The Buffalo Sabres have had a busy offseason but there are some notable departures that require addressing. Rather than taking a big swing and potentially overpaying, general manager Jarmo Kekalainen has remained patient and held his ground.
With the departures of Bowen Byram and Alex Tuch, the Sabres have some offense to replace. If they don’t opt to take a huge swing, they have a trio of young, exciting players that they will be leaning on this season: Jiri Kulich, Konsta Helenius, and Noah Ostlund. Which of the three will have the largest impact in 2026-27?
Who will have the biggest impact for the Sabres this season?
The case for Jiri Kulich
Kulich has the biggest head start among this trio, having played 62 games in 2024-25. He was the de facto top center for the team entering the 2025-26 campaign. That said, he missed all but 12 games because of a blood clot that some felt could threaten his career.
When in the lineup, he has the speed, one-on-one skill, and shot to be lethal. He does everything well and has a willingness to get to the net. The fact that he began last season on the top line means the Sabres clearly have high hopes for him.
He may have to build his game back up again after missing so much time, similar to what Jack Quinn went through after his knee injury. It will be nice to have him back and 20 goals feels realistic given his ability and what he’s already shown in the past.
The case for Konsta Helenius
Helenius, the 14th overall pick in 2024, may have the highest ceiling of the trio. He impressed as an 18-year-old with the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League (AHL) and earned a brief (nine games) stint in the regular season.
In the playoffs, Helenius stepped in during the Eastern Conference Semifinals for four games. He scored a pair of big goals and followed that up with a gold medal-winning goal at the World Championships for Finland. He’s a gamer in every sense of the word.
How he does all depends on where he slots into the lineup. He has the kind of offensive creativity that draws attention and always seems to be in the right spot. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see him ramp up as the season goes on, eventually landing him in the 15-20-goal range with 35-40 points being a good baseline.
The case for Noah Ostlund
Ostlund filled in for Kulich last season, playing 60 games during the regular season, registering 27 points in the process. After missing time with an injury, he came into the first-round series against the Boston Bruins and made an immediate impact. Unfortunately, he got hurt again and didn’t return for the remainder of the playoffs.
Ostlund has already proven himself to be effective despite his frame. He is a smart player that makes his linemates better, willing to go anywhere on the ice to get the puck. He’s also a strong playmaker and the thought of him playing between Zach Benson and Josh Doan sounds tantalizing.
Staying healthy is going to be crucial for Ostlund. Elevating to 15 goals and 45 points would be a nice step up and set the table for something bigger in 2027-28.
The Verdict
Though all three have enticing potential, it is important to keep expectations somewhat tempered. It is very easy to see Ostlund slotting into one of the top two center spots, putting his playmaking ability to full use. For next season, it feels like he has the greatest chance of making an impact.
Expect seasons of flashed potential and inconsistency for Helenius and Kulich, especially as the latter returns from being out so long. That leaves the door open for Ostlund to become a fixture in the top six and a consistent contributor to a deep group of Sabres forwards.
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