The Buffalo Sabres are heading into the week of Oct. 25-Nov. 1 with one less Connor Hellebuyck storyline hanging over them, but a few other issues still front and center.
Hellebuyck, who had been tied to Sabres rumors since the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, was traded to the New Jersey Devils on Friday. That officially closes the door on speculation that had followed Buffalo for months, especially after the Sabres came close to landing him before the draft and the deal fell apart.
The bigger picture, though, is that Buffalo’s early-season issues go well beyond one goalie target. Goaltending has been uneven, but the slow start has been broader than that, with most of the roster outside a few players struggling to find its footing. General manager Jarmo Kekalainen has said he believes in Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, and that remains the plan for now.
What the Sabres cannot keep shrugging off is the power play. In Friday’s 4-3 overtime loss to the Washington Capitals on Oct.
24, Buffalo went 0-for-2 with the man advantage. That leaves the club with just three power-play goals through its first 11 games, a number that looks even worse when you consider the talent on that unit.
The Sabres are sitting 31st in power-play success rate, and that simply is not a workable place to live in the Eastern Conference. They have already dropped games because of their special teams, and the margin for error is getting thinner.
There’s also a lengthening injury list to monitor.
Jiri Kulich took a puck to the face in practice on Friday and did not travel with the team to Washington. It is unclear whether he will join the club for its California road trip this week.
Alex Lyon also will not travel. The goaltender is making progress from a shoulder injury after a setback a couple of weeks ago, and Lindy Ruff said the rehab is headed in the right direction.
Sam Carrick has been sidelined since Oct. 15 and was placed on injured reserve on Oct. 21. The injury is believed to be the same one he dealt with at the end of last season.
Matt Grzelcyk has been out since Oct. 13 with what Ruff described as a “lower-body flare-up.” He is considered day-to-day.
Conor Timmins, out since Sept. 26 and on injured reserve since then, is also moving forward in his recovery, though he has not resumed skating yet.
In Other News...
Sabres Trade Chatter Just Put Their Goalie Plan In Focus
Trade chatter has been swirling around the league again, and the Sabres have not been immune to it. While the Red Wings are reportedly sticking with Dylan Larkin and Simon Edvinsson despite continued calls from teams looking for young centers, and Washington has opened the door for Ivan Miroshnichenko to explore a move, Buffalo has had its own noise to sort through with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and the goaltending picture.
Luukkonen said the message from GM Jarmo Kekalainen was simple: stop worrying about the rumors and keep his attention on his game. Kekalainen also made it clear on WGR Radio that Luukkonen is part of Buffalo's future, a notable vote of confidence at a time when the Sabres are still trying to steady things in net and define what comes next in goal. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres Pressure Is Building After Jarmo Missed On A Major Trade
The Sabres have spent enough time circling the trade market to make patience feel like a luxury, and the pressure around Jarmo Kekalainen is only growing as those big swings keep coming up empty. Buffalo had reportedly been in the mix for major names, with the goalie search and the hunt for help down the middle both serving as reminders that the club still has clear needs if it wants to push forward.
Now the focus is shifting to what comes next, and the list of possible fixes is getting attention around the league. Robert Thomas, Ryan O'Reilly, Jake DeBrusk and Filip Gustavsson all fit different needs depending on how Buffalo wants to attack the problem, whether that means adding a center, wing depth or goaltending help, but none of those paths are simple and the Sabres still have to find a deal that actually sticks. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres Already Face Heat Over Their Risky Goalie Bet
Buffalo had a chance to chase one of the leagues most proven goaltenders, but the Sabres did not push hard enough to land Connor Hellebuyck when rumors tied them to the Jets star. Instead, the front office is leaning into its current group, with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Colten Ellis and injured Alex Lyon forming the backbone of the crease picture for now. It is the kind of decision that can look prudent in July and far riskier if the season starts to wobble.
Lindy Ruff is still showing confidence in Luukkonen, saying the Sabres will keep giving him starts as he works to clean up his game. For a team that has spent years trying to stabilize its most important position, the choice to stand pat is already drawing scrutiny, especially with a proven option having been there for the taking. The message from Buffalo is clear enough: they believe internal improvement is the path forward, even if the outside noise suggests they may be gambling more than they should. [Read more 🡒]