With training camps already underway, the Sabres are moving into 2026-27 with a roster that looks different in a few key places and a bunch of stat races that feel wide open. The offseason exits changed the shape of the lineup, and that leaves plenty of room for younger names and a few familiar veterans to grab the biggest numbers.
Up front, Buffalo still has the kind of talent that can drive the scoreboard. Tage Thompson remains the centerpiece of the offense, and Rasmus Dahlin is right there as one of the team’s most reliable producers.
Even with Alex Tuch gone, the Sabres still have options to replace that production, especially with Zach Benson and Josh Doan coming off breakout 2025-26 seasons and expected to take on bigger jobs. Jason Zucker, Jack Quinn, newly extended Noah Ostlund, returning sniper Jiri Kulich, and even rookie Konsta Helenius are all in the mix to help push the offense forward.
The blue line also took a hit in the offseason. Bowen Byram is now with the Chicago Blackhawks, and Michael Kesselring was moved to the San Jose Sharks after he could not stay healthy or fit well enough in the lineup.
That leaves Dahlin, Owen Power, Mattias Samuelsson, and Conor Timmins as the core, with newcomers Louis Crevier and Olen Zelweger adding a fresh look and Zach Metsa filling out the seventh spot. There’s talent there, but the new pieces will need time to settle in.
Buffalo still has plenty of forwards who can make life difficult without the puck, too. Ryan McLeod’s penalty-killing work stood out last season with 5 short handed goals, Zach Benson brings energy in both zones, and Beck Malenstyn throws his body around and blocks shots without hesitation. That should spread the defensive numbers around between the forwards and defensemen.
In goal, the Sabres are once again headed into a three-goalie setup. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Alex Lyon split starts, games, and wins last season, while Colten Ellis stepped in when needed, and all three are still on the roster.
There’s no clean answer for how the crease will shake out, especially with Luukkonen and Lyon so close statistically a year ago. Lyon offers steadiness and handles long layoffs well, but when Luukkonen gets hot, he looks like one of the better goalies in the league.
If he grabs control early, it could stay his net to lose.
Here’s how the major stat categories are projected to shake out for Buffalo in 2026-27:
Goals - Tage Thompson - 45
Assists - Rasmus Dahlin - 62
Points - Tage Thompson - 90
Shots - Tage Thompson - 281
Power-Play Goals - Josh Doan - 14
Power-Play Assists - Rasmus Dahlin - 26
Shorthanded goals - Noah Ostlund - 4
Faceoff Percentage - Sam Carrick - 55%
Hits - Beck Malenstyn - 279
Takeaways - Zach Benson - 52
Blocked Shots - Mattias Samuelsson - 170
Plus/Minus - Ryan McLeod - plus-21
Penalty Minutes - Zach Benson - 185 PIM
Goals Against Average - Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen - 2.68
Save Percentage - Alex Lyon - .908
Goalie Games Played - Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen - 48
Wins - Ukko-Pekka Luukonen - 30
Shutouts - Alex Lyon - 3
Some of those races are tighter than they look. Thompson should still lead the goals category, but Jack Quinn, Josh Norris if healthy, and Jiri Kulich if healthy could all be in the chase.
The power play was a disaster last season, so the player who scores there most often may simply be the one spending the most time at the net front, even if that isn’t Thompson’s usual spot. Benson is another name to watch closely after his playoff run, and he could show up near the top of multiple categories.
There’s a lot riding on the young core here. Doan and Benson are trying to build on what they already showed, Kulich, Ostlund, and Helenius are still early in their careers, and Luukkonen has major pressure to prove he can be the guy. The Sabres ended their playoff drought last season with consistency and pure will, and while repeating that exact run won’t be easy, they’ve got enough talent to push for another spring return.
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 Quiet Offseason Put Extra Pressure On These Young Players
After a summer of limited movement, the Sabres are making a clear bet on what they already have. General manager Jarmo Kekalainen stayed quiet after the trades of Alex Tuch and Bowen Byram, a sign the front office is leaning into internal development rather than chasing outside fixes. For a team trying to keep moving forward, that puts a heavier burden on the young players in the system to show they can help right away.
Noah Ostlund is one of the names carrying that expectation after recently landing a long-term extension, while Louis Crevier may be in line for a bigger defensive role. Colten Ellis also sits in the goaltending mix as Buffalo sorts out its depth in net. The Sabres have left themselves little margin for error here, which makes the next step for that young group more important than ever. [Read more 🡒]