Buffalo Sabres: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

Sabres Week Ahead: Schedule & Storylines — Defense Issues, Lindy Ruff Calls Out Players & More

Here are the Buffalo Sabres news, rumors and latest updates for the week of Oct. 12 – Oct. 18, 2026. The Sabres have dropped two straight games, a 4–0 loss to the Dallas Stars and a 4–1 defeat to the Utah Mammoth.

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The Morning Bark

The Quiz of the Day

Josh Norris reveals a hidden truth about Buffalo Sabres' early struggles

The Buffalo Sabres looked completely overmatched in their last two games, losses to the Dallas Stars and Utah Mammoth by a combined score of 8-1. They certainly didn't resemble the team that took the NHL by storm during the second half of last season.

Buffalo Sabres News / Sabre Noise / October 12

NHL EDGE reveals a potential threat at the start of the Sabres 2026-27 season

The Buffalo Sabres are off to a 2-3-0 start through their first five games of the 2026-27 season. There are a couple of interesting storylines to already sweep through this team in the early going, with goaltending struggles from Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to Owen Power being tied for the leading point-getter at five.

Buffalo Sabres News / Buffalo Hockey Beat / October 11

As Sabres struggle early, Ryan McLeod or Josh Norris could be scratched

BUFFALO – Scratching young players, as coach Lindy Ruff did Saturday, is often the first option to ignite a struggling team. As rookie Konsta Helenius and Jiri Kulich watched, the Sabres fell meekly to the Utah Mammoth.

Washington Capitals News / Yardbarker Quizzes

The 'Most goals in NHL history' quiz

How many of the 22 players in NHL history with at least 600 career goals can you name in five minutes?

The 'Conn Smythe Trophy winners' quiz

The '2026-27 NHL captains' quiz

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

Buffalo Sabres News / Sabre Noise / October 11

Buffalo Sabres early season trends reveal major reasons for slow start

The Buffalo Sabres are now five games into the 2026-27 season and are currently 2-3 on the season after a 4-1 loss to the Utah Mammoth on Saturday night.

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.

Buffalo Sabres News / The Hockey Writers / October 10

Sabres Need to Solve Their Luukkonen Problem

The Buffalo Sabres are coming off a 4–0 loss to the Dallas Stars on home ice, a game where they struggled to generate any offense and spent long stretches, especially in the second period, chasing play.

Colten Ellis News / Sabre Noise / October 10

Colten Ellis and two other x-factors for the Buffalo Sabres against Utah

The Buffalo Sabres are coming off by far their worst performance of the season after losing 4-0 to the Dallas Stars. It felt like they were keeping pace early with Dallas, but the second period changed everything as they allowed four goals and never were able to get back into the game.

NHL News / Field Level Media / October 9

Sabres, Mammoth look to bounce back from frustrating defeats

The Buffalo Sabres and visiting Utah Mammoth will each try to recover from early-season drubbings when they meet on Saturday night. Both teams found themselves on the wrong side of the scoreboard even as they outshot their opponents handily.

Matt Villalta News / Buffalo Hockey Beat / October 9

Newcomer Matt Villalta gives Rochester Amerks No. 1 goalie, Sabres depth

Having grinded in the minors for years and occasionally earned trips to the NHL, goalie Matt Villalta symbolizes the new-look Americans. The Buffalo Sabres’ AHL affiliate still has some strong young talent, most notably defenseman Radim Mrtka, the ninth overall pick in 2025.

Buffalo Sabres News / Sabre Noise / October 9

Sabres insider delivers impassioned defense of assistant Seth Appert

Stop blaming Buffalo Sabres assistant coach Seth Appert for the team's power play failures. That's the message from Sabres insider Paul Hamilton, who took

Buffalo Sabres News / Sabre Noise / October 9

3 Buffalo Sabres starting to feel the heat after painfully slow starts

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is going through a rough patch early in the Buffalo Sabres' new season, something he's become no stranger to across his tenure as the club's No.

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 / October 9

Key departures are haunting the Buffalo Sabres penalty kill

It has been a mixed bag for the Buffalo Sabres just four games into the season. They have relied on comebacks and late-game pushes for their two wins to get them to .500 on the start of the year.

Owen Power News / The Hockey Writers / October 9

Sabres’ Owen Power Developing Into Special Defenseman

The Buffalo Sabres entered the 2026-27 season looking to prove that their surprise playoff appearance a season ago was no fluke. They have talent from the top of the lineup to the bottom, but there are a few pieces that make things go.

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The 'Rushing TDs by active NFL WRs' quiz

The 'Most 3-HR MLB Playoffs' quiz

The 'NFL most receiving-1st downs' quiz

The 'Last 2-rushing-TD duos by team' quiz

NHL News / The Hockey Writers / October 9

3 Takeaways From the Sabres’ 4-0 Loss to the Stars

The Buffalo Sabres entered Thursday night riding high after a come-from-behind 3-2 win over the Minnesota Wild. They are hitting a tough stretch in the schedule, including Thursday night’s matchup with one of the Western Conference’s premier contenders, the Dallas Stars.

Lindy Ruff News / Sabre Noise / October 9

Lindy Ruff addresses the elephant in the room after Sabres' loss to Stars

The Buffalo Sabres power play has been useless. Literally. Buffalo failed to convert any of its three opportunities with the man advantage in Thursday's 4-0 loss to the Dallas Stars, dropping the special teams unit to 0 for 13 on the new season.

NHL News / Sabre Noise / October 9

3 clear losers from Sabres' shutout loss to the Stars

The Buffalo Sabres could not find an edge against the Dallas Stars, getting blanked 4-0 on home ice Thursday night. This could be considered the worst loss of the young season, and certainly something to keep an eye on going forward.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen News / Sabre Noise / October 9

Buffalo Sabres have a Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen problem (and no clear solution)

After a disappointing playoff run, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen needed to get off to a fast start with the Buffalo Sabres. It not only would have put the playoffs behind him but also quieted the trade rumors from the offseason connecting the Buffalo Sabres and Connor Hellebuyck.

NHL News / Buffalo Hockey Beat / October 8

Sabres hear boos, get blanked by Stars in ugly loss: ‘Didn’t have our game’

BUFFALO – How’s this for a throwback to, uh, early last season? The Sabres performed so poorly in Thursday’s ugly 4-0 loss to the Dallas Stars that surly fans booed throughout night.

NHL News / Sabre Noise / October 8

3 takeaways from the Buffalo Sabres 4-0 loss to the Dallas Stars

The Buffalo Sabres were looking for their third straight win early in the season after back-to-back comeback wins against Chicago and Minnesota. On Thursday, it was the Dallas Stars standing in their way and unfortunately the Sabres had no answer for them as they lost 4-0 and were shut out for the first time this season.

Zach Benson News / Sabre Noise / October 8

Buffalo-area restaurant receives shoutout from Sabres' Zach Benson

Buffalo Sabres rising star Zach Benson will play in his 215th NHL game Thursday night against the Dallas Stars, and it's fair to say the winger has his routine down pat.

Owen Power News / Yardbarker / October 7

Feel the power: Sabres' Owen Power may be on verge of breakout after game-winning goal

Through three games, 2021 No. 1 pick Power has logged five points (four assists and one goal).

Wild’s Nick Foligno leaves game with upper-body injury

Dylan Larkin's season debut helps shift mood in Red Wings' win

The 'Active 40-goal NHL seasons' quiz

Olen Zellweger News / Daily Faceoff / October 2

Sabres’ Olen Zellweger cleared to make Sabres debut against Blackhawks

Positive news for a talented team in the Eastern Conference. When speaking to reporters on Friday, Buffalo Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff announced that defenseman Olen Zellweger has been cleared to return to action.

Louis Crevier News / Daily Faceoff / October 1

Sabres sign Louis Crevier to four-year contract extension

The Buffalo Sabres announced on Thursday that they have come to terms on a four-year contract extension with defenseman Louis Crevier. The new contract

Buffalo Sabres News / Pro Hockey Rumors / October 1

Sabres Place Olen Zellweger On IR, Recall Dennis Gilbert

The Buffalo Sabres announced today that defenseman Olen Zellweger has been placed on injured reserve as he deals with a concussion. In a corresponding move, the Sabres recalled defenseman Dennis Gilbert from their AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans.

Conor Sheary News / Pro Hockey Rumors / September 29

Sabres Place Conor Sheary On Waivers

Despite never filling a major lineup role, veteran winger Conor Sheary was once a lock to stick in the NHL lineup. Those days seem past, as Sheary has been placed on waivers by the Buffalo Sabres ahead of his 14th professional season per PuckPedia.