The Buffalo Sabres' offseason decision to trade high-scoring forward JJ Peterka to the Utah Mammoth in exchange for winger Josh Doan and defenseman Michael Kesselring signaled an awareness the team needed prioritize effective depth players.
Buffalo finished 10th in the NHL with 265 goals scored last season, and Peterka played a key role in that offensive success as he lit the lamp 27 times and added 41 assists. Yet, the Sabres still missed the playoffs by 12 points, in large part because the bottom of the lineup was highly ineffective.
Now, Doan is one of the notable names who's fighting to take on a vital role in the club's lineup for its Opening Night clash with the New York Rangers on Oct. 9. How the role players perform will be one of the biggest keys to the Sabres' success during the 2025-26 season.
Josh Doan aiming to grab top-six forward spot
Doan opened camp on the Sabres' second line alongside Jack Quinn and Jiri Kulich. It was an opportunity that arose because Alex Tuch missed the practice session while recovering from a minor injury that shouldn't impact his status for the season opener.
So, even though one of Buffalo's major offseason additions won't stick on the second line if everyone is healthy, it's a good sign the coaching staff felt comfortable with moving him into that spot. It's a sign he's closer to the top six than the bottom line as things shuffle throughout the campaign.
The 23-year-old son of two-time NHL All-Star Shane Doan is coming off a season in Utah where he tallied 19 points in 51 games. His defensive involvement is already strong, but the key question is whether there's still another gear or two he can find on the offensive side.
Doan will probably end up earning his fair share of top-six minutes and potentially even some power-play opportunities this season, so he'll get a chance to showcase his skill set on offense. He should become a valuable two-way contributor by year's end.
Mason Geertsen could serve as Sabres' enforcer
The only surprise as Buffalo took the ice for the first practice of camp was Geertsen's presence as the fourth-line left winger. It's a spot that opened when general manager Kevyn Adams announced Jordan Greenway would remain sidelined for awhile after offseason surgery.
Geertsen, 30, is a former fourth-round pick of the Colorado Avalanche who's spent most of his time in the AHL. The physical veteran, who's played both forward and defense, gained his only 25 games of NHL experience with the New Jersey Devils in 2021-22.
The Canadian's role was on full display in that short stint with the Devils. He racked up 77 penalty minutes and 58 hits while scoring no points and posting just 12 shots on goal. He's not on the ice to score. He's out there to play a hard-hitting defensive style.
Buffalo could use more of that. The group's unwillingness to stand up for teammates was on display after Tage Thompson took an elbow to the face in a February game against New Jersey. Geertsen could earn a full-time role as an aggressive defender of his fellow members of the Blue and Gold.
Jacob Bryson attempts to challenge Conor Timmins
Timmins will be given the first opportunity to play alongside alternate captain Mattias Samuelsson on the Sabres' third defensive pair. He was acquired in a summer deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins to bring more depth to the club's blue line.
Samuelsson owns an effective defensive stick and sports solid awareness in his own zone, but he struggles mightily to move the puck. That's why his best performances came alongside Rasmus Dahlin, who would handle all of the heavy lifting on the offensive side.
Bryson, who's been in the Buffalo organization since the 2017 NHL Draft, has endured an up-and-down career because of some ineffectiveness in the defensive zone. More specifically, his lack of size (5'9'', 177 pounds) often makes him a liability in front of his own net.
That said, Bryson is a solid puck-mover who makes plays in transition. That makes him a nice potential fit alongside Samuelsson, and it could allow him to leapfrog Timmins into the starting lineup if the former Pens defender doesn't have a standout camp.