The Buffalo Sabres enter the 2026–27 season with a reshaped roster after a breakout 2025–26 campaign that ended their playoff drought. The offseason saw them part ways with key veterans and retool around a younger, more cost-effective core, prioritizing long-term flexibility over short-term splashes.
Key Additions
Olen Zellweger (D) – Acquired from Anaheim in exchange for a 2026 second-round pick and prospect Anton Wahlberg. The 22-year-old left-shot defenseman brings puck-moving ability and offensive upside, slotting into the top four as a direct replacement for Bowen Byram.
Louis Crevier (D) – Acquired from Chicago in the Bowen Byram trade. The 6’8″, 225-lb right-shot defenseman adds size, physicality, and depth to the third pairing, with potential to grow into a regular role.
Daxon Rudolph (D) – Drafted fourth overall in 2026 and acquired via the Byram trade with Chicago. The 19-year-old right-shot defenseman is a future cornerstone.
Conor Sheary (LW) – Signed a one-year, $1.2 million deal on July 1. The 34-year-old veteran provides depth and leadership on the wing, capable of playing top-nine minutes and mentoring younger forwards.
Sam Carrick (C) – Re-signed to a one-year, $1.5 million deal on July 13 after being acquired at the 2026 deadline. The 34-year-old adds grit and bottom-six depth, with faceoff and defensive-zone reliability.
2026-27 Boston Bruins Season Preview
Key Subtractions
Alex Tuch (RW) – Part of a sign-and-trade on June 26, agreeing to an eight-year, $10.5 million AAV deal with Washington before being sent to the Capitals for David Kampf and a 2027 third-round pick. The 30-year-old scored 25+ goals in multiple seasons, a significant loss of top-six scoring and physicality.
Bowen Byram (D) – Traded to Chicago on June 23 as part of the deal that brought Crevier and draft pick that landed Rudolph. The 25-year-old left-shot defenseman posted 30+ points in 2025–26, but his departure clears cap and adds future assets.
Jordan Greenway (LW) – Dealt to Chicago in the Byram trade. The 29-year-old provided depth and physicality on the wing.
Michael Kesselring (D) – Traded to San Jose on June 17. The 26-year-old right-shot defenseman had top-four potential but was deemed expendable.
Devon Levi (G) – Traded to tEdmonton, leaving Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Alex Lyon as the NHL tandem.
Tanner Pearson (LW), Luke Schenn (D), Logan Stanley (D) – All left via free agency or trade, thinning veteran depth.
Core Retained
Buffalo kept its young core intact, with Tage Thompson, Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Power, Mattias Samuelsson, Zach Benson, Josh Norris, and Jack Quinn all under contract. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen should be the No. 1 goalie, with Alex Lyon as backup.
Impact on 2026–27
The Sabres moved on from high-cost veterans (Tuch, Byram) for younger, cost-controlled assets (Zellweger, Crevier, Rudolph) and depth. The moves signal a shift toward sustainability, betting on internal development and draft capital. Expect Buffalo to remain competitive in the Atlantic, with a younger, faster lineup pushing for another playoff spot.
Salary Cap Situation
Projected cap hit – $98,876,348
Roster – 23/23
Projected cap space – $5,123,652
Deadline cap space – $23,666,393
Top Buffalo Sabres Prospects: Rankings, Highlights & Projections
Depth Chart
Buffalo Sabres Depth Chart from PuckPedia.com – Aug. 11th
Top Buffalo Sabres prospects
| Pat Bast Dobber Prospects August 1st, 2026 |
Steven Ellis Daily Faceoff July 9th, 2026 |
McKeen’s Hockey May 3rd, 2026 |
Scott Wheeler The Athletic Mar. 28th, 2026 |
|
| 1 | Konsta Helenius (C) | Konsta Helenius (C) | Radim Mrtka (RHD) | Radim Mrtka (RHD) |
| 2 | Noah Östlund (C) | Daxon Rudolph (RHD) | Konsta Helenius (C) | Konsta Helenius (C) |
| 3 | Daxon Rudolph (RHD) | Radim Mrtka (RHD) | Anton Wahlberg (C) | Noah Östlund (C) |
| 4 | Radim Mrtka (RHD) | Ilia Morozov (C/LW) | Vsevolod Komarov (RHD) | Devon Levi (G) |
| 5 | Colton Ellis (G) | Brodie Ziemer (RW) | Brodie Ziemer (RW) | Adam Kleber (RHD) |
| 6 | Brodie Ziemer (RW) | Adam Kleber (RHD) | Adam Kleber (RHD) | Brodie Ziemer (RW) |
| 7 | Prokhor Poltapov (LW) | Maxim Strbak (RHD) | Luke Osburn (LHD) | Nikita Novikov (LHD) |
| 8 | Luke Osburn (LHD) | Luke Osburn (LHD) | Gavin McCarthy (RHD) | Maxim Strbak (RHD) |
| 9 | Ashton Schultz (C/RW) | David Bedkowski (RHD) | Nikita Novikov (LHD) | Anton Wahlberg (C) |
| 10 | Stiven Sardarian (RW) | Melvin Novotny (LW) | Maxim Strbak (RHD) | Vsevolod Komarov (RHD) |
Read more on the top Buffalo Sabres prospects heading into the 2026-27 season.
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