On Sunday, the NHL Network announced its Top 20 defensemen entering the 2026-27 season. It wasn't at all surprising to see Rasmus Dahlin finish fourth after the season he had behind only Cale Makar, Quinn Hughes, and Zach Werenski.
However, what was surprising about these rankings was that Mattias Samuelsson, who might have been the bigger story for the Sabres' blueline last season, was not among the Top 20. He was a breakout star for the Sabres, and while he wouldn't be very high, he has an argument to be one of the players between 15 and 20 on these rankings.
The bottom part of the rankings was Devon Toews (20th), Shea Theodore (19th), Victor Hedman (18th), Jackson LaCombe (17th), and Josh Morrissey (16th). When comparing these players' seasons to Samuelsson, the Sabres' defenseman has a strong case to be made to be right behind Jackson LaCombe.
Last season, Samuelsson had 41 points, a +/- of +41 with an average ice time of 22:50 in 78 games. He was on the ice more than Toews, Theodore, and Hedman, with a better +/- and had more points than all of those players.
The reason he probably wouldn't be higher than LaCombe is that the Ducks' defenseman had a similar breakout season to Samuelsson where he had 58 points and was a cornerstone for that defense with an average ice time of 24:15.
There will be no denying Mattias Samuelsson if he has another season like last year for the Buffalo Sabres
While the rankings were supposed to be based on the Top 20 defensemen right now, it seems some of those players made it due to their overall career. Samuelsson had struggled before last season, but everything finally seemed to click for him.
If he is able to prove that it wasn't a one-time situation and he can continue to be a difference maker on that top pair with Rasmus Dahlin, he probably not only sneaks into these rankings next summer but is looking at a spot closer to the Top 10.
That is certainly what the Sabres are hoping as they are going to need Samuelsson to have another big season. They have some questions entering the upcoming season, from who gets paired with Owen Power after trading away Bowen Byram to what the third pair looks like.
The absence of Byram puts more pressure on their established defensemen to fill the absence until Olen Zellweger or Louis Crevier establishes themselves in that Top 4.
Mattias Samuelsson was a bright spot for the Buffalo Sabres last season and absolutely deserves to be considered one of the Top 20 defensemen right now in the NHL. However, it seems he needs another season of that production for the rest of the league to realize it.
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