Buffalo Sabres general manager Jarmo Kekalainen showed quiet confidence in the organization's young core with his limited number of offseason moves following the departures of Alex Tuch and Bowen Byram, who were traded to the Washington Capitals and Chicago Blackhawks, respectively.
Now it's up to those emerging players to prove Kekalainen right.
The Sabres, who finished with the fourth-most points in the NHL last season (109), didn't land any bona fide superstars over the summer. (A trade for Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck is still possible, though the rumors have died down as of late.)
Instead, Buffalo is betting on internal growth to help the club remain among the Eastern Conference elite and, while there's always some risk associated with that strategy, it's hard to blame the front office for having faith in one of the league's best groups of 25-and-under players.
Let's take a closer look at three players from that category who'll be asked to step up in 2026-27.
Noah Ostlund (Forward)
Ostlund recently signed an eight-year, $52.8 million contract extension with the Sabres, which will go into effect next season. It's a clear sign the Sabres believe in his long-term potential, and it's a deal with a great chance to age well, as long as the 22-year-old Swede can stay healthy.
Last season, when Buffalo wanted a little more defensive wherewithal on the top line, it turned to Peyton Krebs. It helped bring more depth to the team's lineup, but Krebs' severe offensive restrictions became a problem in the playoffs. He scored zero points in seven games against the Montreal Canadiens in the second round, as the Habs ultimately advanced.
Ostlund may be asked to fill a similar role this season, and he has far more scoring upside than Krebs, which could make his foray up the lineup card stick.
Noah Ostlund's playoff debut is one we won't forget 😤 pic.twitter.com/DWTJmUENfZ
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) April 24, 2026
The 2022 first-round draft pick posted a modest 27 points (11 goals and 16 assists) in 60 appearances last season. But he once scored 42 points in 32 games while playing junior hockey in Sweden, and he had 36 points in 45 outings for the AHL's Rochester Americans in 2024-25.
He'll likely never become a point-per-game player, but he certainly has more to give offensively than he's showed so far at the NHL level. Moving him to the top line at some point, perhaps alongside Tage Thompson and Josh Norris, would put him in position to showcase that O-zone prowess.
Ostlund has already established himself as a dependable middle-six option. Now the question is whether he can find another gear as a point producer to reach his full potential.
Louis Crevier (Defenseman)
Crevier, who was part of the Byram return package from the Blackhawks, averaged a shade under 17 minutes per game across parts of three seasons (134 games) with Chicago. He could skate closer to 20 minutes a night if he earns a more wide-ranging role in Buffalo.
The Sabres have an opening alongside Owen Power on the second pair. Olen Zellweger, another offseason arrival, is viewed as the favorite to earn the first look in that spot, but the undersized (5'10'', 193 pounds) blueliner faces serious question marks defensively.
Crevier (6'8'', 228 pounds) would represent a more physical partner for Power, who could then be freed up to illustrate a little more of his offensive game. It'd also give the Blue and Gold a more usable third pair in Zellweger and Conor Timmins.
In addition to possibly making a jump into the top four, the 25-year-old Canadian may also be asked to take on a key penalty-killing role. Timmins and Mattias Samuelsson will likely handle PK1 duties, but the two spots on PK2 are up for grabs, especially if Buffalo wants to keep Rasmus Dahlin fresh.
A true breakthrough year for Crevier could see him cash in next summer as a restricted free agent.
Colten Ellis (Goaltender)
The Sabres used a three-goalie rotation in 2025-26 and, while it worked throughout the regular season, it faltered in the playoffs as neither Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen nor Alex Lyon was able to provide stability for an extended stretch during the postseason.
That's the main reason the Hellebuyck rumors became a major part of Buffalo's summer but, at least for now, it appears Buffalo will run it back in the crease instead.
Ellis posted a .903 save percentage in 16 games as a rookie after being claimed off waivers from the St. Louis Blues before last season. His best performance was a 37-save shutout against the Columbus Blue Jackets in early April.
"Colten Chaos" is the younger member (25) of the Sabres' goaltending trio, so it'll be interesting to see whether head coach Lindy Ruff feeds him more starts in 2026-27. At some point, the franchise needs to give him a longer look to see if he has true starter-level potential.
UPL is the favorite to win the No. 1 job out of camp and Lyon is a dependable backup but Ellis possesses the most long-term upside. A hot start to the campaign would give him a golden opportunity to start making a push for a more concrete role for the remainder of the year.
Though far from a guarantee, it's not out of the realm of possibility he emerges as Buffalo's best netminder by season's end.
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