Biggest questions after Buffalo Sabres' first training camp practice

The Buffalo Sabres' quest to defend their Atlantic Division title began in earnest Thursday morning as Rasmus Dahlin, Tage Thompson and Co. opened training camp ahead of the 2026-27 NHL season.

Sabres general manager Jarmo Kekalainen and head coach Lindy Ruff have both stressed the importance of instant urgency since there's just two weeks between the first camp practice and the team's opener against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Oct. 1.

That leaves little time to make key lineup decisions following the high-profile offseason departures of Alex Tuch and Bowen Byram. It also doesn't give players on the roster fringe much time to make an impact in their effort to earn a place on the initial 23-man squad.

Let's dive into some pressing questions after Day 1 of camp.

Are the Connor Hellebuyck dreams fading away?

All-Star goalie Connor Hellebuyck was suspended by the Winnipeg Jets late Wednesday after he didn't arrive for training camp on time. It's the latest turn in the ongoing saga, which has taken center stage again in recent weeks after the three-time Vezina Trophy winner went public with his trade request.

The Sabres have been heavily linked to Hellebuyck since before the 2026 NHL Draft in late June, but there seemingly hasn't been much movement since those pre-draft discussions failed to yield an agreement. The Jets' asking price has always felt too high.

So, Buffalo opened camp with the same three-goalie rotation it leaned on last year, featuring Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Alex Lyon and Colten Ellis. The group was successful during the regular season, but neither UPL nor Lyon could hold down the crease consistently in the playoffs.

A Hellebuyck trade could give the Blue and Gold a more distinct pecking order between the pipes, especially if UPL (who has a five-team no-trade clause) is part of the package going to Winnipeg, but Kekalainen has wisely opted against overpaying for a 33-year-old goaltender coming off the worst season of his decorated career.

As it stands, the Sabres appear content to open the campaign without a change in net unless the Jets' demands come down to a far more reasonable level.

Will Peyton Krebs really play on the first line again?

Peyton Krebs spent a fair amount of last season on the top line alongside Thompson and Tuch, but it felt like that was mostly out of necessity as Buffalo juggled some injury issues. His season ended on a low note, failing to record a single point in seven games during the team's second-round playoff series against the Montreal Canadiens, which ended with a Game 7 overtime loss.

So, it was a bit surprising to see Krebs back on the first line during the first practice of camp. Here's how the Sabres lined up, via Matthew Fairburn of The Athletic: