The Buffalo Sabres face a number of challenges as they open their 2026-27 training camp on Thursday, with the most challenging being whether they can recover from the offensive deficit created by the departure of winger Alex Tuch and defenseman Bowen Byram.
After not making any additions to their forward group over the summer, the Sabres are relying heavily on a trio of first-round selected youngsters in Konsta Helenius, Noah Ostlund, and Jiri Kulich to show some growth. One of the advantages they all possess is their ability to play both center and on the wing effectively. Something that head coach Lindy Ruff may have determined before the start of camp.
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“You always plot it out. Does it change during camp? It’s possible, I would like to start (Tage) at center, but knowing that even in the playoffs, he ended up on the wing, and had a couple great nights,” Ruff said. “You go back to that four-month run; he was in the middle of the ice for us that whole time. I mean, inside some games, there were games where, Ostlund and (Ryan)McLeod stepped in and played center. He played a little bit of wing, which will again happen for sure.”
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With a shorter exhibition schedule, many NHL clubs are putting together line combinations that they plan to use during the regular season. If Thursday’s practice is any indication, the Sabres plan to start the season with Thompson at center, as he played the middle with Peyton Krebs and Josh Doan. Helenius played the right side and McLeod on the left on a line with center Josh Norris, Östlund played pivot on a line with Zach Benson and Jack Quinn, while Kulich skated on left wing with Sam Carrick and Beck Malenstyn.
The club will practice on Friday and hold the Blue and Gold Scrimmage on Saturday morning at Key Bank Center.
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