The Buffalo Sabres did more than just kick the door down last season, as they ended their lengthy playoff drought by not only making it to the dance but winning the Atlantic Division to do it. The first round brought fans plenty of optimism after walking over the Boston Bruins, but the seven-game heartbreaker against the Montreal Canadiens brought them back down to earth.
The good news is that the Sabres are a young, hungry group who are seemingly here to stay. The bad news is that the Atlantic Division is back in a resurgence after some of the teams that had down years reloaded in the offseason. If the Sabres want to stay in the fight, they'll need some of their young players who broke out last season to avoid a falloff.
Zach Benson
Corey Pronman may think otherwise, but Zach Benson has the tools to be an excellent top-six winger in the league. He may not have the size, but he makes up for it in his willingness to enter the fight and also has some offensive flair to go with it. The 2026 playoffs were Benson's breakout, but for some reason people are still doubting him.
There will be a lot of weight on Benson's shoulders this season to replace some of the production the Sabres will be missing from Alex Tuch's departure. The good news is that when Tuch struggled in the playoffs, it was Benson who was picking up the pieces, so fans already know he is capable.
Zach Benson pic.twitter.com/dCfeWvtX2o
— The Charging Buffalo (@TheChargingBUF) March 28, 2026
Whether he can do it over 82 games remains to be seen, but if the playoff version of Benson is the one we see night in and night out, the Sabres' playoff run may not have been a fluke.
Josh Doan
Benson's linemate was a star for the Sabres all last season and was a massive reason why the playoff drought ended. Kevyn Adams was able to see something that others didn't when he traded JJ Peterka for Doan and Michael Kesselring, and it's rare for a general manager to win a trade when one of the returns was a healthy scratch in the playoffs.
The 24-year-old Doan had his best season as a pro, recording 25 goals and 52 points while playing in every game for Buffalo last season. He also showed an ability to perform when it mattered most, tallying another 10 points in 13 playoff games. While the Sabres had a lot of the same types of players, which held them back a bit, Doan brought a different edge and gave the team a bit more of an identity.
Doan isn't the type of player to let that good season be a fluke, and he figures to be a big reason again if the Sabres stay atop the Atlantic Division.
Owen Power
Owen Power is a bit of an interesting inclusion on this list, as his play in the regular season wasn't really indicative of the value he gave the Sabres in the playoffs. There were times during the regular season when people questioned the defenseman that Power was becoming, and he did have his worst offensive output since he joined the NHL, but his defensive game did take a couple of steps by the end of the season.
In the playoffs, Power played all 13 games for Buffalo, recording six assists and playing some great defense along the way despite the Sabres getting into some trouble in that area. He was especially strong against the Bruins in the first round, which showed he could withstand the physical play of Boston's gritty bottom six and contribute.
The Sabres will need Power to continue down that path in 2026-27, and if he does, it'll be intriguing to see what he can do over a full 84-game season.
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