Noah Ostlund didn’t sound like a player worried about where he’ll fit. He sounded like a young forward ready to see what happens if Buffalo lets the kids play together.
Asked Wednesday on Sabres Live about the idea of joining Jiri Kulich and Konsta Helenius on a new-look “kid line,” the 22-year-old lit up at the thought.
"Yeah, that would be cool for sure," Ostlund told Brian Duff and Marty Biron while sporting a wide smile. "Yeah, why not?
Give it a try. We'll see."
That kind of lineup shuffle is exactly what Lindy Ruff figures to spend training camp and the preseason sorting through as he tries to settle on the right mix before the regular season opens Oct. 1 against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Ostlund, Kulich and Helenius are all in the conversation, and there’s a real chance Buffalo gives that trio a look at some point, even if it doesn’t happen right away.
The opening-night picture got a little clearer with Jason Zucker injured and likely out for the first stretch of the season. That injury should reduce the pressure on Buffalo to send one of its waiver-exempt young forwards to the AHL’s Rochester Americans.
For Ostlund, the appeal is obvious. Kulich and Helenius are both gifted playmakers, and skating with them could help him push his own offense forward. He put up 27 points, with 11 goals and 16 assists, in 60 games during his first full NHL season.
The Sabres have already seen flashes of what he can do. On April 24, 2026, Buffalo posted a clip of Ostlund delivering a slick pass to Bo Byram for a goal.
And while his rookie year was built around responsibility and detail, the offensive ceiling is there. The 5-foot-11 Swede showed that in 2024-25 with the Amerks, when he recorded 36 points in 45 games.
Still, Buffalo wanted him thinking the right way at the NHL level. His first full season came with a clear emphasis on playing strong two-way hockey, not just chasing numbers. That fits the profile the Sabres have been targeting in the players they’ve locked up long term under general manager Jarmo Kekalainen.
Ostlund’s new eight-year, $52.8 million extension also came together quickly. He said the process wasn’t drawn out.
"No. Not really," he said on Sabres Live went asked if it was a long negotiation process.
"Maybe a week or two. Not too long, I'd say."
Buffalo has been betting on projection with Ostlund, who has only 68 regular-season games on his résumé. But the organization has made a habit of committing to players with defensive awareness, and Ostlund fits that mold along with Zach Benson, Josh Doan, Peyton Krebs and Beck Malenstyn.
The Sabres believe the offense will come for players like Ostlund, Benson and Doan, especially in Ruff’s up-tempo, free-flowing system. At that pace, being able to handle both ends of the ice matters. That’s why the 200-foot game is such a big part of the equation.
Buffalo will need that growth, too. Ostlund, Benson, Doan, Kulich and Helenius are all expected to take a step forward as the Sabres try to make up for the loss of Alex Tuch, who was sent to the Washington Capitals in a sign-and-trade deal, and at least temporarily replace Zucker’s production as well.
How much those young forwards advance could shape Buffalo’s season. The Sabres are trying to stay with the Eastern Conference’s elite for a second straight year, but if the development doesn’t come fast enough, they could drift closer to the playoff bubble.
Either way, Ostlund is now a major piece of Buffalo’s long-term plan. Based on what he’s shown so far, the Sabres made a smart bet. The upside is still coming.
In Other News...
Eric Staals New Sabres Role Comes As Injury Questions Build
The Sabres are adding a familiar face to their bench-adjacent mix this season, with former center Eric Staal set to take on an on-ice coaching role while also continuing his special assistant work for GM Jarmo Kekalainen. Staals new responsibilities are expected to include helping centermen and lending a hand on the power play, giving Buffalo another veteran voice as the team tries to get its groups organized early.
The timing matters because the lineup picture already has a few health questions attached to it. Jason Zucker is recovering from offseason sports hernia surgery and could miss the first two weeks, while Louis Crevier is on track to be ready for the opener after shoulder surgery, and Justin Danforth is likely to begin camp with the club as he works back from knee surgery. For a team trying to settle roles before the games start counting, Staals added presence may be one of the quieter but more useful developments. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres Blue Line Battle Is Already Tilting Before Camp Begins
With Bowen Byram gone from the Sabres blue line, Buffalo already has a vacancy to sort through before training camp even opens, and the competition is starting to take shape. General manager Jarmo Kekalainen said the club will have to account for Louis Creviers offseason shoulder surgery, while also setting up a path for Olen Zellweger, who signed a three-year deal with Buffalo and figures to be in the mix from the start.
Creviers recovery creates a temporary wrinkle, even if the Sabres still expect him back for the regular season, and that leaves the door open for someone else to seize momentum early. Zellweger, meanwhile, should have the benefit of being on the ice for camp and preseason work, which could matter in a battle that may be decided as much by timing and availability as by talent. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres Face One Big Hellebuyck Question As Trade Talk Lingers
Connor Hellebuycks name has been circling the league for days, and the Sabres are right there among the teams keeping tabs on the Winnipeg situation. Reports say the Jets have fielded trade inquiries for the goaltender, but the offers have not yet met their price, even as Hellebuyck remains out of camp and interested clubs wait for the asking cost to come down. Buffalo is among the teams linked to the talks, alongside Carolina, San Jose and Edmonton, which is enough to keep the speculation alive without moving it any closer to a conclusion.
For the Sabres, the intrigue is obvious because the search for goaltending help is never far from the front-burner in Buffalo. The front office has at least been mentioned as part of the conversation, but the bigger question is whether the market ever lines up cleanly enough for a real pursuit. For now, the Jets are still shopping for the right return and the Sabres are still waiting like everyone else, hoping the next turn in the standoff makes the path a little clearer. [Read more 🡒]