Training camp is here, and for the Buffalo Sabres, that means the focus has shifted from last season’s success to the next wave of pieces they hope can keep them near the top of the NHL standings. One of the more interesting additions in that mix is Louis Crevier, a player whose name barely registered at first in the trade that sent Bowen Byram and Jordan Greenway to the Chicago Blackhawks.
Crevier comes in as more than just a throw-in. The Sabres have plenty of offense coming from the blue line, but one of the lingering issues is getting the puck out from around their own net. That kind of steadiness matters even more while they continue to sort through their full-time goalie situation.
Last season, Crevier logged 95 blocks for Chicago, a total that would have ranked third among Sabres defensemen behind Owen Power and Mattias Samuelsson. If he can back that up again, he could start looking less like a depth option and more like someone with a real shot to work his way into the top four.
At 6'8'', Crevier brings a size advantage that is impossible to ignore. Samuelsson already stands 6'4'', and pairing him with an even taller defenseman would give Buffalo a daunting look on the back end. That kind of combination could matter at even strength and on the penalty kill.
Crevier also has experience on the Blackhawks’ penalty kill, and Chicago finished second in the league there last season. Buffalo wasn’t far behind, ranking fourth in penalty-killing percentage.
The Sabres also have to think about offense from their defensemen. Last season, they had three blueliners finish with more than 40 points, including Byram, who is now gone.
If they want to replace that production, Crevier offers at least a little intrigue. He scored seven goals and finished with 25 points last season, and if that kind of output shows up again in Buffalo, it could help make the difference in a playoff push.
There’s another layer here, too. Crevier is set to become a restricted free agent next offseason, so he’ll have a contract to play for.
That alone usually sharpens a player’s edge. Being dealt from Chicago may only add to that motivation.
In Other News...
Sabres Suddenly Face A Bigger Goaltending Question Than Expected
Buffalos goaltending picture shifted again this summer when Devon Levi moved on to Edmonton after his development had stalled following an encouraging first NHL look. Levi had been one of the more important young names in the Sabres system, the kind of prospect who seemed capable of giving the organization a long-term answer in net, but his path never really kept moving forward the way Buffalo hoped. Now he gets a fresh opportunity with the Oilers, where playing time is suddenly more available because of Frederik Andersens injury situation.
For the Sabres, though, Levis departure only sharpens a familiar concern. The organization is left to sort through a pipeline that does not offer an obvious front-line solution, and the loss of a player once viewed as a major part of that future makes the search feel more urgent. Buffalo still has to determine where its next dependable option in goal is coming from, and Levis success or failure in Edmonton will only keep that conversation hanging in the background. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres Prospect Weekend Revealed A Bigger Concern Than The Scores
The on-ice results at Harborcenter were lopsided enough, with Bostons prospects taking both games in the scaled-down showcase, but the bigger takeaway for Buffalo was what the weekend said about the pipeline. The event itself has been pared back from the sprawling prospect gatherings of past years, and the Sabres are now at a stage where many of their highest-end young players have already moved on to the NHL or college ranks.
What remained was a forward group built mostly from undrafted players and late-round picks, a reminder that the organization is leaning more on depth development than star power at this point. Buffalo still had names worth tracking and the setting still offered a useful first look, but the gap in upside was hard to miss and it left the club with a familiar question hanging over the rest of its prospect pool. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres Just Added Two Rochester Names Worth Watching Closely
The Rochester Americans are already planting a few seeds for the future, adding forward Thomas Bordeleau and goaltender Talyn Boyko on one-year AHL contracts for the 2026-27 season. For a Sabres organization that leans on Rochester as its development pipeline, these kinds of signings are the sort worth filing away now, especially when the players involved come with different paths but clear pro experience.
Bordeleau brings a more established track record, arriving as a former second-round Sharks pick with NHL and AHL scoring on his resume. Boyko is much further along the developmental curve, having spent most of his time in the ECHL and logging only 10 career AHL games, so his fit in Rochester will be one to watch as the Amerks continue shaping their roster depth. [Read more 🡒]