The hope was that this would finally be the season the Buffalo Sabres ended their playoff drought. While it wasn't necessarily a guarantee, if things fell their way, then it wasn't out of the realm of possibility that they could sneak in as a wild card.
Unfortunately, that is not what has happened as they are in a position they know well after 20 games this season: last place in the Eastern Conference. While injuries have certainly played a factor, it is also due to the fact that these three players have not been able to deliver on expectations through the first quarter of the season.
3 Buffalo Sabres who have been disappointments over first quarter of the 2025-26 season
Bowen Byram
Bo Byram was one of the more talked about players over the summer for the Buffalo Sabres. He was a restricted free agent, and the Sabres were trying to determine if they could re-sign him or if they were going to trade him.
They ultimately would settle on a two-year deal that was more of a prove-it type contract to see if Byram could show he was a player they could commit long-term to. However, over the first part of the season, his performance has probably given the Sabres buyer's remorse.
According to Natural Stat Trick, these are some of the stats to highlight how much he has struggled:
- xGF% in 5v5: 45.75% (sixth lowest on the team)
- Goals Against in 5v5: 23 (most on the team)
- High Danger Chances Against in 5v5: 79 (most on the team)
- High Danger Goals Against in 5v5: 14 (most on the team)
It wouldn't be all that surprising if Bowen Byram was one of the first players traded this season when the Sabres are ready to shake up their roster.
Michael Kesselring
When the Buffalo Sabres traded JJ Peterka to the Utah Mammoth, Michael Kesselring was the player who was considered the best player coming back to Buffalo. He looked to be the perfect player with the way he plays to pair alongside Owen Power.
Unfortunately, injuries have derailed that as he suffered an injury during the preseason that cost him the first part of the season and he is back on injured reserve after suffering an injury against the Detroit Red Wings that will keep him out for an extended period of time.
Injuries aside, when Kesselring was on the ice he wasn't playing at the level that the Sabres expected when they traded for him. In nine games, he had a +/- of -3 and saw his Corsi For % drop from 53.88% last season with Utah to 43.27% in the nine games he played with Buffalo.
This was only a small sample size for Kesselring, and he certainly can bounce back and be a big part of this blueline. However, the first impressions were not good on his new team.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was expected for most of the summer to be the team's starting goalie and they brought Alex Lyon in to be the backup. Unfortunately, similar to Kesselring injuries really set Luukkonen back before he could get going with two injuries before the season even started.
By the time he was set to return, Lyon had secured himself as the starting goalie. The Sabres would still give Luukkonen chances to take that spot back but he hasn't been able to play up to that level.
Through four games, Luukkonen is 1-2-1 with a save percentage of .883 and a goals against average of 3.02, which are in line with what he did last season. According to Natural Stat Trick, he has a Goals Saved Above Average of -2.35, which is a goal worse than Colten Ellis and is six goals worse than Alex Lyon who is at +3.51.
The Sabres find themselves in a tough spot because they can't continue to carry three goalies on the roster. Luukkonen would be the one they probably try to move, as he is a clear third at the position but is basically untradeable with his contract.