The Buffalo Sabres are limping into the Olympic break-literally and figuratively.
Injuries have piled up across the roster, and head coach Lindy Ruff laid it out clearly ahead of the team’s 5-2 loss to Pittsburgh. The good news?
Ruff expects center Josh Norris and winger Zach Benson to be back in the lineup once the break wraps up later this month. The not-so-good news?
Winger Jordan Greenway might be heading toward surgery for a mid-body injury-the same one he had repaired last summer. That’s a red flag for a player who’s already battled through physical setbacks this season.
On the blue line, things aren’t much better. Conor Timmins, who suffered a broken leg just before Christmas, is still on crutches, though Ruff noted he’s making progress.
“He’s getting close to where he’ll be walking on his own,” Ruff said. “I wouldn’t anticipate him being back right afterwards, but I think by that time, he may be skating.”
That’s a glimmer of hope, but it’s clear the Sabres will be without him for a bit longer.
Then there’s Michael Kesselring. He didn’t dress for the game in Tampa, and when he returned against the Penguins, it was a rough outing-he finished a minus-2 in under eight minutes of ice time.
Ruff explained that Kesselring has been caught in a frustrating loop: return from injury, get hurt again, repeat. “I really just felt, just take a breath, take a game off, get back in tonight, but get your head in the right place,” Ruff said.
After Thursday’s game, the Sabres made a trio of roster moves, sending Konsta Helenius, Isak Rosen, and Zach Metsa down to the AHL’s Rochester Americans.
Helenius, the 18-year-old forward who made waves early with four points in his first three NHL games, has cooled off. He’s now scoreless in his last six and played just 8:02 against Pittsburgh. The talent is there, but the adjustment to the NHL grind is real, and a stint in Rochester could help him reset.
Rosen, meanwhile, has been a top producer for the Amerks, leading the team with 20 goals in just 28 games. He’s bounced between Buffalo and Rochester this season, logging seven points (3 goals, 4 assists) in 16 games with the Sabres. His offensive instincts are NHL-ready, but the Sabres are likely looking for more consistency and two-way reliability before carving out a permanent role for him.
On the back end, Metsa has been quietly solid. Filling in for the injured Timmins and Kesselring, he’s held down a third-pairing role with two points (1 goal, 1 assist) in 26 games.
Not flashy, but dependable. His demotion is more about roster flexibility and the return of bodies than performance.
The Olympic break couldn’t come at a better time for Buffalo. Between the injuries, lineup shuffling, and young players trying to find their footing, this team needs a reset.
If Norris and Benson return as expected, and if Greenway avoids surgery, the Sabres could emerge from the break with a healthier, more stabilized roster. But for now, it’s all about getting through this stretch, regrouping, and hoping the second half brings better luck-and better health.