Buffalo didn’t make a splashy summer swing, and that says plenty about how the Sabres see their own roster. After moving Alex Tuch to the Washington Capitals and Bowen Byram to the Chicago Blackhawks, general manager Jarmo Kekalainen stayed patient, betting that the next jump comes from inside the room rather than from outside help.
That approach puts the spotlight squarely on Buffalo’s young core, especially a handful of players who could carve out much bigger jobs in 2026-27. The Sabres finished with 109 points last season, fourth-most in the NHL, and the organization is clearly counting on internal growth to keep that momentum rolling in the Eastern Conference.
Noah Ostlund looks like one of the clearest candidates to climb. The 22-year-old forward just signed an eight-year, $52.8 million extension that begins next season, a strong sign the Sabres believe his ceiling is still rising.
Buffalo leaned on Peyton Krebs last season when it wanted more defensive reliability on the top line, but that move came with a cost once the playoffs arrived. Krebs was held without a point in seven games against the Montreal Canadiens in the second round, and the Habs moved on.
Ostlund could be asked to fill a similar role, only with far more offense in his stick. The 2022 first-round pick put up 27 points, including 11 goals and 16 assists, in 60 games last season.
That wasn’t a loud NHL breakout, but the track record underneath it is a lot more interesting: 42 points in 32 junior games in Sweden and 36 points in 45 AHL games with the Rochester Americans in 2024-25. He may never be a point-per-game scorer, but Buffalo has reason to believe there’s more offense waiting to come out.
If he gets a look on the top line, possibly with Tage Thompson and Josh Norris, that chance only gets bigger.
On the blue line, Louis Crevier is another player who could push into a more meaningful role. Crevier came to Buffalo in the return for Byram and averaged just under 17 minutes per game over parts of three seasons and 134 games with Chicago. In Buffalo, there’s a real path for that number to creep closer to 20 minutes a night if he earns trust in a larger assignment.
The opening alongside Owen Power on the second pair is there. Olen Zellweger is the early favorite for that spot, but the 5-foot-10, 193-pound defender brings obvious defensive questions.
Crevier, at 6-foot-8 and 228 pounds, would give Power a sturdier, more physical partner and allow Power to lean a little more into the offensive side of his game. It would also make Buffalo’s third pair, with Zellweger and Conor Timmins, look more usable.
Crevier could also get a shot on the penalty kill. Timmins and Mattias Samuelsson are likely to handle PK1, but the two PK2 spots remain open, especially if the Sabres want to keep Rasmus Dahlin fresh. If Crevier takes a real step, he could put himself in position to cash in next summer as a restricted free agent.
Then there’s Colten Ellis, the goalie with the most intrigue and the least certainty. Buffalo’s three-goalie setup worked during the regular season in 2025-26, but it broke down in the playoffs when neither Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen nor Alex Lyon could settle things down for long enough. That shaky postseason is a big reason the Connor Hellebuyck rumors got so much attention over the summer, even if those talks have quieted for now.
Instead, the Sabres appear set to roll with what they have. Ellis, claimed off waivers from the St.
Louis Blues before last season, posted a .903 save percentage in 16 games as a rookie. His best night was a 37-save shutout against the Columbus Blue Jackets in early April.
At 25, he’s the youngest member of Buffalo’s goaltending group, and it will be worth watching whether head coach Lindy Ruff gives him more starts in 2026-27.
Luukkonen is still the favorite to open camp as the No. 1 goalie, with Lyon in place as a dependable backup. But Ellis has the most upside of the three, and Buffalo may eventually need to find out if that upside is real. A strong start could open the door to a larger role, and by season’s end, it wouldn’t be shocking if he’s made the biggest impression of the bunch.
In Other News...
Sabres Start Camp With Two Early Absences Fans Will Be Watching
The Sabres are opening training camp at LECOM Harborcenter with a pair of early absences that will immediately draw attention from a fan base eager to see how the roster takes shape. Ahead of Thursdays camp opener, the team confirmed it will be without one of its veteran forwards and a recently acquired defenseman, leaving a couple of notable spots empty right as the preseason work begins.
Jason Zucker is expected to be among the missing pieces when camp gets underway, and Louis Crevier will also be out to start. No further details were offered on either situation, which leaves Buffalo sorting through the first week of camp with a little less depth than planned and a little more curiosity than usual about when the roster will be whole again. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres Fans Have A New Reason To Watch Winnipeg Closely
Several NHL teams used the stretch before the Sept. 15 deadline to lock up young talent, with the Sabres among them after signing Noah Ostlund to an eight-year deal. Around the league, the long-term business got done quickly, including Washingtons max contract for Justin Sourdif, but the bigger attention-grabber for Buffalo fans has been in Winnipeg, where a former Hart and Vezina Trophy winner has suddenly become the most intriguing name on the board.
Connor Hellebuyck publicly requested a trade, and the offers being discussed have reportedly landed well below what the Jets expected, even as interest continues to circulate from multiple clubs. For Sabres followers, the twist is that Buffalo had once been viewed as a leading candidate to land him, and the market has since widened to include Utah, Carolina, New Jersey and San Jose, leaving the situation fluid as training camp approaches. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres Stat Races Just Got More Interesting In A Changing Lineup
With the offseason additions in place, the Sabres are heading into the 2026-27 season with a lineup that looks different enough to make their internal stat races a little more intriguing. Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin still sit at the center of the conversation, but the group around them is shifting, with younger pieces like Zach Benson and Josh Doan expected to push for bigger roles as Buffalo continues building around development.
The changing cast matters because the categories fans tend to track all season long could be harder to predict than usual, especially with the blue line and goaltending both in flux. New defensive faces are entering the picture, and Buffalo is still sorting through how it wants to manage its net, leaving plenty of room for a camp and early-season competition that should tell a lot about where this roster is headed. [Read more 🡒]