BUFFALO – In the coming day or weeks, the Sabres could be faced with a good problem: they might have too many players.
Goalie Alex Lyon (left shoulder) and winger Jason Zucker (offseason sports hernia surgery) both joined their teammates for this morning’s optional pregame skate as the they prepared for tonight’s game against the Minnesota Wild.
Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said there’s no timetable for Lyon’s return to the lineup, while Zucker could still be sidelined a couple of weeks.
Still, the Sabres boast a lot of depth. If they have a healthy 23-man roster when Lyon, 33, and Zucker, 34, are ready to play, they could have some difficult decisions to make.
“You need depth because you don’t know when you’re going to get injuries to some of the key personnel,” Ruff said in KeyBank Center.
When Lyon went down in a preseason game Sept. 24, he said having never experienced a shoulder injury, it felt scary.
“Been feeling good the last few days,” he said. “The protocols for injury in 2026 are extensive, so, yeah, I feel confident and happy and really hungry.”
In other news, based on the time the players left the ice this morning, it appears forward Justin Danforth will replace Sam Carrick tonight.
Danforth, 33, hasn’t played since breaking his kneecap Oct. 15, 2025.
Colten Ellis is expected to start in goal tonight, his first nod this season. Wild coach John Hynes said Jesper Wallstedt will be starting.