Training camp is almost here for the NHL and the Buffalo Sabres, and one of the first order-of-business questions is a familiar one: how do they keep the penalty kill humming without Jordan Greenway?
That’s not a small problem to solve. Buffalo finished last season with an 81.9% penalty kill rate, good for fourth in the league, and Greenway was a major reason why. When he was available, he gave the Sabres a big body, a 6'6'' reach and the kind of presence that mattered every time Buffalo was down a man.
He wasn’t just a one-year fix, either. Greenway spent four seasons as part of the Sabres’ penalty kill, and he topped 100 hits in both 2023-24 and 2024-25. The trade that sent him to the Chicago Blackhawks in June, paired with the departure of Alex Tuch, leaves Buffalo with real questions up front on the kill.
The challenge now is finding someone who can fill that same role, or at least help the Sabres piece it together in a different way.
Conor Timmins is one option if Buffalo wants more shot blocking from the back end. At 6'3'', he’s a little shorter than Greenway, but he was effective on the penalty kill and finished as a team leader in blocks.
The caution sign is health. Timmins has dealt with his own availability issues, missing four months because of a leg injury, which could make the Sabres hesitant to lean on him too heavily in that role.
And that’s only part of the equation. A strong defenseman on the kill helps, but Buffalo still needs forwards who can survive - and thrive - on the front end. That was one of Greenway’s biggest strengths.
Ryan McLeod was already one of the better pieces on the penalty kill, and his work in the faceoff circle and his speed likely played a big part in that. He gives Buffalo a different kind of value than Greenway did, but still fits the job description.
Then there are the more physical forwards, Zach Benson and Beck Malenstyn. Both bring that edge throughout the game, and both are in line to get chances to show they can handle penalty-killing duties this season.
Greenway’s value wasn’t just that he played hard; it was that he could deliver that physical approach when the Sabres needed it most. That’s the standard Buffalo now has to replace.
If the Sabres can find a healthy answer, they have a chance to keep the penalty kill rolling at the level that made it one of their real strengths last season.
In Other News...
Sabres Goalie Chase Suddenly Feels Real Again
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Now the situation has picked up again, with Winnipeg acknowledging the backdrop and Buffalo still viewed as a team with real interest. Hellebuycks contract, his recent performance and the kind of assets it would take to pry him loose all remain part of the equation, which is why this one still feels very much alive even without a resolution yet. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres Face A Ryan Johnson Decision That Could Cost Them Value
Ryan Johnson has always been valued more for what he prevents than what he produces. The 25-year-old defenseman brought a reputation for strong positioning and reliable defensive work into Buffalos system, and even with limited NHL experience and modest offensive numbers, he still looks like the kind of player who can fill a third-pair role if given the chance.
The problem for the Sabres is the math on the blue line. Buffalo has a crowded defense corps, and Johnson is so far down the pecking order that a real NHL opportunity does not appear close unless the team runs into injuries or another unexpected opening. For a club trying to manage every asset carefully, that leaves a tricky decision about how long to keep waiting on a player whose value may be clearer to other teams than it is in Buffalo right now. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres Wing Search Could Center On One Very Real Trade Target
The Sabres are still working through how to replace the offense they lost with the departures of Alex Tuch and Bowen Byram, and the search has naturally turned toward players who can help both immediately and in the room. Jarmo Kekalainen has been looking for additions who can supply scoring punch while also bringing some leadership, which makes this next stretch of the season worth watching as the trade market starts to take shape.
One name that fits the profile is Rickard Rakell, a 33-year-old winger with the Penguins who finished with 24 goals last season. Buffalo has been tied to the idea of adding a proven offensive piece, but Rakells situation is still tied to Pittsburghs own trajectory, since his value to the Penguins changes depending on where they stand in the playoff race. [Read more 🡒]