3 Major Reasons the Sabres Will Contend Again in 2026-27 – The Hockey Writers – Buffalo Sabres

The 2025-26 season has yet to officially close, but it is never too early to look ahead for every team that fails to win the Stanley Cup. For the Buffalo Sabres, the goal will be to build on a momentous season that saw their return to the playoffs for the first time since 2011.

They still have a few major issues to solve, namely figuring out what their goaltending will look like next season and what the next contract for Zach Benson will look like. That being said, there are three critical factors that should have them right back in contention again in 2026-27.

1.) The Culture Has Changed

It cannot be overstated what this season did for the franchise. Making the playoffs would have been a huge accomplishment. Winning the Atlantic Division and winning a tense first-round series with a longtime rival is just the icing on the cake.

The biggest thing, however, is that the culture has officially changed. The Sabres have dogs on their team now. They have a fight in their game that hadn’t existed in a long time. Most of all, they continue to fight even when things look desperate.

Those aren’t necessarily tangible, quantifiable things but they do make a difference. Having that confidence in themselves is a massive step in the right direction, and it is something that the very best teams all consistently have. The Buffalo Sabres now have it, too.

2.) Forward Depth

Regardless of what happens with the Alex Tuch situation, the Sabres will return one of the very best top-to-bottom forward groups in the league. They will get Benson signed because it is a must. They need to bring back Beck Malenstyn as well. And if the playoffs taught us nothing else, it is that the team has a pair of strong young forwards ready to take an everyday spot right now in Konsta Helenius and Noah Ostlund.

Benson, Tage Thompson, Josh Norris, Josh Doan, Ryan McLeod, Jack Quinn, Ostlund, Helenius, Peyton Krebs, and Jason Zucker are all legitimate top-nine forwards. Jiri Kulich should be back. And the bottom line has a load of options with Sam Carrick, Tyson Kozak, Justin Danforth, and Jordan Greenway.

This is a group that is fast, offensively creative, and showed a rough side that no one knew existed. If the Sabres should find a way to add Tuch to that mix once again, they will be even better. Benson and Doan, two of the biggest catalysts to the shift in culture, are trending up as well, indicating bigger and better moving forward.

3.) A Dynamic Defensive Group

Defensively, they are just as deep with potential for more. The top four of Mattias Samuelsson, Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Power, and Bowen Byram is as good as any in the league, Dahlin leading the way as a Norris Trophy finalist. They play big minutes and contribute at both ends of the ice.

Behind them, Conor Timmins has proven to be a reliable bottom-pairing penalty killer. Zach Metsa was a smooth, solid presence on the blue line when given the opportunity. And Michael Kesselring can only trend upward after an injury-plagued first season in Buffalo.

There is potential behind all of that. Radim Mrtka, the team’s 2025 first-round pick, has all the tools to be a stud. Ryan Johnson is in a position where he needs to break through or ship out, and Zac Jones is a quality depth piece. The Sabres are stacked defensively and will lean heavily on the group again in 2026-27.

A Bright Future

The core of the Sabres is all well under 30 and just hitting their prime. Dahlin is one of the best defensemen in the league, and Benson is ascending to a rarified level in terms of importance to a franchise. If they can find a piece here or there, especially in net, there is no telling how high the Sabres can rise.