For some Sabres fans, there is plenty of concern that they might not be able to replicate the success they had last season. However, Josh Doan doesn't share that same concern and, in fact, believes the team could be even better this upcoming season.
Doan threw out the first pitch at the Buffalo Bisons game on Saturday and made it clear that he has confidence in this team, even with the departure of Alex Tuch and Bowen Byram. According to Bill Hoppe with the Buffalo Hockey Beat, Doan said:
“Everyone’s got their own opinion on us again this year on whether or not we’re going to take a step, or whether or not we lost and got worse this summer, which, I mean, you can guess all you want, no one really knows what anyone’s done,” he said. “I think our group’s pretty confident in that we’re a better team heading into this year.”
Josh Doan was one of the reasons that the Sabres were able to end their playoff drought. In his first season in Buffalo after being traded by the Utah Mammoth, he would finish with 25 goals and 52 points.
With the departure of Alex Tuch, the pressure falls on Josh Doan and others, like Zach Benson, Konsta Helenius, and Noah Ostlund, to replace the lost production. It sounds like he is up to the challenge and believes his teammates are as well.
Josh Doan excited about the additions by the Buffalo Sabres for the blueline
While it was clear that it was becoming more likely that Alex Tuch would not be with the team past the 2025-26 season, the trade of Bowen Byram was a surprise. The Sabres appeared to want to keep him in Buffalo long-term, but they weren't able to give him the chance to be a top-pair defenseman, which is something he wanted.
Jarmo Kekalainen was able to add Louis Crevier in the trade with the Blackhawks, but then made an additional move to add Olen Zellweger. Doan was excited about the team being able to add both players.
About Olen Zellweger:
“People are going to notice right away how offensively gifted he is and the difference he can make for us right away,” he said.
About Louis Crevier:
“He’s someone that’s so hard to play against, and I was pleasantly surprised when I found out that the piece coming from Chicago … was him.”
Both players seem to be ascending players who have just scratched the surface of what they are able to do. Right now, it looks like Zellweger will be the direct replacement for Byram in the lineup next to Owen Power on the second pair.
As for Crevier, he should be the replacement for Logan Stanley on the third pair. It is tough to imagine that Zellweger would be a direct improvement over Byram, but when considering both players together, there is a chance that the Sabres' blueline could be better than last season.
When considering these facts, maybe Josh Doan is right to be confident that the Buffalo Sabres are not going to take a step backward and can be better this season.
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