Jack Quinn Has Officially Arrived for the Sabres

His NHL start was slower, but last season he finally broke through, posting career highs in goals (20), assists (31), and points (51). This season, he’s taken another step, and you can make a real argument he’s been Buffalo’s best player through the first eight games (and if you say Owen Power, that’s just as valid). Quinn has eight points (four goals, four assists), tied for second on the team, and he’s driving play every night.

He opened the season with a bang, scoring twice in the Sabres’ 6‑3 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Oct. 1, and he hasn’t cooled off since. And frankly, nobody who has followed his development should be surprised he’s off to this kind of start.

We’ve seen glimpses of his scoring ability for years. Last season especially, he’d generate a Grade‑A chance but get a little too excited, fumble the puck, rush the shot, or ring it off the post. The skill was always there; the composure wasn’t. Now, he looks like a completely different player. He’s calm under pressure, he doesn’t panic when the puck finds him in scoring areas, and he’s finishing plays with a level of poise we haven’t seen from him before.

The analytics back it up, too. According to MoneyPuck, Quinn ranks fourth on the team in expected goals per 60 (1.03), first in Corsi (66%) and Fenwick (65%), and fifth in on‑ice goals percentage (62.5%). These are elite numbers — the kind you see from players who aren’t just getting lucky, but who are driving offense and dictating play.

Jack Quinn Has 40 Goal Potential This Season

Coming into the season, it was fair to project Quinn in the 25–30 goal range, with the possibility that someday he might sniff 40. But after watching his start, and seeing him sit on a 42‑goal pace, it’s no longer a “maybe.” Quinn looks fully capable of hitting 40 goals, or at the very least pushing right up against that benchmark.

The advanced metrics support it. This isn’t a hot streak or a lucky stretch. Everything underneath shows a player driving play, generating chances, and sustaining elite offensive impact. And on top of that, Quinn has earned the full trust of head coach Lindy Ruff. He’s locked into the second line with Noah Ostlund (fresh off an extension) and Zach Benson (also extended this summer), he’s on the first power‑play unit, and he’s getting deployed in the team’s most critical situations. He’s also averaging a career‑high 19:20 of ice time per game, a massive vote of confidence.

That matters. The more opportunity Quinn gets, the more scoring chances he’s going to produce. Ruff is putting him in positions that maximize his strengths, especially his shooting ability. According to MoneyPuck, 22.1% of Quinn’s shifts start in the offensive zone, which is exactly where you want a natural scorer to begin his possessions.

Everything points in the same direction: increased usage, better linemates, prime deployment, elite underlying numbers, and a player who has finally found the calm, composed finishing touch that once eluded him. If he keeps this up, 40 goals isn’t a stretch; it’s a realistic outcome.

Quinn’s emergence isn’t a surprise; it’s the natural progression of a player whose talent has always been obvious, but who finally has the confidence, usage, and composure to fully weaponize it. The Sabres drafted him to be a goal scorer, developed him through the AHL, stuck with him through the early growing pains, and now they’re reaping the rewards. With elite underlying numbers, prime deployment under Ruff, and a finishing touch that looks sharper than ever, Quinn isn’t just off to a hot start. He’s announcing himself as a legitimate top‑six scorer and a core piece of Buffalo’s future. If he keeps playing at this level, 40 goals won’t be a dream; it’ll be the new standard for what Quinn can be.