Sabre Noise

The Buffalo Sabres' objective is clear for this upcoming season as they will look to prove the division title and trip to the playoffs were not a fluke. For some, their chances have gone down after an offseason that saw Alex Tuch and Bowen Byram depart. On Thursday, the full 2026-27 schedule for the Sabres and the rest of the NHL was announced, and the Sabres face a very tough start to the season.

In the doldrums of the NHL offseason, there are only so many angles one can take on the current state of the Buffalo Sabres roster. General manager Jarmo Kekalainen has already done a masterful job of setting the Sabres up for long-term success, but the season is still months away. With that in mind, it is fun to take a look back in time and wonder: What if?

The Buffalo Sabres have built a deep, experienced front office since Jarmo Kekalainen took over as general manager in December, so they can expect rival organizations to frequently look in their direction as openings emerge around the NHL. Another example arrived this week as the Detroit Red Wings began seeking a replacement for Steve Yzerman, who suddenly transitioned into an advisory role for the franchise.

The NHL released its full regular-season schedule for the 2026-27 season on Thursday, which includes two additional contests for each team to create an 84-game slate. The Buffalo Sabres will open the campaign Oct. 1 on the road against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Buffalo's home opener at the KeyBank Center will take place two days later, Oct.

No NHL team has lost more value from its roster during the 2026 NHL offseason than the Buffalo Sabres, who traded away winger Alex Tuch and defenseman Bowen Byram. That estimate comes from the analytic model of The Athletic's Dom Luszczyszyn, who ranked the Sabres' summer (at least so far) as the league's worst based on his Net Rating metric, though he admitted Buffalo's potential for internal growth could offset the high-profile losses.

It's not too often the youngest player in college hockey already has an NHL-ready frame, but that was the case with Ilia Morozov. The 17-year-old Russian center often towered over his older opponents during his freshman season with Miami (Ohio) in 2025-26. Morozov (6'3'', 205 pounds) didn't back down from the challenge of playing against more experienced foes, tallying 20 points (eight goals and 12 assists) in 36 NCAA games for the RedHawks.

Patrick Kane proved he's still capable of making a high-end offensive impact by scoring 57 points in 67 games for the Detroit Red Wings last season, and now the future Hockey Hall of Famer is looking for a new team ahead of the 2026-27 NHL campaign. Chicago Blackhawks legend Chris Chelios said Wednesday on 104.3 The Score that he recently spoke with Kane, an unrestricted free agent who's apparently narrowed his choice down to a Hawks return or joining his hometown Buffalo Sabres.

Buffalo Sabres general manager Jarmo Kekalainen is starting to receive some criticism for a lack of high-profile additions after trading away winger Alex Tuch and defenseman Bowen Byram, two key members from a roster that finally ended the franchise's 14-year playoff drought.

One storyline that Sabres fans will never forget is the drama between the organization and Jack Eichel over how to handle his neck injury. Back in 2021, Eichel suffered a herniated cervical disc in his neck, and he wanted to undergo artificial disk replacement surgery, but the Sabres refused to allow that. This led to months of drama and trade rumors that ended with him being shipped to Vegas. But what if things were different?

The Buffalo Sabres finally broke through to the playoffs this past season. High-profile free agency moves were not the story the previous offseason. It is interesting now to look back at certain signings and if they panned or didn't pan out during the playoff drought. Kyle Okposo was one of those signings. The right-winger signed a high-priced contract worth over $40 million in 2016. He was a top-line scorer before signing with the Sabres as a member of the New York Islanders.