The Buffalo Sabres are scheduled to practice early Monday morning at KeyBank Center before traveling to Pittsburgh to face the Penguins at PPG Paints Arena later that evening. The lineup for their preseason debut is expected to mirror the squad that participated in Saturday’s Blue and Gold scrimmage, although with four preseason games on the schedule, the team and other NHL clubs seem more focused on helping players become familiar with those already assured a spot on the 23-man roster, rather than competing for a final roster spot.
The Sabres face a slight disadvantage due to their three-goalie setup—Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Alex Lyon, and Colten Ellis—limiting their roster options, particularly on defense, where coach Lindy Ruff might opt for seven defenders: Rasmus Dahlin, Mattias Samuelsson, Owen Power, Olin Zellweger, Louis Crevier, Conor Timmins, and Zach Metsa.
On the prospects side, first-rounder Radim Mrtka, a waiver-exempt player, will start the season in Rochester, while veterans like Ryan Johnson and Dennis Gilbert will need to clear waivers to join the AHL’s Rochester Americans. Up front, an injury to veteran Jason Zucker could mean he begins the season on injured reserve, and there may be a roster decision regarding Jiri Kulich, who hasn’t played in the NHL in ten months. Kulich, being waiver exempt, might be sent to Rochester to regain his form, though his placement on the fourth line suggests Ruff may look to gradually increase his minutes in a potential top-six role.
If Kulich is sent down, the coaching staff might decide to keep non-waiver-exempt Tyson Kozak or veteran Conor Sheary as the 13th forward, allowing Kulich to start the season with more prominent ice time.
Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo.
Fan Take: This preseason glimpse shows that the Sabres are prioritizing familiarity and development, which could bode well for building a cohesive team chemistry. For hockey fans, these early moves hint at a potentially exciting season ahead, where young talent may soon step into bigger roles.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
