Following Monday’s practice, the Buffalo Sabres revealed their 23-man roster for the start of the 2025-26 NHL season. The team reduced its training camp roster to 27 over the weekend by assigning defensemen Radim Mrtka, Vsevolod Komarov, and Zach Metsa, along with forwards Noah Ostlund and Josh Dunne, to Rochester in the AHL. On Monday, a waiver claim and five players placed on injured reserve brought the roster down to 23.
Coach Lindy Ruff confirmed that defenseman Michael Kesselring, goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, and forward Jordan Greenway will not be available for opening night due to injuries. Defenseman Owen Power was also placed on injured reserve but could return as early as Thursday since IR rules allow a player to come back eight days after their injury.
The healthy group includes 14 forwards: Zach Benson, Justin Danforth, Josh Doan, Mason Geertsen, Tyson Kozak, Peyton Krebs, Jiri Kulich, Beck Malenstyn, Ryan McLeod, Josh Norris, Jack Quinn, Tage Thompson, Alex Tuch, and Jason Zucker.
Zach Benson returned to practice after missing time with an undisclosed injury and rejoined the top line alongside Tage Thompson and Josh Norris. Both Thompson and Norris led NHL preseason scoring with seven points each in four games. Ruff commented on Norris’ preparation: “the mindset that he was going to be our best centerman.”
Jason Zucker skated with Jiri Kulich and Alex Tuch during practice. Kulich had missed part of training camp but impressed in the preseason finale against Pittsburgh by scoring twice.
Jack Quinn and Josh Doan continued their partnership on the wings with Ryan McLeod at center. Quinn achieved a career-high 39 points last season. Ruff spoke highly of Doan’s attitude: “He’s just a good guy to be around,” Ruff said. “He’s a guy that doesn’t take any time off in practice. Really feels that whatever drill he’s doing…is going to make him better…You can see that he’s locked in…He’s infectious.”
The fourth line consisted of Beck Malenstyn, Peyton Krebs—who contributed two assists in last Wednesday’s preseason game—and Justin Danforth; Tyson Kozak and Mason Geertsen rotated into this group. Ruff praised Danforth’s versatility: “If you look at Danforth…He does everything right…We’re using him in important faceoffs…penalty killing…power play…he is a guy that we can use in a lot of different places….There’s not many guys stronger on the puck than he is…”
On defense are Jacob Bryson, Bowen Byram, Rasmus Dahlin, Ryan Johnson (a 2019 first-round pick), Mattias Samuelsson (recently back from injury), and Conor Timmins. Kesselring remains out week-to-week after aggravating an existing issue during preseason play.
Samuelsson practiced wearing a non-contact jersey but may be available for Thursday’s game against the Rangers. Ruff stated: “He got through well,” Ruff said. “I thought he looked good. Feels good. Should be definitely a possibility for Thursday.”
Ruff acknowledged early-season challenges due to injuries: “I think we’re going to face a little adversity right off the bat with the number of guys that we’ve had out…We’re going to deal with maybe a couple defensemen being out…We’re going to deal with a goaltender being out…”
Goaltenders include Alex Lyon (signed July 1), Alexandar Georgiev (signed September 11), and Colten Ellis (claimed off waivers from St. Louis). Luukkonen begins his season on injured reserve following another lower-body injury sustained October 1; his recovery is evaluated week-to-week.
Lyon has played extensively over recent seasons for Detroit before joining Buffalo; Ruff described this as Lyon’s opportunity: “Probably his first really big opportunity…We’ve given him a pretty good look in the preseason…There’s also probably a couple goals here and there that he’d want back as a goaltender.”
Colten Ellis joins after finishing fourth among AHL goalies last year with a .922 save percentage.
