The Buffalo Sabres will be back on the ice Wednesday night when they take on the New Jersey Devils in their first game following the NHL's Olympic break.
Buffalo is expected to get Josh Norris, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Josh Dunne back from injury as play resumes, but Zach Benson, Jiri Kulich and Conor Timmins are among those still sidelined. Tage Thompson's short-term status is also uncertain after winning a gold medal with Team USA.
It could lead head coach Lindy Ruff and his staff to try some unique lineup combinations as the Sabres attempt to start another hot streak after losing three of their final four games before the hiatus.
Anton Wahlberg could make NHL debut after call up
The Sabres announced Wahlberg was called up from the AHL's Rochester Americans on Tuesday as they navigate the crowded injury report, which has been a consistent problem dating all the way back to training camp, and the lack of clarity on Thompson's availability.
Wahlberg was the No. 39 overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft. The 20-year-old Swede has emerged as a dependable two-way center for the Amerks, but his offense has yet to take the step forward Buffalo was hoping to see. He's tallied a modest 25 points (six goals and 19 assists) in 47 games this season.
The 6-foot-4 forward would be making his NHL debut if he sees action after the recall. It's possible he just watches from the press box until the Sabres get one more player back from injury, though.
Wahlberg will likely spend at least one more full season in the AHL before he becomes a full-time option for the Blue and Gold. He's trending toward a role as a third- or fourth-line center unless that offensive jump finally arrives.
Konsta Helenius' contract complicates Sabres' decisions
You may wonder why Buffalo opted to recall Wahlberg rather than Helenius, and the answer likely lies in the NHL's "entry-level slide" rule.
Helenius has played nine games for the Sabres, including a memorable three-point performance in his second career outing against the Nashville Predators. If he plays a 10th, it'll count as the first season of his three-year entry-level contract.
If Buffalo keeps him in the AHL for the rest of the campaign, however, the contract will "slide" and he'll remain under the team-friendly deal for an extra season. That's important for a franchise that's facing some short-term financial constraints, especially if it wants to re-sign Alex Tuch.
As a result, the Sabres will probably attempt to acquire some offensive depth before the 2026 trade deadline on March 6 so they don't have to bring Helenius back up. It's an unfortunate reality based on the business side of the NHL.
Buffalo may not have a choice if it can't find a suitable trade and the injury problems continue to mount, though.
Rasmus Dahlin ready for Buffalo's playoff chase
Dahlin helped lead Sweden to the quarterfinals of the men's hockey tournament at the Milano Cortina Games, and now the Sabres captain is ready for the NHL's stretch run.
"Almost every game was a must-win for us [at the Olympics], so I got a chance to work on handling emotions and handling pressure," Dahlin told reporters. "... I was able to work on my own game in terms of that, and I know what it takes to be on a big stage and play important games, so I think I can bring experience with that [to Buffalo]."
The All-Star defenseman said his focus shifted right back to the Sabres as the Swedes came up short against Thompson and the Americans in knockout rounds: "I'm so excited to get this thing going. We have a really good thing going on, and now the fun begins."
Buffalo currently occupies the top wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with a 32-19-6 record (70 points). It's five points clear of the East's closest chase teams, the Columbus Blue Jackets and Washington Capitals, which are tied for ninth with 65 points.
Although the playoff odds suggest the Sabres are in a highly promising position, those numbers can change rapidly if they struggle following the break. If they're a bit sluggish, it'll create extra pressure on general manager Jarmo Kekalainen to make a trade or two to upgrade the roster.
One thing's for sure: Dahlin will need to play at an elite level if Buffalo is going to reach its maximum potential over the final 25 games of the regular season and potentially into the playoffs.