The Sabres are counting on Jack Quinn to keep moving forward, and they’re doing it at a time when Buffalo has already lost Alex Tuch to the Washington Capitals. With Jarmo Kekalainen’s offseason work already reshaping the roster, the pressure now shifts to the young core to carry more of the load in 2026-27.
Quinn is right in the middle of that conversation. He’s one of the most debated players on the team, but he also might be one of the most important. Buffalo needs a fast start, and if the Sabres are going to make up for Tuch’s departure, Quinn’s offense has to be part of the answer.
Last season started rough for him. Through his first 20 games, Quinn had only three goals and eight points, and the frustration around him was easy to hear.
Then the season turned. Over his final 62 games, he produced 17 goals and 43 points, a 0.69 points-per-game pace that showed what he could do when things started clicking.
The numbers tell part of the story, but the shape of his game changed too. Quinn finished with a career-high 20 goals despite posting the worst shooting percentage of his career at 10.5%.
Lindy Ruff spent plenty of time early in the year pointing out that Quinn was getting his chances and shooting the puck well, even if the finishing wasn’t there yet. As the season wore on, that finishing touch began to show up.
There were stretches where Quinn looked like a real problem for defenders. Later in the season and in the Sabres’ two playoff series, he flashed the kind of skill that can tilt a shift. He could slip through traffic, create danger in tight spaces, and get pucks on goal quickly enough to beat goalies before they could set.
That quick release is still the calling card. Quinn plays with enough edge to stay hard to handle, and he’s strong enough on the puck to make his skill matter.
At 25 when the season begins, he feels like a player who has been building toward something bigger for a while. Not long ago, plenty of people around Buffalo thought 30 goals was in reach.
With Tuch gone and a bigger role available, that idea doesn’t sound nearly as far out there now.
For all the trade chatter that has surrounded him at times, the Sabres appear ready to keep Quinn in the fold for 2026-27. His progress last season was real, and it looked more like a player starting to deliver on the promise that made him a top 10 pick in 2020.
Buffalo can’t afford another slow opening from him, especially with the 33 goals Tuch took with him. Quinn won’t replace everything Tuch brought, but if he takes another step offensively, he can help soften that loss. He can also give the top nine another layer, which matters for a team that already has depth up front but could use even more flexibility and scoring punch.
The biggest question hanging over Quinn is what comes next. He’s heading toward a new contract, and if his production keeps climbing, he could become an offer sheet candidate.
For now, though, the Sabres are leaning on the soon-to-be-25-year-old to help push them back to the playoffs. After years of waiting on the upside, Buffalo may finally be getting the version of Quinn it has been hoping for.
In Other News...
Sabres May Finally Have Their Goalie But The Cost Looks Serious
Connor Hellebuycks future in Winnipeg is suddenly looking like one of the bigger goalie stories in the league, and Buffalo is right in the middle of it. EJ Hradek said the Jets may have already seen Hellebuyck play his last game for them, with Winnipeg planning to move him and the Sabres among the teams in trade discussions as they explore whether to land a true difference-maker in net.
The appeal is obvious for Buffalo, which would be getting a proven star if it can get the deal done, but the price is shaping up to be steep. Winnipeg is believed to want a second-center type back, not just a spare part, and the Sabres have already seen their depth tested by the loss of Alex Tuch and Bowen Byram, making any major swing a delicate balancing act as talks continue without a final agreement. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres May Be Eyeing Another Risky Answer To A Familiar Need
The Sabres are still shopping for a proven way to bolster their top six after missing out on Patrick Kane, and the search has them looking at players who can bring more than just finishing touch. Buffalo wants someone who can slide into a meaningful role without being a one-dimensional scorer, which is why the latest name tied to the conversation is drawing attention around the league.
Bryan Rust has surfaced as a possible fit because he brings offense and reliable two-way play, the kind of profile that can help a team beyond even-strength minutes. He put up 29 goals and 36 assists in 72 games last season, and that kind of production is exactly why he has been mentioned as someone who could stabilize Buffalos second line while also helping on special teams. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres May Have A Real Answer For Their Scoring Problem
The Sabres are still looking for ways to patch the scoring they lost with the departures of Alex Tuch and Bowen Byram, and the front office appears to be keeping an eye on a familiar kind of solution: a proven veteran winger who can still put the puck in the net. Buffalos cap situation leaves it searching for value, which is why the market for an unsigned scorer has become worth monitoring as the summer drags on.
Vladimir Tarasenko fits the profile of the kind of player that can change the conversation around a lineup in a hurry. He has six 30-goal seasons on his rsum and has still shown he can finish at a useful rate in recent years, including 23-goal seasons in two of the last three campaigns. For a Sabres team trying to replace offense without overcommitting, the question now is whether the fit is as clean on paper as it looks on the ice. [Read more 🡒]