Sabres Defenseman Jacob Bryson Exits Game with Upper-Body Injury as Buffalo Eyes Playoff Push
The Buffalo Sabres' blue line took a hit Thursday night when defenseman Jacob Bryson exited the game against the Montreal Canadiens with an upper-body injury and did not return. The team announced his status as the third period got underway at the Bell Centre.
Bryson, 28, had logged just over six minutes of ice time (6:17) before leaving midway through the second period. He finished the night with a plus-1 rating, contributing early before his night was cut short.
This season, Bryson has been a steady depth option for Buffalo, appearing in 33 games and tallying two goals and five points. He’s maintained an even plus-minus rating while averaging just over ten minutes per game (10:18) - a role that underscores his value as a reliable third-pairing presence who can skate, move the puck, and hold his own in limited minutes.
His absence came on the same night the Sabres welcomed Michael Kesselring back into the lineup after a two-game absence. That timing offers a bit of insurance for Buffalo, which has quietly built one of the deeper young defensive corps in the league. With Rasmus Dahlin, Mattias Samuelsson, Owen Power, and Bowen Byram rounding out the top four, Bryson has been slotted in as the sixth defenseman, providing flexibility and experience on the back end.
A fourth-round pick (No. 99 overall) in the 2017 NHL Draft, Bryson took the college route, playing three seasons at Providence before turning pro in 2019. He made his NHL debut in the 2020-21 season and has since carved out a role as a dependable depth piece.
Over parts of six seasons, all with Buffalo, Bryson has played in 286 career games, recording six goals and 48 points while averaging 15:38 of ice time. His career plus-minus sits at minus-39 - a stat that reflects the Sabres' broader struggles over the years more than it does his individual impact.
What’s notable is that Bryson, like many of his teammates, has yet to taste postseason hockey. The Sabres haven’t reached the playoffs since 2011, but that drought might finally be nearing its end. Buffalo currently holds a wild card spot in the Eastern Conference and is shaping up to be a potential buyer at the upcoming trade deadline - a rare position for this franchise in recent memory.
Bryson is playing out the final year of his current contract, which carries a $900,000 cap hit. He’s set to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2025-26 season. Whether he remains part of the Sabres’ long-term plans or not, his veteran presence and familiarity with the system could be crucial down the stretch - especially if injuries continue to test Buffalo’s depth.
For now, the Sabres will be monitoring Bryson’s status closely. With the team firmly in the playoff hunt, every roster piece matters - and Bryson has proven to be a quietly important one.