Sabres
A preview of the 2025-26 NHL season for the Buffalo Sabres, including predictions from VSiN NHL Expert Jonathan Davis. For all other NHL team previews, check out our NHL page.
Key Additions: Josh Doan, Justin Danforth, Michael Kesselring, Alexandar Georgiev
Key Departures: JJ Peterka, Connor Clifton, Jacob Bernard-Docker
Overview
They say you don’t earn a playoff spot in the first half of the season, but you surely can eliminate yourself from contention. Buffalo’s 13-game losing streak (Nov 27-Dec 21) did just that and it’s now 14 years and counting the Sabres have missed the postseason, matching the NY Jets for the longest playoff futility streak in North American pro sports.
Offense
Buffalo was one of two teams to finish in the top 10 in goals scored that didn’t make the playoffs. No team scored more first period goals than the Sabres, but they couldn’t outscore their mistakes, as their 15 losses when leading after 20 minutes, trailed only the Blackhawks (17). Buffalo games averaged 6.80 goals per game, the highest league average.
Tage Thompson led the team in goals (44), points (72) and shots on goal (242), averaging just over three shots a game. Thompson had at least four shots on goal in 45 of his 76 games. Alex Tuch hit the 36-goal mark for the second time in three seasons and has 243 points in 281 games since coming to Buffalo. There is some promise down the middle with Josh Norris and Jiri Kulich. Kulich showed some scoring touch with 15 goals in his rookie season, while Norris, who has struggled to stay healthy, scored 21 goals last season. The hope is the two can add to their numbers to help overcome the loss of JJ Peterka.
Defense
Buffalo finished 29th in goals surrendered last season and the 287 goals given up were 44 more than the previous season. I don’t know how this happens when you have a blue line that includes three past top-four draft picks in Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Power and Bowen Byram. Dahlin is coming off a season with 17 goals (fifth-most by a defenseman) and 68 points (fourth-most by a defenseman). Owen Power’s seven goals and 33 assists were both career-bests, but his plus/minus rating of -13 was a career-worst. Michael Kesselring, who came over in the Peterka trade from Utah, adds a physical presence, as well as some offensive punch. The Sabres’ 31 losses by two or more goals last season were the 28th-most in the league.
Goaltending
It was not a great season for starter Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. His GAA went up by more than half a goal per game and his save percentage dropped as well. There are concerns about an injury suffered by Luuokkonen just before training camp opened so Buffalo signed veteran goalie, Alexander Georgiev, who spent last season with San Jose and Colorado.
Alex Lyon comes over from Detroit to serve as the backup. Lyon gives the Sabres a backup with NHL experience, as GM Kevyn Adams doesn’t want to take the chance on Devon Levi, who has just 39 NHL games under his belt with the GM knowing his job is on the line.
Player to Watch
Buffalo is going to need a big year from Josh Norris, who came to Buffalo last season for Dylan Cozens. Injuries have plagued the 19th overall pick in 2017, never playing more than 66 games. Despite the injuries, he has scored at least 20 goals twice, including a career best 35 goals in 2021-22.
Outlook
This is Year 5 for Adams as the architect of the Sabres and in his four full seasons Buffalo has totaled 75, 91, 84 and 79 points. How does a team that is trying to get better continue to get worse? Bills quarterback Josh Allen has a quote in the team media guide that his dream sporting event to attend is a Sabres playoff game. I think he is going to have to keep dreaming. Give me Under 84.5 points.
Team Futures
Regular Season Points: 84.5
To Make the Playoffs: +280
To Miss the Playoffs: -370
To Win the Atlantic Division: +4000
To Win the Eastern Conference: +7500
To Win the Stanley Cup: +15000
2024-25 Recap
Record: 36-39-7, 79 points (7th Atlantic, 14th Eastern Conference)
Over/Under: 44-32-6
Home Favorite: 11-8 // Home Dog: 10-8
Road Favorite: 4-2 // Road Dog: 9-24
Win Score 4 or more: 25 of 36 // Lose Give Up 4 or more: 34 of 46
Puck Line Wins: 20 of 36 // Puck Line Losses: 31 of 46
Front End Back-to-Back: 2-11 // Back End Back-to-Back: 4-9
Points Leader: Tage Thompson – 72
Goal Leader: Tage Thompson – 44
Assist Leader: Rasmus Dahlin – 51
Shots on Goal Leader: Tage Thompson – 242
Blocked Shots Leader: Bowen Byram – 117
Depth Chart
Forwards
Zach Benson / Jiri Kulich / Tage Thompson
Jason Zucker / Josh Norris / Alex Tuch
Josh Doan / Ryan McLeod / Jack Quinn
Jordan Greenway / Peyton Krebs / Justin Danforth
Defense
Bowen Byram / Rasmus Dahlin
Owen Power / Michael Kesselring
Mattias Samuelsson / Connor Timmins
Goalies
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen / Alex Lyon
Power Play Unit 1
Jason Zucker, Josh Norris, Jiri Kulich, Tage Thompson, Rasmus Dahlin
