Buffalo Sabres: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

A mix of good and bad news highlights the Sabres initial 23-man roster

The Buffalo Sabres on Monday afternoon announced their initial 23-man roster, and it was a combination of good and not-so-good news for the team. On the positive end, the Sabres didn't have any of their Top 3 goalies or Olen Zellweger on injured reserve.

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Sabres’ initial 2026-27 roster has goalies Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Alex Lyon

The Buffalo Sabres’ initial 23-man roster for the 2026-27 season released Monday features three goalies, six defensemen and 14 forwards. Goalies Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Alex Lyon and defenseman Olen Zellweger, all of whom suffered injuries in preseason games last week, are listed on the roster.

Buffalo Sabres News / Sabre Noise / September 28

Elliotte Friedman picks former Sabres prospect as breakout NHL player

The Buffalo Sabres are facing a lot of goalie questions ahead of the 2026-27 NHL season as the top two goaltenders on their depth chart, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Alex Lyon, are dealing with injuries, while a blockbuster trade for the Winnipeg Jets' Connor Hellebuyck has remained elusive.

Buffalo Sabres News / Sabre Noise / September 28

NHL coach questions Sabres goalie UPL: 'Don't think he's done enough'

The Buffalo Sabres found themselves at the center of the Connor Hellebuyck trade rumors all summer but, with the 2026-27 NHL season about to begin, they're trending toward another season with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen as their No.

San Jose Sharks News / Yardbarker Quizzes

The ''EA NHL,'' covers since 2000' quiz

How many of the players to grace the cover of each EA NHL video game going back to 'NHL 2000?"

The 'First-overall NHL Draft picks' quiz

The 'Conn Smythe Trophy winners' quiz

The 'Most NHL goals all-time' quiz

Buffalo Sabres News / Sabre Noise / September 28

4 bold predictions for the Buffalo Sabres forwards this season

The Buffalo Sabres forwards are going to look a little different this season with the departure of Alex Tuch. With a lack of options in free agency or on the trade market, the Sabres are going into this season with the hope that their younger players are ready to take that next step.

NHL News / Yardbarker

The best and worst NHL free agency deals since 2000

The NHL has had an interesting new millennium. It was a league sans a salary cap when the 2000s started… and then the owners locked the players out for an entire season.

Daxon Rudolph News / Sabre Noise / September 28

Daxon Rudolph reveals the big shift coming to his game at Denver

Leading up to the NHL Draft, players start to get an idea of where they might end up being drafted and by which teams. However, any hunches that Daxon Rudolph had in the weeks leading up to the NHL Draft went out the window on the day of the first round, after the Buffalo Sabres had acquired a Top 5 pick and were looking to talk to Rudolph.

Matt Grzelcyk News / Buffalo Hockey Beat / September 27

After losing defensemen to injury, Matt Grzelcyk’s signing gives Sabres boost

BUFFALO – The Sabres wasted no time getting newcomer Matt Grzelcyk acclimated. Without the benefit of a practice or pregame skate, they threw the defenseman into the lineup for their preseason finale.

Buffalo Sabres News / The Hockey Writers / September 27

Sabres Week Ahead: Schedule & Storylines — Preseason Cuts, Injury Updates & More

Here is the latest news and updates around the Buffalo Sabres and their schedule for the week of Sept. 27 – Oct. 4, 2026. On Friday, the Sabres made a round of their first preseason cuts as we inch closer to the opening night roster being announced.

NHL News / Daily Faceoff / September 27

Islanders sign Logan Stanley to one-year contract

A big presence is heading to Long Island. On Sunday, the New York Islanders announced that the team has signed defenseman Logan Stanley to a one-year contract.

Buffalo Sabres News / Sabre Noise / September 27

3 division rivals that could derail the Sabres pursuit of a rare franchise milestone

It might be easy to forget that the Buffalo Sabres not only ended their playoff drought last season but did so by winning the Atlantic Division. It was the first time the Sabres won the Atlantic Division after realignment in 2013, and the first time they have won a division title since 2009-10, when they were in the Northeast Division.

NHL News / Yardbarker

The defining figure for every NHL franchise

People will talk about the “Mount Rushmore” for a franchise, which is to say the four people, usually four players, that most define the franchise. Not always the four-best players, but the four that evoke the essence of the franchise.

Buffalo Sabres News / Sabre Noise / September 27

Sabres' goalie injuries could open the door for a Connor Hellebuyck trade

The Buffalo Sabres already had some questions in net heading into the season, and now the Alex Lyon injury as well as the injury to Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen could make things even more interesting.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen News / Buffalo Hockey Beat / September 26

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen leaves game injured as Sabres end preseason

BUFFALO – When the Sabres open the regular season Thursday in Columbus, Colten Ellis could be their starting goalie. A trying preseason in which they lost five significant players to injury in four games, including top goalies Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Alex Lyon, has mercifully ended.

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The '100-receiving-yard playoff debuts' quiz

The 'Multiple 30/30 MLB seasons' quiz

The 'Active NFL catch leaders' quiz

The '4K-yard, 30-TD NFL seasons' quiz

Buffalo Sabres News / The Hockey Writers / September 26

Realistic Expectations for the Sabres Heading Into the 2026-27 Season

The preseason is wrapping up, and the Buffalo Sabres open their regular season on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026. It’s been a long summer of anticipation after coming just one goal shy of the Eastern Conference Final last season.

NHL News / Sabre Noise / September 26

3 Buffalo Sabres to watch in the preseason finale against the Pittsburgh Penguins

The Buffalo Sabres will finish their preseason schedule on Saturday afternoon against the Pittsburgh Penguins. At this point of the preseason, the lineup and roster feel pretty well set for the beginning of the regular season and probably the biggest objective going into this game is to leave with everyone healthy.

Buffalo Sabres News / Buffalo Hockey Beat / September 25

Signing Matt Grzelcyk shows Sabres in full Stanley Cup mode; Olen Zellweger could be back for opener

BUFFALO – When the Sabres announced Friday they had signed veteran Matt Grzelcyk to a one-year, $850,000 contract, it felt like they might also reveal they expected at least one of their two injured defensemen, Mattias Samuelsson and Olen Zellweger, to be sidelined longer than they expected.

Buffalo Sabres News / Buffalo Hockey Beat / September 25

Sabres waive eight players, including first-rounder, assign 17 to Rochester

The Buffalo Sabres on Friday placed eight players on waivers, including defenseman Ryan Johnson, a first-round pick in 2019, for the purpose of assigning them to the Rochester Americans.

Buffalo Sabres News / Sabre Noise / September 25

Buffalo Sabres finally receive good injury news on preseason ailments

The Buffalo Sabres may not be missing several players on Opening Night after all. Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff ran down some injury updates after Friday's practice, and it sounds like most of the club's banged-up players are trending in the right direction.

Buffalo Sabres News / Sabre Noise / September 25

Sabres' Matt Grzelcyk signing makes a clear statement about Radim Mrtka

Prized prospect Radim Mrtka, the No. 9 overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, isn't ready for a significant role with the Buffalo Sabres. The Sabres appeared

Matt Grzelcyk News / Pro Hockey Rumors / September 25

Sabres Sign Matt Grzelcyk

The Buffalo Sabres have signed veteran defenseman Matt Grzelcyk to a one-year deal worth the league-minimum salary of $850K. The 32-year-old defenseman arrives in Buffalo in the aftermath of two significant injuries to the left side of the Sabres defense.

Matt Grzelcyk News / Daily Faceoff / September 25

Sabres sign Matt Grzelcyk to one-year deal

A late-preseason signing for a veteran blueliner. On Friday, the Buffalo Sabres announced that the team has signed defenseman Matt Grzelcyk to a one-year contract.

Alex Lyon News / Daily Faceoff / September 24

Sabres’ Alex Lyon leaves preseason game with shoulder injury

Buffalo Sabres goaltender Alex Lyon left Thursday’s preseason game against the Detroit Red Wings with a shoulder injury. Lyon appeared to suffer the injury while reaching for a loose puck during the first period.

Buffalo Sabres News / NHL on ClutchPoints / September 24

Sabres’ blue line hit hard by 2 key injuries ahead of opening night

The Buffalo Sabres open their 2026-27 regular-season against the Columbus Blue Jackets in exactly a week’s time, and they could be without two key pieces of their defensive unit for the opening contest.

Buffalo Sabres News / Daily Faceoff / September 23

Sabres’ Mattias Samuelsson out week-to-week; Olen Zellweger in concussion protocol

It appears the Buffalo Sabres could be starting their season without a couple of key blueliners. On Wednesday, Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff confirmed that defenseman Mattias Samuelsson is out week-to-week with a lower-body injury, and defenseman Olen Zellweger is in concussion protocol.

NHL News / NHL Trade Talk / September 22

Olen Zellweger Diagnosed With Concussion After Hard Hit From Carson Soucy

Olen Zellweger is dealing with a concussion after a heavy hit from Carson Soucy left him down on the ice and needing assistance getting to the locker room.

Jack Quinn News / Pro Hockey Rumors / September 18

Assessing Jack Quinn’s Future With The Sabres

The Buffalo Sabres have effectively locked up their entire young core for the foreseeable future, with one glaring omission: forward Jack Quinn. Louis