Buffalo Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff is set to reunite defenseman Logan Stanley with former Winnipeg Jets teammate Luke Schenn on the third pair for Monday night's titanic clash with the Tampa Bay Lightning as the team seeks a physical edge.
Ruff wants to see more from Stanley, who was one of Buffalo's marquee additions ahead of last month's NHL trade deadline, before the playoffs get underway.
"I think he's still adjusting," Ruff told reporters. "Down low a couple times, he can be more physical defending I think. But I think there's still an adjustment to him coming in. I've spent some time talking to him. The trade, first time being traded, all different teammates, I think there's an adjustment there."
Stanley has recorded two points (both assists) in 13 appearances since being acquired alongside Schenn from the Jets in exchange for forward Isak Rosen, defenseman Jacob Bryson and a pair of draft picks. He's also tallied 13 hits and 12 blocked shots.
The 6-foot-7 defender's lack of speed and acceleration has stuck out like a sore thumb at times while trying to keep pace with Buffalo's preferred up-tempo style of play, though.
Buffalo Sabres are running out of time to choose No. 3 defense pair for the Stanley Cup Playoffs
One of the biggest surprises of the Sabres' stretch run of the regular season so far is the fact Michael Kesselring hasn't been given one last chance to prove he's healthy.
Kesselring has dealt with nagging leg injuries dating all the way back to training camp. It's limited his mobility and prevented him from building off a strong season with the Utah Mammoth in 2024-25, but he recently talked about feeling much closer to full strength.
When healthy, it's hard to imagine the Northeastern University product isn't one of Buffalo's best six defensemen. He's less than 10 months removed from being viewed as the cornerstone return piece of the blockbuster deal sending JJ Peterka to Utah. (Josh Doan's breakthrough season has since changed that perspective.)
Yet, it appears the Sabres are going to go a different direction in the postseason.
Stanley has emerged as a possible playoff lock on the left side of the third pair. General manager Jarmo Kekalainen expressed concern the club was too easy to push around at times, and the hulking blueliner definitely changes those dynamics despite concerns about his game otherwise.
Schenn, who'd fill a similar niche, has only played twice since the trade. He'll get another opportunity to showcase his value in a crucial battle with the Lightning on Monday night.
Beyond that, Conor Timmins and Zach Metsa are the other options if Kesselring is out of the equation.
Timmins was a critical element of the Sabres' penalty-killing success early in the season before suffering a leg injury in December. He wasn't able to hold down a full-time role upon his return.
Metsa was riding the PDO heater of a lifetime for most of the campaign. He's come back down to Earth since being recalled after a brief return to the AHL's Rochester Americans, though.
In other words, there are still more questions than answers for Kekalainen and Ruff about who will line up behind Rasmus Dahlin, Mattias Samuelsson, Owen Power and Bowen Byram on the defensive depth chart.
Stanley and Metsa probably have the inside track, but a strong showing by any of the other contenders over the final five games of the regular season could change that outlook.
Giving Kesselring one more crack still feels like the way to go, but it doesn't appear like Sabres fans are going to get their wish in that regard.
Meanwhile, Ruff laid out exactly what Stanley needs to do to guarantee his spot in Buffalo's playoff lineup: Be more physical in front of Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Alex Lyon.