The Sabres don’t need a warning label for the New Jersey Devils. They need two points.
Buffalo’s 2026-27 schedule sets up a clean opportunity against a team that looks very beatable right now, and the Devils’ biggest question mark sits where games are often won or lost: in goal. New Jersey moved veteran Jacob Markstrom to the Florida Panthers, then brought in journeyman Rittich, who posted a save percentage of .894 or worse in each of the past two seasons. That alone doesn’t inspire much confidence about a team trying to stay in the playoff mix.
There is one obvious caveat. If new GM Mehta lands a blockbuster trade for Winnipeg Jets superstar netminder Connor Hellebuyck, the whole conversation changes fast.
With a move like that, New Jersey’s ceiling would shoot way up. The same kind of swing could come if the Hughes Bros., Luke and Jack Hughes, end up waiting on brother Quinn Hughes if he leaves the Minnesota Wild.
If that caliber of talent arrives, the Devils would suddenly look a lot closer to the top of the Metropolitan Division.
But as things stand, Buffalo should see this as a favorable matchup. The Sabres will face New Jersey three times in less than two months, starting on Boxing Day and wrapping up 55 days later.
Two of those meetings come in Buffalo, and that matters. The Sabres were 26-10-5 at home last season, and there’s no excuse for them not to cash in at KeyBank Center against a team that went 21-20-0 on the road.
That’s the real point here: the Devils are not a team Buffalo can afford to treat casually, even if they don’t look especially intimidating. If the Sabres want to repeat as Atlantic regular-season champs, they have to beat the teams they’re supposed to beat. Right now, New Jersey fits that bill.
Losing standings points to non-elite opponents would come back to bite Buffalo, and coach Lindy Ruff has to make sure his team plays with that edge every time it sees a weaker club.
In Other News...
Eric Staals New Sabres Role Comes As Injury Questions Build
As the Sabres try to sort out their opening-night mix, the offseason has already started to shape the conversation around availability. Jason Zucker is recovering from sports hernia surgery and could miss the first two weeks of the season, while Louis Crevier is expected to be ready for the opener after shoulder surgery. Justin Danforth, meanwhile, is coming back from knee surgery and is likely to begin training camp with the team.
Eric Staal is set to be part of that backdrop in a different way this season. The former Sabres center will add an on-ice coaching role to his special assistant duties to GM Jarmo Kekalainen, giving him a hand in working with centermen and the power play. For a team already monitoring health at a few key spots, that kind of extra bench-side guidance could become a useful layer as camp gets going. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres Start Camp With Two Early Absences Fans Will Be Watching
Training camp is opening at LECOM Harborcenter, but the Sabres are already starting with a pair of notable absences that will draw attention from the first skate. Buffalo is set to get going without one of its veteran forwards and a recently acquired defenseman, a small early wrinkle for a team trying to establish rhythm and roles right away.
The club confirmed the two players will not be available when camp opens Thursday, but offered no further details on either absence. For a roster still sorting through lineup questions and early impressions, the missing names are the kind fans will notice immediately, especially with camp serving as the first real checkpoint of the season. [Read more 🡒]
Tage Thompson Decision Could Create A Real Sabres Dilemma
Tage Thompson is headed into training camp with a familiar but still consequential assignment: Lindy Ruff confirmed the Sabres will start him at center, a role that keeps the teams most dangerous offensive threat in the middle of the ice as camp opens. Ruff also made clear Buffalos plans are not fixed, noting Thompson could move around during games as the roster and matchups dictate, which fits a lineup built around more versatility than rigid lines.
The bigger question is what that decision means for the rest of the forward group, especially with Jarmo Kekalainen emphasizing how demanding the center position can be and how much Thompson drives the offense from there. If Thompson stays in the middle, Buffalos alignment up front could ripple into the roles of other key forwards and create a real early-season test for how the Sabres want to distribute their scoring depth. [Read more 🡒]