Buffalo’s scoring picture is about to look different, and that’s exactly why a handful of Sabres are staring at bigger numbers in 2026-27.
The summer departures of Alex Tuch and Bowen Byram leave real production behind, and if Buffalo is going to chase the same kind of result it had last season, the load has to spread. That opens the door for several players who already showed signs of being ready for a jump. From young talent still climbing to established names expected to carry more of the offense, these are the five Sabres whose point totals look set to rise.
Konsta Helenius is first on that list. The 19-year-old already flashed what he can do in a small sample, finishing with one goal and three assists in nine games after making his NHL debut on January 19.
His second career game was the eye-opener, when he put up three points against the Nashville Predators. Helenius also arrives with a strong résumé from the Finnish Elite League, where he became the second-youngest player ever to record a hat trick.
He even got four playoff games last season, and scored two goals in the second round against the Montreal Canadiens. With Tuch gone, Helenius looks like a real candidate to become a major source of offense.
Jiri Kulich belongs in the same conversation. Last season was interrupted after just 12 games because of a blood clot, but before that, he was building on a rookie year that pointed toward a bigger role.
In 2024-25, Kulich played 62 games and put up 15 goals and nine assists for 24 points. The 2026-27 season feels like the point where it all comes together for No. 20, especially now that he’s back healthy and positioned to develop into a top-six scorer.
Zach Benson is another player whose role should keep growing. He broke through in 2025-26 with 13 goals and 30 assists for 43 points, then earned a new contract with an AAV of $7.5 million over the next seven years.
That kind of deal brings expectations with it, and Benson’s upward trend suggests there’s more coming. If he sharpens his finishing around the crease, his goal total could take a big leap.
Rasmus Dahlin’s situation is a little different, but the expectation is the same: more. The Sabres captain had a career-high 74 points last season, and with Bowen Byram no longer in the defensive core, Buffalo needs even more from its top blue-liner.
Dahlin already owns a four-year Norris ballot streak, and the next step is pushing further into elite territory. The comparison to Cale Makar’s massive new deal only underscores the level Dahlin is chasing.
Then there’s Tage Thompson, who has the clearest path to a monster season. He already owns a career-high 47 goals from 2022-23, and he has a shot to become just the fifth Sabre ever to reach 50.
With Tuch gone, the pressure on Thompson grows, and so does his responsibility as the leader of the offense. Buffalo will need younger players to chip in, but it still starts with No.
- If he can get back to the 90-point mark for a second time, that would go a long way toward putting the Sabres where they want to be.
In Other News...
Sabres Prospect Suddenly Carries Much Bigger Stakes Into Camp
Konsta Helenius arrives at Sabres camp with far more attention than a typical young forward, and for good reason. The 20-year-old Finn turned heads with a strong run in the AHL and followed it with an eye-catching playoff stretch, enough to put himself in the conversation for a full-time NHL roster spot as Buffalo opens a season looking for more punch down the middle.
What makes Helenius especially intriguing is how quickly the stakes have risen around his development. The Sabres already see him as a player who can matter in their offensive mix, and there is a real sense that his camp performance could determine just how soon he gets a meaningful role at the next level. For a prospect who entered the organization with promise, the path ahead now looks a lot bigger than simply earning another look. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres Camp Battle Could Reshape Two Crucial Spots In Ruffs Lineup
Training camp has a way of turning every depth chart into a referendum, and for Lindy Ruff, Buffalos next few weeks could shape more than just the opening-night lineup. The Sabres still have some important sorting to do up front, where the coaching staff is weighing the top-nine forwards and trying to settle on a look that fits around its core pieces. Josh Norris, Jiri Kulich, Noah Ostlund and Jason Zucker are all in the mix for roles, and the picture could shift again if the front office makes a trade before camp breaks.
There is similar uncertainty on the back end, where the Sabres are also evaluating defensive pairs and looking for the right partner for Owen Power on the second unit. Those decisions tend to ripple through the rest of the roster, especially when a few spots remain open and competition is tight enough to make every practice rep matter. By the time camp ends, Buffalo may have a clearer idea of who fits where, but it still sounds like a lineup with one more surprise waiting to happen. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Still Loom Over The Sabres Playoff Race
Even after Buffalo knocked Boston out of the playoffs last spring, the Bruins still look like the kind of opponent that can shape the Sabres season. The Atlantic Division remains crowded, the rivalry has plenty of recent history, and Boston did not make many sweeping changes to its roster, which keeps the matchup familiar for both sides. Buffalo also knows the regular season told a different story than that postseason upset, so the Sabres cannot lean on last years playoff breakthrough as proof the edge has shifted for good.
The concern for Buffalo is that the Bruins still project as a direct obstacle in the standings, not just a familiar rival on the schedule. With both teams expected to stay in the same thick group of contenders, every head-to-head game can carry extra weight, especially if the race tightens late and the margins get small. Bostons offseason move involving a former Sabres forward only adds another layer to a matchup that already feels like it could decide more than bragging rights. [Read more 🡒]