Being a Buffalo Sabres fan isn't for the faint of heart. In fact, some people may call you a masochist for even considering it, especially if you've remained loyal to the Blue and Gold for the entirety of their 14-year playoff drought, which is the longest streak of its kind in NHL history.
If you're a former Sabres supporter who's ready to get hurt again, you've arrived at the right place as we'll walk you through all of the team's important details for the 2025-26 season.
Buffalo missed the playoffs by 12 points in 2024-25. It marked the second straight campaign the organization's point total moved in the wrong direction after peaking at 91 in 2022-23. It dropped to 84 the following year and 79 last season.
Although analytics projections are surprisingly optimistic about the Sabres' outlook, there are still a lot of hurdles the franchise must jump in order to make a long-awaited postseason return.
Sabres 2025-26 season preview for Buffalo fans trying to reignite their NHL fandom
The leadership
General manager Kevyn Adams
Adams is entering his sixth season leading the Sabres' front office and the results have been completely underwhelming. His inability to attract high-end talent to Buffalo, either via trade or free agency, has left the organization in so far unfruitful draft-and-develop loop.
Head coach Lindy Ruff
Ruff, a former Sabres player, is now in his second stint as the franchise's head coach. The first season of his second tenure didn't live up to expectations but the 65-year-old Buffalo legend still showcases the energy and passion needed to lead an NHL coaching staff.
The franchise cornerstones
Forward Tage Thompson
Thompson is a two-time 40-goal scorer who has a legitimate shot to surpass the 50-goal milestone and contend for the Rocket Richard Trophy as the league's leading scorer this season. Tage's combination of size (6'6''), skill and elusiveness makes him one of the NHL's most unique players.
Defenseman Rasmus Dahlin
Dahlin would have a case as the best blueliner in hockey if he played for an annual Stanley Cup contender rather than the oft-forgotten Sabres. His three-zone impacts are virtual unmatched and he just keeps getting better every single year.
Both Thompson (2030) and Dahlin (2032) are signed into the next decade, which provides a strong foundation to build upon for Buffalo.
The notable new arrivals
Forward Josh Doan
Doan was acquired as part of the blockbuster JJ Peterka trade with the Utah Mammoth. His baseline numbers don't jump off the page (28 points in 62 NHL games) but his underlying statistics and well-rounded skill set make him a serious breakout candidate.
Defenseman Michael Kesselring
The second piece of the Peterka deal will start the 2025-26 season on injured reserve but, once healthy, he's the Sabres' best attempt yet to give Owen Power a stable partner on the second pair. It's a tandem that could take off in a major way for Buffalo as the campaign goes on.
Goalie Alex Lyon
Lyon will assume the starting goalie role while Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen recovers from injury. The 32-year-old journeyman netminder has enjoyed some strong stretches across stints with four NHL teams, but he's probably the team's biggest question mark given the situation.
The rising star
Forward Zach Benson
You want a bold prediction? Here's one: Benson will be a household name by the end of the season. His succeed-at-all-costs mentality and terrific underlying metrics from his first two NHL campaigns put him on the fast track toward two-way stardom.
The top prospect
Defenseman Radim Mrtka
Mrtka was highly impressive in camp for a 2025 first-round pick who was originally viewed as someone a few years away from reaching the NHL. Instead, he'll open the year in the AHL and, if he isn't sent back to WHL junior hockey, he could arrive in Buffalo on a full-time basis by season's end.
The key questions
Will Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen bounce back?
The first question once UPL returns to full strength will be which version of the goalie will show up this season? The one who shined in 2023-24 (.910 save percentage) or the one who struggled in 2024-25 (.887 SV%). The answer may determine the Sabres' fate.
Can the special teams provide a boost?
Buffalo finished 24th on the power play (18.8%) and 23rd on the penalty kill (76.3) last season, which played a substantial role in the team's downfall. Getting those units at least to the fringe of the top 10 would be a huge step toward being more competitive.
Are injuries going to derail the campaign?
The Sabres placed five players on injured reserve as part of final roster cuts after an endless wave of ailments hit the roster during camp and the preseason. They don't have enough impact depth to overcome a stream of high-profile players missing time because of injury.
Buffalo also needs healthy years from players like center Josh Norris and defenseman Mattias Samuelsson, who've dealt with injury-plagued careers.