The Buffalo Sabres' inability to create a competent power play has been one of the most vital factors in the team's regression over the past two seasons. Josh Doan is showing he can provide a net-front presence that's been sorely lacking in recent years.
Doan, who was acquired alongside defenseman Michael Kesselring in a blockbuster offseason trade that sent JJ Peterka to the Utah Mammoth, tallied a goal and an assist with the man advantage in Thursday night's 5-2 preseason loss to the Detroit Red Wings.
"At the end of the day, you've got to get it on the net," Doan told reporters. "You look at how many squeak through or opportunities are created just by getting it back to the goalie. That was my main focal point this summer. And then getting to loose pucks, reading rebounds, trying to figure out where the next puck and battle is going to be and getting there for your wall guys."
Head coach Lindy Ruff added: "Good net-front. He made some good decisions."
Buffalo's power play will once again play an important role during the 2025-26 NHL season as the team may suffer a slight 5-on-5 scoring drop off following the departure of Peterka.
Josh Doan could be the missing piece for a Buffalo Sabres power play that's held the team back in recent years
The Sabres' underwhelming performance with the man advantage has been endlessly frustrating for the fanbase because the talent is there for the unit to rank among the league's best. Buffalo's top PP features an elite shooter in Tage Thompson and a top-tier quarterback in Rasmus Dahlin.
Yet, despite that obvious high-end skill, the Sabres ranked 24th on the power play last season (18.8%) and 28th in 2023-24 (16.6%). It's a prime factor the team's point total over the past three years went from 91 to 84 to 79. It missed the playoffs by 12 points last year.
Doan's play on Thursday night suggests he could be a key part of the solution.
A net-front presence is critical to power-play success. Look no further than former Sabres cornerstone Sam Reinhart, who plays that role for the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers. He's scored 72 PP goals over four years with the Cats while living atop the crease.
Doan, the son of two-time NHL All-Star Shane Doan, has exactly the type of high-motor approach it takes to success while getting slashed and cross-checked endlessly in front of the net.
The 23-year-old Arizona native explained the Sabres have focused heavily on trying to create more second-chance possessions with the man advantage.
"We've had a lot of focus on winning 50-50 pucks on the power play," Doan told reporters. "You look at how many opportunities are created off of loose pucks and turnovers off the D on the power play, and it's capitalizing quick."
It's also a great sign the 6-foot-1 winger is acclimating to his new surroundings so quickly.
"Obviously it's different when you come from a different team and everything's completely different, so trying to find reads and the gray areas and kind of just working through that a little bit," Doan said.
It's still a learning experience for the third-year forward, who only received limited power-play minutes with Utah. He tallied three goals and one assist with the man advantage last season.
Now the question is whether his early preseason success in that role for Buffalo will lead Ruff to give him a look with the top unit before the end of the team's six-game exhibition schedule next week.
If Doan ultimately earns that opportunity when the regular season gets underway, he'll have a great chance to more than double his career-high 19 points with the Mammoth last year.
His play in front of net could be the missing piece to the Sabres' power-play puzzle.