.
Expendable? Big Names That Could Be on the Move
Now for the other side of the coin. These are the players who, for a variety of reasons, fall firmly outside the untouchable zone-and could be on the move if the right offer comes along.
- Alex Tuch is headed for unrestricted free agency, and the Sabres simply can’t afford to lose him for nothing. As much as he means to the team, asset management has to come first.
- Josh Norris has been effective when healthy, but that’s the problem-he’s rarely healthy. The injuries are piling up, and Buffalo can’t keep plugging holes every time he’s out.
- Bowen Byram has played his best hockey as a Sabre lately, but the long-term fit is murky. The blue line is crowded, and Byram’s future role isn’t clearly defined.
- Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has been a major reason for Buffalo’s recent surge, but if the right trade scenario arises, the front office has to at least listen. The goalie market is unpredictable, and UPL’s value might never be higher.
Final Word
Kekalainen’s message was loud and clear: no one is safe. But as we’ve seen, there are still a few key players who form the backbone of this team’s future.
Dahlin, Thompson, Doan, and Benson give the Sabres a foundation worth building on. The rest?
Fair game.
With the trade deadline looming and the Olympic roster freeze approaching, Buffalo’s front office is entering a critical stretch. How they navigate it could define the next chapter of the franchise.
One thing’s for sure-this is no longer the Sabres team that tiptoes around tough decisions. The rebuild is over. It’s time to compete.