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Buffalo Sabres

8-6-319 PTS6th in the Atlantic divisionNHL

Playoff odds

39%

Power play

14.3 %

Penalty kill

71.2 %

Goals per game

2.94

Goals against

3.29

Faceoffs

45.3 %

Playoff odds

All 32 teams →

Make playoffs

39%

Top 3 in division

14%

Win the division

1%

Projected points

93

84–103

Performance

Actual goals: on pace for 80 pts
Expected goals: on pace for 98 pts

Expected goals are kinder: Buffalo Sabres has been unlucky, and that should turn.

Talent (WAR)

Lineup: 25.0 WAR (10th of 32)

  • Alex Lyon4.8
  • Rasmus Dahlin3.4
  • Tage Thompson3.3
  • Colten Ellis2.6
  • Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen2.3

Injuries

Cost the rest of the way: −0.1 win

  • Alex Lyon (2 g.)−0.0
  • Konsta Helenius (3 g.)−0.0

Team Pulse · 2026-27

All 32 teams →

Team Pulse says which way the team is heading (−100 to +100), first over its last five seasons, then this season. The rating this year, separately, says how good it is right now (0 to 100): an average team can rise fast, an excellent one can decline.

5-year pulse

+24

↑ Rising

21-22 : 90.322-23 : 97.723-24 : 97.124-25 : 92.425-26 : 108.2
21-2225-26
RESResults
↑
OFFOffense
↑
DEFDefense
→
PPPower play
↓
PKPenalty kill
↑↑
GOALGoaltending
↑
POSPossession
→

Rating this year

54/ 100

17 of 32

Changes as the season goes: after 8 games, last season still counts for 71%. It fades with every game.

Pulse this season

-4

→ Stable

OFFOffense
86
→
DEFDefense
33
→
PPPower play
17
↓
PKPenalty kill
31
↓
GOALGoaltending
54
→
POSPossession
61
→
ROSTERRoster
54
→

Why Buffalo Sabres is rising

  • Over 5 years (21-22 to 25-26): index 90.3 → 108.2, rising (+3.0 per season); improving: the penalty kill and results; slipping: the power play.
  • EV xGF/60: 2.67 → 2.84 (↑ 6.4%, better)
  • PP xGF/60: 7.48 → 6.94 (↓ 7.1%, worse)
  • PK xGA/60: 7.82 → 9.47 (↑ 21.1%, worse)
  • xGA ÷ goals allowed: 1.095 → 0.879 (↓ 19.8%, worse)
  • Roster: 6 key players rising, 2 declining, 10 stable.
  • The progress comes mostly from offense, while the penalty kill holds it back; the core is rising.
  • Early season (8 games): the pulse rests mostly on the roster, and last season still weighs heavily in the rating this year.
See full details

Pulse by horizon

10 gamesSeason1 year3 years
Team Pulse——-4-1
OFF · Offense——+11+15
DEF · Defense——-20
PP · Power play——-22-18
PK · Penalty kill——-30-26
GOAL · Goaltending——-18-13
POS · Possession——+4+6
ROSTER · Roster——+6+6

— : not enough games yet for that horizon (last 10 vs previous 10: 20 games; season: 25). The 5- and 10-year horizons will come with past seasons' history.

Roster Trend · +6 (core +10)

PlayerTrend
Rasmus DahlinD · 26 · core→ -1
Tage ThompsonC · 28 · core→ -1
Mattias SamuelssonD · 26 · core↑↑ +37
Josh DoanW · 24 · core↑↑ +30
Owen PowerD · 23 · core→ -9
Olen ZellwegerD · 23 · core→ +9
Ryan McLeodC · 27→ -6
Zach BensonW · 21↑ +10
Jason ZuckerW · 34→ +8
Beck MalenstynW · 28↑ +15
Louis CrevierD · 25→ +2
Peyton KrebsC · 25↑ +10
Noah OstlundC · 22→ 0
Josh NorrisC · 27↑ +12
Jack QuinnW · 25→ -2
Conor ShearyW · 34→ 0
Matt GrzelcykD · 32↓ -11
Conor TimminsD · 28↓↓ -31

A player's trend compares 2025-26 with 2024-25 (PAL, WAR per 60, SC, PA, DF, SK ratings, in percentile points) and adds age. Roster Trend weights each player by ice time and importance: a rising fourth line doesn't offset a declining top center.

The Buffalo Sabres story

Born when the NHL expanded to 14 teams in 1970, the club quickly became a focal point of Buffalo sports life. Early decades were defined by competitive runs that culminated in Stanley Cup Final appearances in 1975 and 1999, though the Cup itself remained elusive. Home ice moved from the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium to KeyBank Center in 1996, marking a new era in the franchise’s infrastructure and fan experience.

The club today is shaped by a mix of veteran stewardship and young on-ice talent. Ownership settled under Terry Pegula after the 2011 purchase, and the roster and bench reflect ongoing efforts to return to postseason consistency. The team endured the NHL’s longest playoff drought at 14 seasons, stretching from the 2010–11 through the 2025–26 seasons, a stretch that has influenced offseason strategy and organizational priorities.

A handful of figures loom large in the franchise’s story. Gilbert Perreault and Pat LaFontaine are among the players whose skill and scoring left lasting impressions, while current captain Rasmus Dahlin and head coach Lindy Ruff represent the present leadership tasked with restoring the club’s fortunes.

Historical facts from Wikipedia and NHL archives; text written by PickALeague.

The franchise

Founded
1970
First season
1970-71
City
Buffalo
Home
KeyBank Center
Seats
19,070
Head coach
Lindy Ruff
Captain
Rasmus Dahlin
Sabertooth, mascotMascotSabertooth

Retired numbers

  • 2Tim Horton (1972-74)
  • 7Rick Martin (1971-81)
  • 11Gilbert Perreault (1970-87)
  • 14Rene Robert (1971-79)
  • 16Pat LaFontaine (1991-96)
  • 18Danny Gare (1974-81)
  • 30Ryan Miller (2002-14)
  • 39Dominik Hasek (1992-01)

Captains

  • Rasmus DahlinDec. 20, 2024 – Present
  • (No Captain)March 9 – Dec. 17, 2024
  • Kyle OkposoOct. 13, 2022 – March 7, 2024
  • (No Captain)Oct. 14, 2021 – April 29, 2022
  • Jack EichelOct. 4, 2018 – May 8, 2021
  • (No Captain)Oct. 5, 2017 – April 7, 2018
  • Brian GiontaOct. 9, 2014 – April 9, 2017
  • (No Captain)Feb. 28 – April 28, 2014
  • Steve OttOct. 28, 2013 – Feb. 26, 2014
  • Steve Ott and Thomas Vanek (Co-Captains)Oct. 2 – Oct. 26, 2013
See all 33
  • (No Captain)April 5 – April 26, 2013
  • Jason PominvilleOct. 7, 2011 – April 2, 2013
  • (No Captain)Feb. 25 – April 26, 2011
  • Craig RivetOct. 10, 2008 – Feb. 23, 2011
  • Brian Campbell, Jochen Hecht, Toni Lydman, Jason Pominville and Jaroslav Spacek (Co-Captains)Oct. 5, 2007 – April 5, 2008
  • Daniel Briere and Chris Drury (Co-Captains)Oct. 5, 2005 – May 19, 2007
  • Daniel Briere, Chris Drury, J.P. Dumont, James Patrick and Miroslav Satan (Co-Captains)Oct. 9, 2003 – April 3, 2004
  • (No Captain)March 12 – April 6, 2003
  • Stu BarnesOct. 4, 2001 – March 9, 2003
  • (No Captain)Oct. 5, 2000 – May 10, 2001
  • Michael PecaNov. 6, 1997 – April 20, 2000
  • Pat LaFontaineJan. 20, 1995 – April 13, 1997
  • Alexander MogilnyNov. 17, 1993 – April 29, 1994
  • Pat LaFontaineOct. 30, 1992 – Nov. 13, 1993
  • Mike RamseyJan. 29, 1991 – Oct. 27, 1992
  • (No Captain)Dec. 18, 1990 – Jan. 27, 1991
  • Mike FolignoMarch 8, 1989 – Dec. 16, 1990
  • Lindy RuffNov. 26, 1986 – March 5, 1989
  • Gilbert PerreaultDec. 3, 1981 – Nov. 22, 1986
  • Danny GareOct. 13, 1977 – Nov. 28, 1981
  • Jim SchoenfeldOct. 17, 1974 – April 17, 1977
  • Gerry MeehanOct. 10, 1971 – Oct. 13, 1974
  • Floyd SmithOct. 10, 1970 – April 4, 1971

Head coaches

  • Lindy RuffOct. 4, 2024 – Present
  • Don GranatoMarch 18, 2021 – April 15, 2024
  • Ralph KruegerOct. 3, 2019 – March 16, 2021
  • Phil HousleyOct. 5, 2017 – April 6, 2019
  • Dan BylsmaOct. 8, 2015 – April 9, 2017
  • Ted NolanNov. 15, 2013 – April 11, 2015
  • Ron RolstonFeb. 21 – Nov. 12, 2013
  • Lindy RuffOct. 1, 1997 – Feb. 19, 2013
  • Ted NolanOct. 7, 1995 – May 11, 1997
  • John MucklerDec. 13, 1991 – May 14, 1995
See all 26
  • Rick DudleyOct. 5, 1989 – Dec. 11, 1991
  • Ted SatorDec. 23, 1986 – April 11, 1989
  • Craig RamsayNov. 5 – Dec. 20, 1986
  • Scotty BowmanJan. 17 – Nov. 2, 1986
  • Jim SchoenfeldOct. 10, 1985 – Jan. 15, 1986
  • Scotty BowmanMarch 20, 1982 – April 16, 1985
  • Jim RobertsDec. 9, 1981 – March 18, 1982
  • Scotty BowmanOct. 7 – Dec. 6, 1981
  • Roger NeilsonOct. 9, 1980 – April 22, 1981
  • Scotty BowmanOct. 11, 1979 – May 10, 1980
  • Billy InglisDec. 7, 1978 – April 14, 1979
  • Marcel PronovostOct. 13, 1977 – Dec. 3, 1978
  • Floyd SmithOct. 10, 1974 – April 17, 1977
  • Joe CrozierJan. 13, 1972 – April 7, 1974
  • Floyd SmithJan. 9, 1972
  • Punch ImlachOct. 10, 1970 – Jan. 6, 1972

Fun facts: Buffalo Sabres