Buffalo Sabres
Eastern Conference - Atlantic division
Predicted Finish: 7th
RECYCLING RUFF FOR A RETURN TO THE POSTSEASON
Do not be surprised if the Sabres are the youngest squad in the NHL when the '24-25 regular schedule opens.
This season, they will be led behind the bench (again) by Lindy Ruff, the second-oldest head coach in the league (behind only Philadelphia's John Tortorella). Ruff coached Buffalo between 1997 and 2013 and was very successful, including a Stanley Cup Final appearance in 1999 and an Eastern Conference Final appearance in 2006 with a team that was arguably the best in the league. Since Ruff's departure, it has been a revolving door behind the bench for the Sabres. Now that he has returned to Buffalo, is the team ready to end its 13-year playoff drought?
For GM Kevyn Adams, recycling Ruff might be his last big decision. If this does not work, expect a brand new regime in Western New York.
Tage Thompson
Forecasts
Centers
2024-25
Last 3 Seasons
| Rank | Name, Age | GP | G | A | PTS | PPG | 23-24 | 22-23 | 21-22 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 | D. Cozens, 23 | 80 | 32 | 36 | 68 | 0.85 | 79 / 0.59 | 81 / 0.84 | 79 / 0.48 | |
| 105 | R. McLeod, 25 | 82 | 10 | 15 | 25 | 0.30 | 81 / 0.37 | 57 / 0.40 | 71 / 0.30 | $ |
| 115 | P. Krebs, 23 | 71 | 7 | 14 | 21 | 0.30 | 80 / 0.21 | 74 / 0.35 | 57 / 0.39 | |
| 288 | J. Kulich, 20 | 15 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0.33 | 1 / 0.00 | CZECHIA |
Wingers
| Rank | Name, Age | GP | G | A | PTS | PPG | 23-24 | 22-23 | 21-22 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 | T. Thompson, 26 | 77 | 35 | 38 | 73 | 0.95 | 71 / 0.79 | 78 / 1.21 | 78 / 0.87 | + |
| 57 | A. Tuch, 28 | 71 | 24 | 35 | 59 | 0.83 | 75 / 0.79 | 74 / 1.07 | 50 / 0.76 | |
| 59 | J. Peterka, 22 | 82 | 30 | 28 | 58 | 0.71 | 82 / 0.61 | 77 / 0.42 | 2 / 0.00 | $ |
| 115 | J. Quinn, 23 | 73 | 18 | 24 | 42 | 0.58 | 27 / 0.70 | 75 / 0.49 | 2 / 1.00 | + $ |
| 117 | Z. Benson, 19 | 78 | 16 | 25 | 41 | 0.53 | 71 / 0.42 | WHL | WHL | |
| 178 | J. Zucker, 32 | 72 | 12 | 15 | 27 | 0.38 | 69 / 0.46 | 78 / 0.62 | 41 / 0.41 | $ |
| 193 | J. Greenway, 27 | 64 | 9 | 16 | 25 | 0.39 | 67 / 0.42 | 62 / 0.18 | 62 / 0.44 | $ |
| 118 | S. Lafferty, 29 | 75 | 8 | 12 | 20 | 0.27 | 79 / 0.30 | 70 / 0.39 | 56 / 0.23 |
Defensemen
| Rank | Name, Age | GP | G | A | PTS | PPG | 23-24 | 22-23 | 21-22 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | R. Dahlin, 24 | 82 | 22 | 50 | 72 | 0.88 | 81 / 0.73 | 78 / 0.94 | 80 / 0.66 | |
| 39 | O. Power, 21 | 80 | 7 | 33 | 40 | 0.50 | 76 / 0.43 | 79 / 0.44 | 8 / 0.38 | |
| 58 | B. Byram, 23 | 74 | 12 | 20 | 32 | 0.43 | 73 / 0.40 | 42 / 0.57 | 30 / 0.57 | $ |
| 141 | R. Johnson, 23 | 70 | 2 | 15 | 17 | 0.24 | 41 / 0.17 | NCAA | Big10 | $ |
| 164 | C. Clifton, 29 | 76 | 2 | 12 | 14 | 0.18 | 79 / 0.23 | 78 / 0.29 | 60 / 0.17 | |
| 192 | M. Samuelsson, 24 | 66 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 0.15 | 41 / 0.17 | 55 / 0.18 | 42 / 0.24 | + |
Goaltenders
| Rank | Name, Age | GP | W | SO | GAA | Sv% | 23-24 | 22-23 | 21-22 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | U. Luukkonen, 25 | 52 | 24 | 3 | 2.89 | 0.901 | 54 / 27 | 33 / 17 | AHL | |
| 63 | D. Levi, 22 | 22 | 9 | 1 | 2.99 | 0.899 | 23 / 10 | 7 / 5 | HE | $ |
Depth Chart
Left Wing |
Center |
Right Wing |
|---|---|---|
| J. Peterka (LW) 2 | T. Thompson (C) | A. Tuch |
| Z. Benson (RW) 1 | D. Cozens 1 | J. Quinn (LW) 1 |
| J. Zucker (RW) | R. McLeod (LW) | J. Greenway (C) |
| B. Malenstyn (LW) | S. Lafferty (C) | N. Aube-Kubel (LW) |
| J. Kulich (W) 1 | P. Krebs (W) | L. Rousek (LW) 6 |
| I. Rosen (LW) 1 | N. Ostlund* (LW) 1 | O. Nadeau* 4 |
| V. Neuchev* 3 | K. Helenius* (RW) 1 | J. Richard* 6 |
| A. Kisakov* 2 | A. Wahlberg* 2 | P. Poltapov* (LW) 2 |
Defense |
Goaltender |
Notable Departures |
|---|---|---|
| R. Dahlin 1 | U. Luukkonen 2 | B. Biro (FA-Sea) |
| O. Power 1 | D. Levi | E. Comrie (FA-Wpg) |
| B. Byram | J. Reimer | Z. Girgensons (FA-TB) |
| M. Samuelsson 2 | F. Sandstrom | T. Jost (FA-Car) |
| C. Clifton | T. Leinonen* 2 | V. Olofsson (FA-VGK) |
| R. Johnson 1 | S. Ratzlaff* 5 | E. Robinson (FA-Car) |
| H. Jokiharju | R. Leenders* 7 | M. Savoie (T-Edm) |
| V. Komarov* 5 | J. Skinner (FA-Edm) | |
| N. Novikov* 6 | ||
| J. Bryson 4 | ||
| D. Gilbert |
Forecasts: *: Rookie; 
: injury concern; 
: contract year (UFA in 2025);
: Must-draft player Last 3 season stats: GP and PPG for skaters, GP and W for goalies; Rank is based on PPG or Ws compared to players in the same position. Age as of October 10, 2024.
Depth Chart: (Secondary Position); *: Rookie; 
: Team captain; Orange denotes off-season acquisition via free agency or trade; 1 to 9: Organizational draft pick with round selected.
Lines: Projected lines, pairs and units are for the majority of the season, not neccesarily opening night; 2023-24 Power Play TOI and G-A-PTS in parenthesis
Projected Lines/Pairs
Power Play Units
| Forwards | Defense |
|---|---|
| J. Peterka - T. Thompson - A. Tuch | R. Dahlin - M. Samuelsson |
| Z. Benson - D. Cozens - J. Quinn | B. Byram - O. Power |
| J. Zucker - R. McLeod - J. Greenway | R. Johnson - C. Clifton |
| B. Malenstyn - S. Lafferty - N. Aube-Kubel |
| First Unit | Second Unit |
|---|---|
| A. Tuch (2:38, 2-9-11) | J. Zucker (1:37, 5-5-10) |
| R. Dahlin (3:05, 6-14-20) | B. Byram (1:08, 0-1-1) |
| T. Thompson (2:42, 9-7-16) | J. Quinn (1:51, 1-2-3) |
| D. Cozens (2:09, 2-8-10) | O. Power (1:38, 0-6-6) |
| J. Peterka (1:57, 3-4-7) | Z. Benson (1:05, 0-2-2) |