The Buffalo Sabres' depth has been tested over the first part of the season as they have had to deal with a number of injuries. The good news is that they are starting to get those players back, with Michael Kesselring being the latest after he made his season debut on Tuesday against Columbus.
As players return, the Sabres need to create room on their roster, and there are a few players whose roster spots could be in jeopardy.
One player who could be on this list but seems highly unlikely is Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. The Sabres currently have three goalies on the roster because Alex Lyon and Colten Ellis have looked good in their games.
Luukkonen is not someone the Sabres would waive, so they would have to find a trade partner. However, with his contract it seems unlikely to get a deal done, but it is someone they have likely made available.
Outside of Luukkonen, these are three players who could find themselves no longer on the Buffalo Sabres roster by the end of November.
Josh Dunne
Josh Dunne is one who has moved between Buffalo and Rochester a few times already this season due to injuries. After playing in two seasons with the Sabres last season, he has appeared in three games this season with an average of 8:25 of ice time per game and registered his first career goal against Columbus on Tuesday night.
He has shown himself to be a quality fourth-line player for the Sabres, and if he is sent down to Rochester, it wouldn't be surprising for him to return at some point later in the season. However, with players like Jordan Greenway and Tyson Kozak returning in the coming weeks, Dunne is likely the player they move to create the roster spot.
Mason Geertsen
Mason Geertsen was a great story during the preseason and was a little bit of a surprise to make the Buffalo Sabres Opening Night roster. The last time he played in an NHL game was during the 2021-22 season with the New Jersey Devils, when Lindy Ruff was their head coach.
This season, Geertsen hasn't played much and has been a healthy scratch in most games, but has played in four games for an average of 4:12 per game. The addition of Geertsen was probably due to Jordan Greenway not being ready to begin the season and he is the likely player that Greenway replaces.
Noah Ostlund
After playing eight games with the Sabres last season, Ostlund began the season in the AHL. He returned to the Sabres a few games into this season after Justin Danforth suffered an injury that will keep him out for an extended period of time.
Ostlund has appeared in three games since being called up, but has struggled with no points and the lowest xGoals among Sabres forwards at 0.3. The former first-round pick probably could use a little more time down in the AHL, as he can get more minutes and develop a little more, making the jump to the NHL on a more permanent basis.