The Buffalo Sabres have kicked off training camp, and the early tone has been pretty clear: this group plans to bring it every day.
Camp began Thursday as the Sabres started building toward the 2026-27 season, and over the weekend the team drew positive reviews for how sharp it looked. General manager Jarmo Kekalainen and head coach Lindy Ruff have both made the same point loud and clear: they do not want this team getting outworked.
That message showed up in the public blue and gold scrimmage on Saturday, where the Sabres gave fans a good look at a few early standouts. The line of Zach Benson, Noah Ostlund and Jack Quinn was the most effective unit on the ice. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen also turned in a strong showing, which stood out even more given the offseason buzz about Buffalo possibly including him in a potential Connor Hellebuyck trade.
With camp winding down, the Sabres are already moving into game mode. Their first preseason test comes Monday, Sept. 21, against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
There are also a few injury situations worth watching as the season approaches. Jason Zucker will miss the start of the year after offseason sports hernia surgery, though Kekalainen said “he is very close to the start of the year.” The expectation is that Zucker will be out no more than the first two weeks of the regular season.
Louis Crevier, the newly acquired defenseman, also had a shoulder procedure in the offseason, but the Sabres believe he should be ready for the opener on Oct. 1 in Chicago against the Blackhawks. Kekalainen said, “He looks like he’s ready,” and added, “I think he still needs to talk to the doctor that operated on him, but we think he’ll be ready for the start of the regular season. We still don’t have a final answer on it.”
Justin Danforth is another name to monitor. He missed the start of camp after undergoing a knee cartilage procedure, following the kneecap injury he suffered in the fourth game of last season. Ruff said, “He had his ups and downs with trying to get back,” and later added, “… He’s a really competitive guy who will do almost anything to win hockey games, from blocking shots, and that’s how he got hurt.
“We felt we had a right-handed centermen who could take key faceoffs for us. There was a little bit of a decision of whether he would be at camp maybe a month ago. But he’s starting to feel good.”
The Sabres’ week now shifts from camp reps to preseason action, with the first game of the week set for Sept. 21, 2026.
In Other News...
Penguins Suddenly Have A Fourth-Line Opening Fans Didn't Expect
The Penguins suddenly have some lineup sorting to do after forwards Blake Lizotte and Oliver Okuliar were both placed on a week-to-week timeline because of injuries. Lizottes status for the start of the regular season is now uncertain, which complicates a fourth-line picture that had already been taking shape as camp moved along.
Oliver Okuliars injury adds another layer to the problem, because Pittsburgh may have to rethink how it handles the bottom of the roster if both players are unavailable when opening night approaches. The situation could also push the club toward injured reserve considerations and create a path for other forwards to make a case for a spot. [Read more 🡒]
Penguins Suddenly Have A Fourth-Line Battle Fans Didn't Expect
The Penguins forward depth took another hit with Blake Lizotte now sidelined week-to-week after sustaining an upper-body injury, a setback that removes one of the more familiar pieces from the bottom six. Lizotte, who has been with Pittsburgh for three seasons and recently signed a contract extension through 2029, was not expected to be a headline name, but he had become part of the teams reliable fourth-line mix.
Oliver Okuliar is also week-to-week with a lower-body injury, which only adds to the uncertainty around how Pittsburgh will piece together its lower lines in the short term. For a team that values energy and stability from its role players, the injuries create an opening for others to grab ice time while the Penguins wait for two forwards to get healthy again. [Read more 🡒]
Penguins Suddenly Have A Worrying Injury Question At Center
The Penguins preseason lineup took a small but notable hit Monday night when center Ben Kindel left the game against the Buffalo Sabres after the first period because of a lower-body injury. There was no immediate update on the severity, leaving at least a bit of uncertainty around a player who had been lining up alongside Bryan Rust and Andrei Kuzmenko and looked comfortable before exiting.
Kindels early departure is the sort of development that can linger in the background of a preseason game, especially for a team still sorting out its center options. Even if the injury turns out to be minor, Pittsburgh will be watching closely, because any time a young center is forced out early and the team has no clarity afterward, it adds another layer of concern to camp. [Read more 🡒]