Sabres News

EASTERN ATLANTIC

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen • G • Sabres

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen Exits Preseason Game With Lower-Body Tweak

Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (lower body) exited early from Saturday's 3-1 preseason loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. He was pulled a few minutes into the third period. Luukkonen had a solid performance, stopping 15 of 17 SOG. Colten Ellis finished the game in Luukkonen's place. Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff said Luukkonen left due to a "lower-body tweak." This doesn't sound serious, but it's worth monitoring for fantasy managers, especially since Alex Lyon (upper body) is already unavailable. Ultimately, Ellis may get the nod to start the season in net for Buffalo.

Yesterday

Mattias Samuelsson • D • Sabres

Mattias Samuelsson Out Week-to-Week

Buffalo Sabres defenseman Mattias Samuelsson (lower body) has been listed as week-to-week. The 28-year-old sustained a lower-body injury Tuesday during preseason action after being hit by a puck. Buffalo will face Columbus in its season opener on Oct. 1, and there's a significant possibility Samuelsson might not be in the lineup. That would be a major blow for the Sabres after Samuelsson's breakout campaign in 2025-26. He recorded 41 points (13 goals, 28 assists), 109 SOG, 154 blocks, 132 hits, and a plus-41 rating in 78 games. Olen Zellweger (concussion) was also hurt this week, leaving two holes to fill on defense.

4 days ago

Olen Zellweger • D • Sabres

Olen Zellweger Suffers Concussion in Preseason Game

Buffalo Sabres defenseman Olen Zellweger (concussion) is in danger of missing the start of the 2026-27 campaign after being hurt during Tuesday's preseason action. In a game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Zellweger suffered a concussion. He was hurt in the second period when Blue Jackets defenseman Carson Soucy delivered a big hit. Zellweger is a fresh face in Buffalo after the team acquired him from the Anaheim Ducks this offseason. Following a back-to-back 20-point campaign, he will look to take the next step in 2026-27. Buffalo also lost Mattias Samuelsson (undisclosed) on Tuesday night, a further blow to their blue line just a week before the season opener.

5 days ago

Jason Zucker • LW • Sabres

Jason Zucker Unavailable for Start of Season

Buffalo Sabres left wing Jason Zucker (sports hernia) will miss the start of the season, general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said Wednesday. The veteran winger underwent sports hernia surgery in the offseason. According to Kekalainen, Zucker could miss "maybe a couple weeks" at the start of the year. Zucker's absence will be felt by the Sabres. He ranked fourth on the team last season with 24 goals and tallied 45 points in 62 contests. With Zucker out, Peyton Krebs is a candidate for an increased role early in the season.

Sep 17

Noah Ostlund • C • Sabres

Sabres Re-Sign Noah Ostlund for Eight Years

Buffalo Sabres center Noah Ostlund signed an eight-year, $52.8 million contract extension on Monday. He will complete his entry-level contract in 2026-27, before the new deal kicks in. Ostlund made a strong impression during his rookie campaign, amassing 27 points (11 goals, 16 assists) in 60 outings. After averaging only 13:58 of ice time last season, he is expected to take on a larger role. The Sabres are reportedly planning to use Ostlund in the top six, either as a center or a winger. A regular spot on a scoring line would significantly increase Ostlund's fantasy value.

Sep 15

Peyton Krebs • C • Sabres

Peyton Krebs Avoids Arbitration With Four-Year, $18 Million Contract

Buffalo Sabres forward Peyton Krebs signed a four-year, $18 million contract extension on Monday. He was a restricted free agent who filed for salary arbitration on July 5. Krebs cashed in on a career year. Despite averaging only 13:46 of ice time, he recorded 39 points (12 goals, 27 assists) and 201 hits in 82 games. Krebs added six points (two goals, four assists) in 13 outings during his first career postseason campaign. Buffalo has used Krebs throughout the lineup, making him a valuable piece for the team. However, his inconsistent ice time makes him difficult to trust in fantasy leagues.

Jul 14

Zach Benson • LW • Sabres

Zach Benson Inks Seven-Year Extension With Sabres

Buffalo Sabres winger Zach Benson signed a seven-year, $52.5 million contract extension on Wednesday. He was locked up long-term with an average annual value of $7.5 million. Benson was eligible to become a restricted free agent on July 1. The Sabres announced the signing after shipping Alex Tuch to Washington in a sign-and-trade agreement. Tuch's departure should increase Benson's playing opportunities next season. The 21-year-old tallied a career-high 43 points (13 goals, 30 assists) in 65 outings this season. If Benson remains injury-free and sees more ice time, he could realistically approach the 60-point mark in 2026-27.

Jun 25

Devon Levi • G • Sabres

Devon Levi Attracting Interest From Senators

Buffalo Sabres goaltender Devon Levi has many admirers among rival teams, including the Ottawa Senators, ESPN's Kevin Weekes reports. Goaltending was a problem for Ottawa this season, as the team ranked 31st in the league with a .882 save percentage. Former Vezina Trophy winner Linus Ullmark missed 35 games for mental health reasons and lacked a serviceable backup. The highly rated Levi could address that issue. He might also be looking for a change of scenery after seeing action in only nine NHL games this season. Levi made his debut in the league a couple of campaigns ago and carries a 17-17-2 career record. He has registered a 3.29 goals-against average and a .894 save percentage. Levi has one season remaining on a two-year, $1.63 million contract.

May 22

Alex Tuch • RW • Sabres

Alex Tuch Hopes to Remain in Buffalo

Buffalo Sabres winger Alex Tuch hopes to stay with the team, Heather Engel of NHL.com reports. Tuch is a pending unrestricted free agent and is likely to have several suitors if he hits the open market. The 30-year-old has been eligible to sign an extension with Buffalo since last summer, but talks on a new deal haven't progressed yet. In 2025-25, Tuch was second on his team in goals (33) and third in points (66) in 79 regular-season games. However, he hit a wall during the playoffs, going scoreless in the entire seven-game Round 2 series against Montreal. Tuch finished the postseason with seven points (three goals, four assists) in 13 games. He's still in his prime at 30 years old and should be good for 60-70 points again next season.

May 21

Jiri Kulich • C • Sabres

Jiri Kulich Aims to Return Next Season

Buffalo Sabres center Jiri Kulich (ear) is aiming for a comeback in 2026-27. This season, the 22-year-old made only 12 appearances after a blood clot in his ear cut his campaign short. "I'm just so grateful how this organization treated me, and they were helping me every single day," Kulich said on Tuesday. "They even allowed me to see some experts, so I think everything's going the right way, and looking forward for next season." Kulich was a first-round pick in 2022 and has shown promise in the NHL. Through his first 75 career games, the Czechia native has recorded 29 points (18 goals, 11 assists), 155 SOG, and 50 hits.

May 20

Mattias Samuelsson • D • Sabres

Mattias Samuelsson Picks Up an Assist in Season-Ending Loss

Buffalo Sabres defenseman Mattias Samuelsson collected an assist in Monday's 3-2 Game 7 defeat in overtime to the Montreal Canadiens. 13:19 into the second period, Samuelsson initially celebrated scoring a goal, but he had to settle for an assist when it was determined that the puck went into the Canadiens' net off a deflection by Jordan Greenway. Alex Newhook's overtime goal delivered a cruel end to the campaign for the Sabres, but Samuelsson should enter the offseason in high spirits. He had a breakout year in 2025-26, with 41 points (13 goals, 28 assists) in 78 games, proving he can be much more than a shutdown defenseman. Across his first five NHL campaigns, Samuelsson had managed only 43 points (seven goals, 36 assists).

May 19

Rasmus Dahlin • D • Sabres

Rasmus Dahlin Nets Fourth Postseason Goal

Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin scored his fourth postseason goal in Monday's 3-2 Game 7 loss to the Montreal Canadiens. The Sabres captain tied the game at two with 6:27 played in the third period. Buffalo had all the momentum in the third frame, yet they couldn't find the game-winning goal and were burned in overtime by Alex Newhook. Dahlin had a career-high 74 points (19 goals, 55 assists) in 77 regular-season games and finished the playoffs strongly, putting together a five-game point streak. Overall, he notched 14 points (four goals, 10 assists) in 13 games during the postseason. At 26, Dahlin is still very young for a defenseman and is poised to remain a high-level fantasy performer for a long time.

May 19

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen • G • Sabres

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen Set to Start Game 7

Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is expected to start Game 7 against the Montreal Canadiens on Monday, Lance Lysowski of Buffalo News reports. The Sabres are returning to the Finnish netminder after Alex Lyon allowed three goals on three SOG to start Game 6. Lyon took over the crease after Luukkonen struggled in Game 5, giving up five goals through two periods with a .783 save percentage. He played a perfect game in Lyon's relief on Saturday, stopping 18 pucks. Luukkonen has been leaky throughout the playoffs, but given Lyon's performance over the weekend, there's really no other option for the Sabres on Monday night. In five postseason appearances, Luukkonen has a 3-2 record, a 3.36 goals-against average, and a .875 save percentage.

May 18

Tage Thompson • C • Sabres

Tage Thompson Can Match Franchise Record With Another Multi-Point Game

Buffalo Sabres forward Tage Thompson sits among the top scorers in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs and can match a franchise record with another productive outing on Monday night in Game 7 against the Montreal Canadiens. After erupting for four points in Game 6, Thompson boasts five multi-point games in the playoffs, one shy of tying Daniel Briere, Dale Hawerchuk, and Gilbert Perreault for Buffalo's record in a single postseason. Three of Thompson's multi-point performances have come in the last four games, during which he's racked up three goals and five assists. Across the entire postseason, Thompson has notched a team-high 15 points (five goals, 10 assists) in 12 games -- only Vegas' Mitchell Marner has more (18).

May 18

Alex Lyon • G • Sabres

Alex Lyon Likely to Start Game 6 Against Canadiens

Buffalo Sabres goaltender Alex Lyon was the first goalie off the ice at Saturday's morning skate, Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports reports. This indicates Lyon is likely to start Game 6 against the Montreal Canadiens. Buffalo has flipped between goalies in the playoffs and appears set to return to Lyon, who also started the first three games of the second-round matchup. Despite losing his spot to Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen in the middle of the series, Lyon has performed well in the postseason. He has posted a 4-3 record, a 2.25 goals-against average, and a .917 save percentage.

May 16

Owen Power • D • Sabres

Owen Power Available Saturday

Buffalo Sabres defenseman Owen Power (undisclosed) will be in the lineup on Saturday against the Montreal Canadiens, Bill Hoppe of the Olean Times Herald reports. Power briefly exited Game 5 on Thursday in the third period, but he's good to go for Saturday's must-win contest. On Thursday, Power registered his first point of the second-round series with an assist. He has five assists in 11 postseason games but no goals on seven SOG. Power has averaged nearly 21 minutes of ice time per game and is set for another busy night at the office on Saturday.

May 16

Ryan Johnson • D • Sabres

Ryan Johnson Takes Over as Canucks GM, Sedins Promoted to Co-Presidents

The Vancouver Canucks have named Ryan Johnson as their new general manager, ESPN's Ryan S. Clark reports. Additionally, the team named Daniel and Henrik Sedin as co-presidents of hockey operations. Johnson, who has served as an assistant general manager for two years, will replace Patrik Allvin. The Canucks fired Allvin in April after the team had one of the worst seasons in franchise history, finishing with the worst record in the league. During Allvin's four years in charge, Vancouver made the playoffs only once, reaching the second round in 2024. In total, the team has made the postseason just twice since the Sedins retired from playing in 2018. The legendary forwards joined the hockey operations department in 2021. They will replace Jim Rutherford, who is stepping down from his role as president after the draft in June.

May 14

Josh Doan • RW • Sabres

Josh Doan Records Two Assists in Game 4 Victory

Buffalo Sabres winger Josh Doan recorded two assists as the team tied the second-round series against the Montreal Canadiens with a 3-2 road win. Doan extended his assist streak to five games when Mattias Samuelsson opened the scoring in the first period and added another in the third on a power-play goal by Zach Benson. Doan is the first Sabres player in 20 years to post a five-game assist streak in the playoffs. Gilbert Perreault holds the franchise record, set in 1981, with a seven-game run. Playoff hockey has suited Doan, as he's been Buffalo's second-highest scorer this postseason, with nine points (two goals, seven assists) in 10 games.

May 13

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen • G • Sabres

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to Start Game 4 Against Canadiens

Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will start Game 4 against the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday night. The Sabres started the postseason with Luukkonen as their No. 1, but Alex Lyon has been in the net in each of the last seven games. On Tuesday, Luukkonen will have a chance to re-establish himself as the starter after Lyon allowed nine goals in Games 2 and 3 against Montreal. The Finnish netminder has a 1-1 record this postseason, but he was limited to a .821 save percentage and a 4.19 goals-against average in Round 1 against Boston. Luukkonen has positive memories of facing Montreal in the regular season, finishing a 4-2 victory with 32 saves on Feb. 22.

May 12

Rasmus Dahlin • D • Sabres

Rasmus Dahlin Records Two Points in Game 3 Loss

Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin amassed two points in Sunday's 6-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens, scoring a power-play goal and posting an even-strength assist. Buffalo finally got some offense from the star blue-liner, who had been held off the score sheet in the first two games of the series. Throughout the playoffs, Dahlin has struggled to match his regular-season offensive output, notching six points (two goals, four assists) in nine games. He has finished five contests without a point. Buffalo's prospects in Round 2 would improve significantly if Dahlin could regain his top form.

May 11

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