The Buffalo Sabres are set to have a fierce competition throughout training camp with 16 forwards set to battle for 13 spots on the active roster to open the 2026-27 season.
It's not just a place on the NHL squad up for grabs, though. Those players will also be aiming to earn a role in the top six and on one of the team's two power-play units, which would give those centers and wingers an opportunity to maximize their scoring potential throughout the 84-game campaign.
That's especially important for the group of Sabres forwards who are impending free agents. Their production over the next seven months (nine if Buffalo makes a deep playoff run) will weigh heavily on their next set of contract negotiations during the 2027 offseason.
Let's examine three examples who will be in the spotlight once the puck drops.
Jason Zucker (UFA)
Zucker was a terrific addition by former Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams. He's recorded 98 points (45 goals and 53 assists) in 135 appearances across two years in the organization. He's also provided a boost to an otherwise listless power play when healthy.
The odds of the 34-year-old winger returning to Buffalo after this season are quite slim, though. The club already has the overcrowded depth chart described above, which includes 10 players with a strong case for a top-nine role, and more prospects on the way.
So, the 5-foot-11 California native figures to find himself in a situation next summer where he's trying find a new team. That'll be a lot easier if he can post 50-plus points with continued power-play success, which isn't a tall hurdle for him to jump.
What he must avoid is a situation where he falls to the fourth line when the Sabres' lineup is at full strength. That would tank his scoring upside and raise concerns from other organizations about whether he's still capable of making a consistent offensive impact next season and beyond.
Jack Quinn (RFA)
Quinn is one of the most polarizing players on the Sabres' roster. Typically, expectations would be sky high for a 24-year-old winger with a lethal shot who just posted a career-high 51 points. That's not really the case for the 2020 first-round pick, though.
Instead, the Canadian's work rate, compete level and defensive awareness are frequently questioned, and his name is often thrown into mock trade offers by members of the fanbase.
Quinn still has three years before he's eligible to become an unrestricted free agent. His performance this season will probably determine whether Buffalo opts for a short-term bridge deal, a long-term extension or puts him on the trade block as an RFA next summer.
His offensive skill set is undeniable but he must become a more consistent contributor and start playing better two-way hockey if he wants to emerge as a true cornerstone for the Sabres. Otherwise, he could become the odd man out from the team's large cache of under-25 skaters.
Jiri Kulich (RFA)
Kulich, 22, missed the vast majority of last season while recovering from a blood clot. He's expected to resume a full-time role with the Sabres in 2026-27, though a short stint with the AHL's Rochester Americans is possible depending on his game readiness after the long layoff.
The 2022 first-rounder started to showcase his high-end offensive potential late in 2024-25 and early in 2025-26 before the health setback. He's another player with a game-changing shot who's still a little rough around the edges when it comes to his three-zone impact.
Buffalo previously viewed him as a possible solution to their extended search for a first-line center, a role that always commands a high-dollar contract. A breakthrough campaign could get general manager Jarmo Kekalainen to consider locking him up for the long haul next summer.
That said, there are a lot of question marks with Kulich between his limited experience (75 NHL games) and the fact he hasn't played a game since Nov. 1, 2025. It leaves an extremely wide range of potential outcomes based on his play during the upcoming campaign.
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