The Buffalo Sabres are beginning the next step of their preparation for the 2025-26 season on Monday night with the first preseason game of the year. It will be a quick start to the preseason for Buffalo as they will play three in four nights and begins in Columbus against the Blue Jackets.
While the final score may not count towards the standings, there is plenty that can be won or lost on the ice. The coaching staff is evaluating the roster and trying to figure out what is the best combination of the players they have.
With how deep the roster is, not all players play in every game, but it is likely that every player who is healthy will see some ice time at some point over the first three games. These are five players that fans should watch closely in these games.
5 Buffalo Sabres to watch in the first preseason games of the season
Josh Norris
Josh Norris has been with the Sabres since March but he is largely an unknown in Buffalo as he played in only three games due to injuries. He is entering this training camp healthy and could be stepping into a big role as the team's top center.
During training camp, Norris has been playing between Tage Thompson and Zach Benson on the Sabres' top forward line. It will be interesting to see how he looks in this role, but also on the Sabres' power play, which is something he did a lot in Ottawa and has been a strength of his game.
Jack Quinn
One player who the Sabres know well but hoping to see more from is Jack Quinn. He was selected eighth overall in the 2020 NHL Draft by Buffalo and has played in 178 NHL games over the past four seasons.
While he has played a lot, there is something left to be desired from his game, as he has only 39 goals and 58 assists over that time frame. Before training camp, general manager Kevyn Adams said he had a 'heart-to-heart' conversation with Quinn at the end of the season.
Even with the concerns, the Sabres still signed him to a two-year contract this summer as Quinn was set to be a restricted free agent. This is now the time for Quinn to confirm the Sabres belief in him and deliver with a break out season that can in the preseason.
Michael Kesselring
Michael Kesselring joined the Buffalo Sabres this summer as he was traded as part of a package to Buffalo by the Utah Mammoth in the JJ Peterka trade. He is a big defenseman that should bring physicality to the blue line.
Kesselring is not just a bruiser and has some offense to his game after coming off a career season in terms of goals (7) and assists (22). Entering this season, he should be paired with Owen Power, and the two players should complement each other well.
During the preseason, it will be interesting to see how the chemistry is between the two players and the quicker they get on the same page, it can only help them during the regular season.
Mattias Samuelsson
Last season is one that Mattias Samuelsson will want to forget and move past it. The best way to do that is to get off to a fast start this season, and that can start in the preseason.
Recently, Lindy Ruff was asked about Samuelsson, who is expected to be paired with Connor Timmins for the defense's third pair, and the Sabres head coach was impressed with where he is coming into camp.
"I didn't think his level of fitness was good enough coming into camp," Ruff said. "I can tell you this year, there is no comparison."
It would be great to see that translate to the ice and hopefully, Samuelsson is able to have a great season for Buffalo.
Alexandar Georgiev
The goalie position is without question the biggest concern for the Buffalo Sabres at this point. They haven't gotten Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen on the ice for practice yet, and right now they are looking at Alexandar Georgiev and Alex Lyon as their top goalies.
Even if Luukkonen was healthy, it would have been a concern as he struggled last season. Alexandar Georgiev is in a similar position as he did not play well early in the season with the Colorado Avalanche and then with the San Jose Sharks after being traded.
At one time, Georgiev was leading the league in wins while with the Avalanche, and he has shown he can be a starting goalie in the NHL. It would be a huge boost for the Sabres if he can return to that level, as Luukkonen's availability for the start of the season is still an unknown.
The Sabres held a scrimmage on Saturday, and Georgiev was able to secure a shutout and even had some good saves according to The Athletic's Matthew Fairburn. It will be worth watching if that can translate to a preseason game when he is in net.