Even with limited moves, the Buffalo Sabres are going to be entering training camp with plenty of questions and competition for spots. The most uncertainty is really among the forwards mainly because right now they appear to have too many.
When looking at the roster, there are 15 forwards with legitimate arguments to have a regular place on one of these four lines. Recently, we looked at three training camp battles, and these are spots that really have two players battling out for a specific spot.
However, there is another group of players that includes veterans who are in jeopardy of losing their spot but it isn't necessarily clear who they are competing with. Here are three forwards that fall into this category that need to have a strong training camp.
Ryan McLeod
The center position has probably the biggest questions at this time, from the first line to the fourth, with as many options as they have. At the top, it probably is a battle between Jiri Kulich and Josh Norris, and whoever doesn't win that spot, the other takes the second line.
That means that Ryan McLeod is going to be competing for the third line spot and beat out some of the younger players like Konsta Helenius and Noah Ostlund, or even Peyton Krebs.
There were a lot of positives from McLeod's season last year as he had a career-best +/- of +25, was tied for the NHL lead in short-handed goals with five, and was fourth on the team in points with 54. However, there were some concerning trends that now make his spot on the team a point of discussion.
Last season, McLeod saw his shooting percentage drop five points down to 15.6%, his faceoff percentage was the lowest at 47.7% since the 2021-22 season, and he was scoreless in the playoffs with a +/- of -7.
While it isn't guaranteed, McLeod more than likely will be in the lineup on either the third or fourth line. However, how that shakes out will impact the next two players.
Sam Carrick
The Sabres made a few moves at the NHL Trade Deadline, and without question, the best move they made was with the New York Rangers for Sam Carrick. He was an excellent fourth-line center with the way he forechecked and won more times than not in the faceoff circle. The pleasant surprise was that he found his scoring touch with five goals in 13 games after only four in the 60 with the Rangers that season.
Unfortunately, Carrick suffered an upper-body injury against the New York Islanders that cost him the end of the regular season and most of the playoffs. He did return for Game 2 against the Canadiens but that would be the only playoff game he played in.
Carrick showed he brings a lot of value on that fourth line, but if Ostlund or Helenius bumps McLeod down to the fourth line, then Carrick could be a healthy scratch most nights.
Jason Zucker
In the regular season, Jason Zucker played at a level that fans have come to expect, with another 20+ goal season, and delivered double-digit power play goals for a second straight year.
However, in the playoffs, he struggled to make the same impact and saw his ice time drop by a few minutes per game as the playoffs went along. In the series against the Montreal Canadiens, Zucker had roughly 13 minutes, a drop from around 17 minutes per game against Boston in the first series.
Zucker will be turning 35 this upcoming season, and the question is whether the playoffs were just a bad stretch or the first sign that he is nearing the end of his career. While the greatest uncertainty is up the middle at center, it isn't out of the question that one of these younger centers, like Ostlund or Helenius, moves out to wing.
If that happens, then Zucker's spot could be in jeopardy this upcoming season. It will certainly be important for him to get off to a fast start to put the playoffs behind him and make sure he remains in the Sabres' Top 9.
The Sabres have really good depth at forward and that should be a big advantage for a regular season that is now set to be two games longer. However, it does create a lot of competition and that could mean some of these veterans are fighting for spots in training camp and early in the season.
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