The Buffalo Sabres' trade of JJ Peterka to the Utah Mammoth created a massive void on the wing, and general manager Kevyn Adams didn't acquire another top-six forward to fill it. So, perhaps it's not a surprise the team rated poorly in the 2025 NHL summer talent rankings for wingers.
TSN's Travis Yost released the rankings on Monday, with the Sabres landing in Tier 4. Only three teams were rated below them in Tier 5: the Calgary Flames, Columbus Blue Jackets and San Jose Sharks. (Teams are listed alphabetically in each tier.)
"Colour me concerned this team can adequately replace the loss of JJ Peterka, who I anticipate will have a monster year with Utah," Yost wrote. "What this organization needs now is a breakout season from Jack Quinn, the former eighth overall pick in the 2020 NHL draft."
Let's take a closer look at why Buffalo is so low on the TSN list.
Sabres wingers: The Good
Tage Thompson is generally viewed as a center, but he moved to right wing during the 2024-25 season as head coach Lindy Ruff tried to mask some of the superstar's defensive deficiencies. He's one of the league's most lethal goal-scorers when in peak form. If he switches back to center, however, the club's wing group will look even worse on paper.
Alex Tuch has quietly emerged as an elite two-way winger. He racked up 67 points (36 goals and 31 assists) in 82 games last season while also setting a new NHL record for the most shots blocked in a single season by a forward (113).
Zach Benson could eventually join Tuch in that group of two-way studs. His defensive IQ and ability to out-battle opponents for the puck (despite a 5-foot-10 frame) are already high-end traits, though his offensive game is still a work in progress.
Josh Doan, who was acquired in the Peterka trade, fills the same mold. His 200-foot game is highly intriguing and his shot suggests his attacking upside has yet to truly shine through. It wouldn't be a surprise to see him eventually fill one of those top-six spots.
Sabres wingers: The Bad
Jason Zucker is a perfectly fine depth forward who can also provide veteran leadership. The fact he may be asked to help anchor the first line is where things really start to fall apart for the Sabres on the wing. He's simply not that level of player, especially at age 33.
Quinn has never looked the same since a 2023 Achilles injury. He's been a stride or two slow, and that's a problem for a player who never had elite speed at baseline. An inability to create separation from defenders has often rendered his terrific shot useless. As Yost noted, a bounce-back season is paramount because the talent was obvious early in his career.
Sabres wingers: The Ugly
Adams giving Jordan Greenway a two-year, $8 million contract extension before the end of last season is one of the most baffling decisions of the past 12 months. He's an ineffective, injury-prone winger who doesn't use his size (6'6'') effectively enough to make up for a lack of NHL-level skill.
Beck Malenstyn was signed last season to help transform Buffalo's fourth line. Instead, he scored just 10 points in 76 games and struggled almost just as much defensively. His signing was a bust and it'll be a bad sign if he plays almost every game again in 2025-26.
Justin Danforth was signed mostly to provide competition for Malenstyn, though he can also slide to center if Peyton Krebs' breakthrough season doesn't materialize. Regardless, he's nothing more than a low-end winger who can't be counted on to move up the lineup when injuries arise.