Buffalo Sabres fans waited a long time — far, far too long if we're being honest — for another opportunity to enjoy the magic that is the NHL's Stanley Cup Playoffs. So, they're going to soak up every minute of the team's postseason run, and rightfully so.
Meanwhile, a lot of Sabres players are getting to experience playoff hockey for the first time and it's especially meaningful for leaders like Rasmus Dahlin and Tage Thompson, who've lived through the endless frustration in recent years. Then there's Alex Tuch, a Syracuse native who grew up rooting for the Blue and Gold. It's a special time for everybody involved.
Here are Sabre Noise we introduced our player grades series for the regular season back in October. We analyzed all 82 games, graded every player on the ice and tracked the averages over the past seven months. Now the task begins anew.
Below you'll find the complete list of averages for the playoffs, which will be updated after each contest followed by links to each individual game review. At the bottom, you'll find a brief explanation for how these grades come together.
Enjoy the ride, Buffalo.
Sabre Noise hub for Buffalo Sabres player grades for the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs
Sabres player rankings based on average game grade
Player | Average Grade |
|---|---|
Tage Thompson | 10.0 |
Alex Tuch | 9.5 |
Mattias Samuelsson | 9.0 |
Rasmus Dahlin | 8.0 |
Peyton Krebs | 8.0 |
Zach Benson | 7.5 |
Jack Quinn | 7.5 |
Josh Norris | 7.0 |
Josh Doan | 7.0 |
Owen Power | 7.0 |
Beck Malenstyn | 6.5 |
Josh Dunne | 6.5 |
Logan Stanley | 6.0 |
Conor Timmins | 6.0 |
Jordan Greenway | 6.0 |
Ryan McLeod | 5.5 |
Bowen Byram | 5.5 |
Jason Zucker | 5.0 |
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen | 4.0 |
Links to all Buffalo game reviews and player ratings
Round 1, Game 1: Sabres 4, Bruins 3 (April 19, 2026)
The best video you'll see from Buffalo Sabres' Game 1 win vs. Boston Bruins
How the grading system works
These are eye-test grades compiled after each game of the Sabres' run in the 2026 NHL Playoffs. They are subjective based on the writer's view of each player's performance, and the averages listed above are unweighted.
The grades are based mostly on how a player performs in their respective minutes. So, a fourth-line player isn't automatically punished for seeing the ice for fewer minutes or in lower-pressure situations. If they win their ice time, the grade will be higher.
Sequencing is part of the equation, too. Scoring critical goals at key moments in the game, as Thompson did in Game 1 against the Bruins, is going to impact the score far more than an empty-net goal at the end of a blowout victory.
Grades can be noisy in small sample sizes but, if Buffalo is able to embark on a deep postseason run, they should be able to capture the essence of who helped spark the memorable journey.
And if there's any fanbase that deserves an extended playoff stay, it's diehard supporters of the Sabres, who stuck with the franchise for more than a decade of misery.
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