Jarmo Kekalainen has Buffalo in a rare kind of spot: winning now without losing sight of what comes next. That balance has become the defining feature of the Sabres’ rise, and it’s a big reason the franchise no longer looks like a place talent leaves - it looks like a place talent wants to land.
The latest example came at the 2026 NHL Draft, where Buffalo added Daxon Rudolph fourth overall and big center Ilia Morozov 20th overall. Those picks fit right into a prospect pool that already has plenty of intrigue.
Radim Mrtka should bring size and talent to the blue line sooner rather than later, while Adam Kleber and Brodie Ziemer could develop into useful depth pieces. For a team operating in a league where the cap keeps climbing and the free-agent market has turned ugly, stacking up young, affordable talent matters.
That’s also why Kekalainen has been willing to walk away from the kind of splashy move that would have made headlines for a week and haunted the roster for years. He took a serious run at Connor Hellebuyck, but backed out when the price climbed too high.
The reported ask was steep: the fourth overall pick, the 20th overall pick, a prospect, a roster player - supposedly Jack Quinn - and another asset. Kekalainen wanted the eighth overall pick added to even things out, and the deal collapsed.
It’s easy to see why the idea had fans buzzing. Hellebuyck is an all-world goalie, and the thought of landing him would have sent Buffalo into a frenzy. But he’s 33 years old, and Kekalainen clearly wasn’t interested in paying a premium that could have boxed the Sabres in for only two or three seasons of elite play.
That kind of restraint has been part of the bigger picture. Buffalo’s turnaround has already included winning the Atlantic Division and its first playoff series in nearly two decades, and Kekalainen has helped build that success while keeping one eye on the future. Even the trade that sent Bowen Byram to the Chicago Blackhawks on June 23 opened the door for promising young defender Olen Zellweger from the Anaheim Ducks.
There’s also the matter of Alex Tuch. Letting him walk was a tough call, and the pressure to replace him quickly was obvious.
Instead of forcing a move, Kekalainen has leaned on what’s already in the system. Konsta Helenius made a strong impression in the playoffs.
Noah Ostlund did too, even with an injury-shortened run. Jiri Kulich is set to return after missing much of the season with a blood clot.
All three are expected to be top-six forwards, with Helenius carrying what might be the highest ceiling.
Replacing Tuch’s 33 goals won’t be easy. But Buffalo has options, and the roster picture may be clearer than it first looked. There are only so many places to go around, and Tuch’s departure could open a lane for at least one of those young forwards to step in right away.
The broader takeaway is hard to miss. This is not the same Sabres team that used to feed the league’s contenders.
Buffalo has shown more fight and tenacity, and Kekalainen has given the organization a sense of direction that wasn’t always there. Repeating as Atlantic Division champions will be a tall order, but the Sabres are positioned to be a force for a while.
In Other News...
Sabres May Finally Have A Real Answer On Long-Waited Prospect
Buffalos prospect pipeline could finally get a meaningful boost in the near future, and Prokhor Poltapov is the name worth circling. Sabres assistant GM Jerry Fortin said the 23-year-old winger could be in Buffalo next season once his KHL commitment ends, with his timeline tied to CSKA Moscows playoff run. Poltapov, taken 33rd overall, has followed up with back-to-back 40-point seasons and has the kind of game the organization views as close to plug-and-play.
For a Sabres team that has spent plenty of time waiting on young talent to arrive, the appeal is obvious: a player with some pro polish, a defined role and a chance to strengthen the roster without a long runway. The only real question now is when his season in Russia actually ends, because that will determine whether Buffalo gets a longer look in the spring or has to wait a little longer for a prospect who may be much closer to NHL-ready than most. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres Draft Decision Just Changed Everything For One Young Defenseman
Buffalos draft room sent a clear message by taking Daxon Rudolph with the fourth overall pick, sticking to the same best-player-available approach that has shaped the organizations recent thinking. It also added another name to a defense pipeline that was already getting crowded, with the Sabres continuing to invest heavily on the blue line while trying to balance long-term upside with a roster that still needs help in the present.
Radim Mrtka, the ninth overall pick from last year and one of the teams top young defense prospects, suddenly looks like he is part of a larger conversation. Jarmo Kekalainen has made it plain that Buffalo will draft that way and, if necessary, use surplus defensemen as trade currency, which puts Mrtka in an uneasy spot as the Sabres weigh development against the desire to improve the team in more immediate ways. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres Lock Up Beck Malenstyn And Shift Free Agency Plans
Beck Malenstyns first season in Buffalo gave the Sabres exactly the kind of depth they were looking for, and they rewarded it with a six-year contract carrying a $3 million average annual value. Since joining the team in 2024, Malenstyn carved out a steady role on the fourth line and penalty kill, the sort of bottom-six presence that can matter a lot over the course of a long season.
The deal also changes the shape of Buffalos summer business in a meaningful way. With just under $10.8 million in cap space, the Sabres still have two restricted free agents left to sort out, and Malenstyns new contract gives the front office a clearer picture of how much flexibility remains as those negotiations move ahead. [Read more 🡒]