The Buffalo Sabres roster cornerstones have remained the same in recent years: forward Tage Thompson and defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, who also serves as the team's captain.
So, it came as no surprise when those two superstars were the only Sabres to crack ESPN's ranking of the NHL's 100 best players for the 2026-27 season. Both landed well inside the top 50. (A longstanding Buffalo trade target, Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck, ranked No. 22.)
The question is: How accurate were the team's placements on the new list? Let's debate.
Rasmus Dahlin (No. 18)
Rasmus Dahlin finished third in Norris Trophy voting last season behind winner Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets and runner-up Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche. It was deserved recognition after he accumulated a career-high 74 points (19 goals and 55 assists) in 77 games.
The 26-year-old Swede has become everything the Sabres expected when they selected him with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft. He's dependable defensively, active in transition and should remain in the point-per-game range offensively for many years to come.
OH CAPTAIN! 🫡#LetsGoBuffalo pic.twitter.com/8RqkW6bc9s
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) October 4, 2026
He's also emerged as a tremendous leader for Buffalo, which was finally able to wash off the stench from its miserable 14-year playoff drought last season. The standout blueliner was nothing short of terrific in the postseason, racking up 14 points in 13 appearances.
Dahlin is already a legitimate franchise pillar, and there's a real chance his peak years are still ahead as the Sabres continue to build a roster around him filled with young, offensively gifted talent.
The 6-foot-3 defender is absolutely one of the league's 20 best players right now, and it wouldn't be a shock to see him crack the top 10 next year.
Verdict: Ranked perfectly
Tage Thompson (No. 31)
Tage Thompson is one of the NHL's most unique players. A 6-foot-6 offensive dynamo with the ability to create scoring chances out of nothing. It's why he's been able to reach the 40-goal plateau three times, highlighted by a 47-goal campaign in 2022-23.
Yet, the forward's game isn't without some warts. He's not a high-impact player defensively, scouts have questioned his compete level at times and he's struggled in the faceoff circle (45.5% last season), which is a hindrance since he usually serves as the club's No. 1 center.
Thompson, 28, is still an extremely valuable contributor based on his game-changing skill set in the opponent's zone, but it feels like he falls short of the "franchise player" distinction, a line he comes in above in these rankings given the league's 32 teams.
The best thing that could happen for the Team USA Olympic gold medalist is the Sabres acquiring a true first-line center. It'd allow him to shift to the wing, a switch that would alleviate the defensive pressure and the faceoff burden, thus bolstering his individual influence.
Still, even if Tage belongs somewhere closer to the 40-to-50 range on the ESPN list, he's still a critically important piece of the puzzle for Buffalo.
Verdict: Ranked a little too high
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