BUFFALO – Maybe the Sabres’ fan base is too busy reveling in the Bills’ early-season success to pay much attention. Or perhaps, more likely, many of their supporters have lost interest in a team that owns an NHL-record 14-year playoff drought.
Whatever the case, there’s little buzz around the Sabres as they begin another season.
Players report to KeyBank Center on Wednesday for physicals and testing. The first on-ice sessions will be held Thursday at LECOM Harborcenter.
For years, the Sabres’ offseason moves – coach Lindy Ruff’s return to town, a marquee acquisition or the arrival of some slick prospects – often generated excitement in the fan base.
This summer, however, was relatively quiet – and that might be a good thing.
The Sabres possess a stable of high-end players in captain Rasmus Dahlin, wingers Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch and others. There’s no dearth of talent.
Their lack of identity and reluctance to play a heavier and tighter game that breeds success led to disappointing seventh- and sixth-place finishes, respectively, in the Atlantic Division over the last two years.
Still, late in the season, as they closed on a 12-7-1 run, the Sabres seemed to start grasping how they must play.
In trading for right-shot defensemen Michael Kesselring and Connor Timmins and winger Josh Doan, Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams augmented the roster with three players who embrace that style.
Sometimes smaller moves end up being the best ones.
The Sabres on Tuesday announced a 61-man training camp roster featuring 32 forwards, 21 defensemen and eight goalies. Adams and Ruff are scheduled to talk to the media this morning.
Some stories to follow during camp are below.
Goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen’s status
Adams will likely shed some light on the severity of Luukkonen’s injury – he suffered a small tweak, according to a league source – and the recovery time he needs.
Considering the Sabres signed goalie Alexandar Georgiev, who led the NHL in wins in 2022-23 (40) and 2023-24 (38) with the Colorado Avalanche, Luukkonen could be sidelined into the regular season.
The Sabres, who also have veteran Alex Lyon, could be in trouble if they must rely on Georgiev. The Bulgarian has struggled since finishing seventh in the Vezina Trophy voting in 2022-23.
Last year, among goalies who played at least 20 games, his ghastly .875 save percentage ranked 61st in the NHL.
The Sabres seem intent on keeping prospect Devon Levi in the minors for more development time.
Tuch’s contract
Naturally, the Sabres want to re-sign Tuch, whose deal expires following the season, to a new contract.
But does one of the league’s best all-around forwards want to re-up and possibly finish his career in Buffalo? He said following last season he hadn’t given a new contract much thought.
The Sabres’ struggles have worn on Tuch, who did a heck of a lot of winning with the Vegas Golden Knights before joining the Sabres in 2021.
Maybe he’s taking a wait-and-see approach.
Replacing winger JJ Peterka
Since dealing Peterka to the Utah Mammoth in exchange for Kesselring and Doan, the Sabres have had an empty spot on their first or second line.
Before they re-signed defenseman Bowen Byram, there was a belief they might trade him to pry away a top-six forward. But they believe they can replace Peterka’s production internally.
Winger Jack Quinn, fresh off a disappointing season in which Ruff scratched him, might be poised to fill the void.
After struggling for months, Quinn found a groove late in the season and finished with 15 goals. But beyond numbers, he seemed to develop an understanding of Ruff’s expectations and how he must work on and off the ice to succeed.
Can defenseman Mattias Samuelsson build on his late-season growth?
Samuelsson endured a rough year, battling injuries, ineffectiveness and criticism after he let New Jersey Devils winger Stefan Noesen get away with a suspect hit that concussed Thompson.
Still, he ended the season on high note skating alongside Dahlin, showcasing a more aggressive and confident style.
If Samuelsson can recapture his early-career form and consistently kill plays, the Sabres should have a stud defender.
–
The Sabres on Tuesday returned defenseman Luke Dragusica and forwards Matous Kucharcik, Melvin Novotny, Ryan Rucinski and Ashton Schultz to their respective junior teams following the Prospects Challenge rookie tournament.