Realistic Expectations for the Sabres Heading Into the 2026-27 Season

The preseason is wrapping up, and the Buffalo Sabres open their regular season on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026. It’s been a long summer of anticipation after coming just one goal shy of the Eastern Conference Final last season.

The front office had to make difficult decisions, including trading Bowen Byram to the Chicago Blackhawks and moving Alex Tuch’s rights to the Washington Capitals, where he immediately signed an eight‑year deal. But the Sabres also made strategic additions, most notably acquiring Olen Zellweger, and when it comes to replacing Tuch’s impact, they’re betting heavily on internal growth.

After the season they just had, the Sabres are no longer the “same ol’ Sabres.” Opponents view them as a legitimate threat, and they’re going to be played like one. For the first time in more than a decade, the organization enters a season with real expectations, from the league, the fanbase, and themselves.

Make the Playoffs At Minimum

Whether they sneak in or finish near the top of the conference, the expectation is simple: the Sabres must make the playoffs. With an elite scorer in Tage Thompson, a Norris Trophy finalist in Rasmus Dahlin, and a wave of young talent ready to take the next step, it’s a completely reasonable demand.

I expect Buffalo to finish as a top‑three team in the Atlantic, and they absolutely have the potential to win the division for a second straight year. But the path won’t be easy. The Atlantic is a gauntlet, and there are realistically six other teams in the division that can make a legitimate playoff push. That’s the reality of the neighborhood Buffalo lives in.

Missing the playoffs simply isn’t an option unless the season becomes derailed by injuries, and that would be catastrophic. Even with a few departures from last season’s roster, the Sabres have enough young talent ready to rise and keep the team on track.

Zach Benson, fresh off a seven‑year extension, is expected to shoulder most of the offensive void left by Tuch. But he’s not alone. Noah Ostlund signed an eight‑year extension right before camp and is poised for a breakout. Konsta Helenius enters his rookie season with real expectations. Jiri Kulich should be fully healthy after dealing with a blood clot for most of last season. Those are the players Buffalo needs producing nightly, and if they do, there’s no doubt this team punches its ticket to the postseason.

On the blue line, the Sabres lean heavily on veteran stability, but one young defenseman has a chance to elevate the entire group. Zellweger, signed to a three‑year deal at $3 million per season, is a full $9.5 million cheaper than Byram. He has the potential to give Buffalo similar production at a fraction of the cost. At 22 years old, with strong offensive instincts and room to grow, his ceiling in Buffalo might be even higher than Byram’s.

If the young forwards take a step, Zellweger delivers what the Sabres believe he can, and the core plays to its standard, Buffalo won’t just make the playoffs; they’ll be a problem for anyone who stands in their way.

Goaltending Needs to Keep Up Consistent Play

The Sabres’ goaltending was a major strength last season. Alex Lyon posted a .907 save percentage (SV%), Ukko‑Pekka Luukkonen came in at .910, and Colten Ellis held a .903. All three remain on the active roster heading into the new season, and because the three‑goaltender rotation worked so well, Buffalo has no intention of changing it.

If the Sabres want another shot at the division title, that consistency in net has to carry over. Lyon, who exited the team’s third preseason game with what appeared to be a shoulder injury, likely won’t shoulder the same workload he did last season, not because of performance, but because Luukkonen and Ellis have shown they can handle more responsibility.

For Luukkonen, the mission is simple: prove he can be just as steady as he was in the regular season. His playoff inconsistency was glaring, and if he truly wants to claim the crease as his own, he needs to show the organization he can be a reliable, true number one goaltender from October through April.

Ellis enters the season as the third goaltender, but he’s earned more trust than that label suggests. General manager Jarmo Kekalainen has repeatedly expressed confidence in the young netminder, and Ellis backed it up with a strong preseason, stopping 35 of 38 shots. He’s shown he can be more than just a fill‑in; he can push for meaningful games if needed.

The formula is clear: if Buffalo gets the same level of stability in net as last season, they’ll be right back in the mix for the Atlantic Division crown.

Getting Off to a Hot Start is Key

The Sabres have to come out flying. A fast start isn’t just ideal, it’s mandatory. This team needs to show both the fanbase and the rest of the league that last season wasn’t a fluke and that the “same old Sabres” narrative is dead. The window is open, the roster is maturing, and the best time to be part of this organization is right now.

Expectations are sky‑high, and Buffalo is buzzing in a way it hasn’t in years. If the Sabres start hot, they immediately gain ground in a brutal Atlantic Division and give fans an encore of the momentum they built last season. It’s the kind of early push that can set the tone for everything that follows.