The Buffalo Sabres spent Friday trimming the roster as the preseason winds down and opening night gets closer.
Seventeen players were sent down in the club’s first round of cuts, with eight of those players placed on waivers. The group on waivers included Dennis Gilbert, Ryan Johnson, Mason Geertsen, Trevor Kuntar, Aidan McDonough, Carson Meyer, Jason Polin and Matt Villalta. The rest of the demotions were forwards Thomas Borderleau, Matteo Costantini, Riley Fidler-Schultz, Zac Funk, Matthew Peca, Jake Richard, Redmond Savage, Graham Slaggert, Liam Valante and Brendan Warren, along with defensemen Vsevlod Komarov, Noah Laaouan, Gavin McCarthy, Radim Mrtka and Maxim Strbak.
Those cuts come with the regular season right around the corner. The NHL opens play Tuesday, Sept. 29 with a five-game schedule, while the Sabres begin their season Thursday, Oct. 1 in Columbus against the Blue Jackets.
After last season’s run - 50 wins, the Atlantic Division, and a finish one goal short of the Eastern Conference Final - the expectations around this team are no longer quiet. Opponents won’t be looking at Buffalo the same way anymore.
The roster has also taken a few notable hits and changes along the way. Bowen Byram was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks, and Alex Tuch’s rights were dealt to the Washington Capitals.
That means some younger players are going to be asked to shoulder more, and the organization believes they’re ready for that kind of step. Thursday night is where it starts.
Health remains a major part of the story, too.
Olen Zellweger has been in concussion protocol since Sept. 22 after taking a hit from Carson Soucy in Buffalo’s 5-1 preseason win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Lindy Ruff said he expects Zellweger to be ready for the Oct. 1 opener.
Mattias Samuelsson left the Sept. 22 game against Columbus and is week-to-week with a lower-body injury, according to Ruff. The coach also said it comes down to pain tolerance, and that Samuelsson could be back sooner than expected.
Jason Zucker has been sidelined since the start of training camp because of an offseason sports hernia injury. Jarmo Kekalainen said he “could maybe miss a couple weeks of the regular season.”
Alex Lyon is dealing with a shoulder injury after diving for a loose puck with his glove hand in Buffalo’s 3-2 overtime loss to the Detroit Red Wings. Ruff said he’ll “miss a few days.”
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen left the Sabres’ 3-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins 3:47 into the third period after tweaking something in his lower body. Ruff said he “didn’t want to take any chances” and would not say whether Luukkonen will be available for Thursday’s opener.
Jiri Kulich has also been nursing a nagging injury, but he skated at practice Saturday morning and “was doing pretty good.”
In Other News...
Hurricanes Trade Twist Could Still Open The Door To A Bigger Upgrade
With the NHL season opener closing in, the trade market around the Blue Jackets has picked up a little more intrigue, and Kirill Marchenko is part of the conversation. Montreal has emerged as the team linked to the winger, giving Columbus another name to monitor as clubs around the league sort through last-minute roster questions and try to find upgrades before the games start to count.
For Columbus, the timing matters because any move involving Marchenko would have to bring back help that actually fits the long-term picture, not just another body. The broader market has been moving in fits and starts, too, with Carolina's talks on defenseman Alexander Nikishin falling apart over contract issues and Edmonton still looking for a right-shot center, which only adds to the sense that one deal elsewhere could trigger a bigger ripple on the Jackets' side. [Read more 🡒]
Blue Jackets Are Suddenly In The Middle Of A Massive Roster Gamble
The Blue Jackets have suddenly found themselves at the center of a major roster conversation, with reports saying Columbus and Toronto are in advanced discussions on a trade that would reshape both lineups. The talks are still fluid, but the framework appears to involve more than a simple one-for-one swap, with goaltender Elvis Merzlikins and salary cap pieces also part of the negotiations as both sides try to make the numbers work.
What makes this especially delicate for Columbus is that the deal hinges on one important layer beyond the player movement itself. The two teams are still working through the final terms, and the conversation has moved to whether the key forward involved would be willing to lock in a long-term commitment before anything is completed. Until that part is settled, the Blue Jackets are left weighing a gamble that could meaningfully alter their roster in one swing. [Read more 🡒]
Blue Jackets Face A Huge Kirill Marchenko Decision Amid Trade Talks
Trade chatter around Kirill Marchenko has quickly turned into one of the more consequential storylines facing Columbus, with the Blue Jackets and Maple Leafs still working through the framework of a deal. Marchenko has become the focal point because any move involving him is not just about the present roster, but also about what kind of commitment comes next for a team trying to build with some certainty.
Toronto has already been given permission to speak with Marchenkos agent about an extension, which gives the talks a different feel than a typical swap. Even so, no contract has been reached, and the two sides are still negotiating both the trade terms and the possibility of locking in Marchenko beyond this season. [Read more 🡒]