The Buffalo Sabres are heading into the 2026-27 season with something they haven’t carried in more than a decade: real expectations.
Their preseason is nearly over, and the regular season begins Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026. That’s after a summer of major change and plenty of anticipation following a season that ended one goal short of the Eastern Conference Final.
Buffalo’s front office made some hard calls. Bowen Byram was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks, and Alex Tuch’s rights were moved to the Washington Capitals, where he quickly signed an eight-year deal. At the same time, the Sabres brought in Olen Zellweger, and with Tuch gone, they’re leaning on internal growth to help fill the gap.
That’s the biggest shift here. Opponents don’t look at Buffalo as the old punching bag anymore. After last season, the Sabres are viewed as a real threat, and they’re going to be treated that way from the jump.
The bar is simple: make the playoffs.
Whether Buffalo sneaks in or lands near the top of the conference, anything short of a postseason berth would be a disappointment. With Tage Thompson leading the attack, Rasmus Dahlin coming off a Norris Trophy finalist season, and a group of young players ready to take another step, that demand makes sense.
A top-three finish in the Atlantic is in play, and there’s even a path to another division title. But this division is a grind. There are realistically six other teams in the Atlantic that can make a legitimate playoff push, and Buffalo knows the road won’t be easy.
The Sabres can’t afford to miss the playoffs unless injuries completely wreck the season, and that would be a disaster. Even with some departures from last year’s roster, the young core gives them enough punch to stay on track.
Zach Benson, now locked in on a seven-year extension, is expected to help cover the offense Tuch left behind. Noah Ostlund also signed an eight-year extension right before camp and looks ready for a breakout.
Konsta Helenius is entering his rookie season with real expectations, and Jiri Kulich should be fully healthy after dealing with a blood clot for most of last season. Those are the kinds of players Buffalo needs producing every night.
Zellweger could end up being one of the most important additions on the roster. He signed a three-year deal worth $3 million per season, which makes him a full $9.5 million cheaper than Byram. The Sabres believe he can deliver similar production at a much lower cost, and at 22, his offensive instincts and upside give him a chance to grow into even more than that.
If the young forwards deliver, Zellweger holds up his end, and the core performs to standard, Buffalo won’t just get back to the playoffs. It’ll be the kind of team nobody wants to draw.
Goaltending was a strength last season, and it has to stay that way.
Alex Lyon posted a .907 save percentage, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen finished at .910, and Colten Ellis came in at .903. All three remain on the active roster, and because the three-goalie rotation worked so well, Buffalo has no interest in changing it.
Lyon left the team’s third preseason game with what appeared to be a shoulder injury, so he likely won’t take on the same workload he handled last season. That’s not about performance; it’s because Luukkonen and Ellis have shown they can carry more of the load.
Luukkonen’s assignment is straightforward. He has to prove he can be just as steady as he was in the regular season. His playoff inconsistency stood out, and if he wants to fully own the crease, he needs to show he can be a dependable true No. 1 from October through April.
Ellis is listed third, but that undersells where he stands. General manager Jarmo Kekalainen has made it clear he believes in him, and Ellis backed that up with a strong preseason, stopping 35 of 38 shots. He’s shown he can be more than an emergency option.
Buffalo’s formula is pretty clear. If the goaltending stays steady, the young players keep rising, and the team gets off to a strong start, the Sabres should be right back in the mix for the Atlantic Division crown.
And with the way this roster looks now, a fast start isn’t just a nice bonus. It’s a necessity.
In Other News...
Sabres Leave Preseason With One Opening Night Concern Looming
The Sabres wrapped up preseason at home against the Penguins with a 3-1 loss, but there were still a few notable October details worth sorting through before the games start counting. Buffalo did get a power-play goal, a small sign of progress in an area that has been under the microscope, and Lindy Ruff also won two video challenges to wipe out Pittsburgh goals, which at least showed the bench was sharp even if the final result was not.
Matt Grzelcyk was in the lineup for his Sabres debut after signing a one-year deal, giving Buffalo another look at how its blue line might settle in. The bigger concern came late, when Ukko-Pekka Luukkonens status became the issue to watch after he left for the locker room in the third period, leaving the team with one looming question as it shifts from exhibition mode to the real thing. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres Get An Encouraging Owen Zellweger Injury Update
Owen Zellwegers recovery has given the Sabres a little bit of good news as the preseason winds down. The young defenseman is working back from a concussion, and the early outlook is encouraging for a team still sorting through its blue-line depth before the games start to count.
Zellweger suffered the injury in Tuesday nights preseason game against Columbus, but his recent skate went well enough to keep his timeline moving in the right direction. Buffalo is hoping to have him back in the mix next week, which would be a welcome development as the club tries to get through the final stretch of camp without any more setbacks. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres Face A Familiar Rival That Just Got Much More Dangerous
The Sabres already know the drill when Tampa Bay shows up on the schedule. The Lightning have been a tough Atlantic Division measuring stick for years, and the matchup still carries the feel of a team Buffalo has to chase just to prove it belongs in the same conversation. With last season's results still fresh, this one is shaping up as another important gauge of where the Sabres stand against a rival built to punish mistakes and control the pace.
Tampa Bay only got more difficult to handle this offseason, bolstering a roster that was already deep and dangerous. The teams are lined up to see each other repeatedly during the 2026-27 season, and one late-season meeting stands out as the kind of game that can ripple beyond the standings, especially if the Atlantic race stays tight. For Buffalo, those nights against the Lightning may say as much about progress as any box score. [Read more 🡒]