The 2025-26 season is only a handful of days away and all speculation will be rested soon. For the Buffalo Sabres it feels like another crucial season in a series of crucial seasons of recent times. If you have missed the play -offs for more than ten consecutive years, it is usually the feeling in the low season.
The Sabres are looking for a few players to take the next step, but there are in particular three names that will play an important role in the success or failure of this team. Let’s look at the best and worst-case scenarios for each of them and what kind of impact that each could have.
Josh Norris
When Josh Norris was taken over in a profession That sent Dylan Czensens packaging, the prospects were positive. Norris is generally seen as a solid two -way player with a good speed and finish. His 35-goal season as a 22-year-old certainly had the fans of Ottawa Senators who felt hopeful.
Unfortunately, Norris has spent more time on the ice than on it. After he had been taken over by the Sabres, Norris was suitable in all three games before he was closed for the season. As it looks now, he is perhaps the biggest player of the “tree or bust” on the Roster.
Best Scenario
In view of the fact that Norris played more than 56 games only once in his career, adjusting to north of 70 games would be a big win. Norris has a large contract he has five years in an eight-year-old deal of $ 63.6 million-so it is not as if this is a test season where he can be thrown overboard.
In addition to Norris who stays on the ice, a return to his production of 2021-22 is a must. If he could hang around the 30-goal, 70-point Mark that minute minutes play next to Tage Thompson, that should be considered a big victory for the Sabres. His two-way options must also turn the Sabres into a better defense team, which will also pay dividends and give the Sabres a legitimate option for the 1C site.
Worst scenario
It is not difficult to sort this out. The worst-case scenario sees Norris struggling again to stay healthy. Not being on the ice is harmful for obvious reasons, but it would also be difficult for him to have an optimal production if he cannot stay in a groove.
Norris who cannot deliver as a top center would also have a wrinkle effect on the rest of the schedule. Ryan McLeod or Jiri Kulich would be forced to take a role for which they are not ready, and the rest of the line -up would be thrown into chaos. Saying that Norris should stay healthy is perhaps the understatement of the season.
Michael Kesselring
Fans were initially not happy when they are dissatisfied JJ Peterka was sent to Utah For Michael Kesselring and Josh Doan. Since then they have come to both new additions. In particular, Kesselring seems to be the most intriguing.
Last season with Utah, Kesselring stepped defensively in a top-four role in the midst of injuries and played very well. The hope is that he can do the same for the Sabres this season, which means that toughness, physicality and a stronger defensive presence are missing.
Best Scenario
The value of Kesselring will more than probably be measured on the impact he has on his partner, Owen Power, than at his own game. For all the aforementioned reasons, it is expected that Kesselring will have a positive effect on the first overall pick of 2021.
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By offering a physical, reliable presence, power must be more open to further unlock its offensive potential. Given that he comes from career heights in Doelen (seven), assists (33) and points (40), that is certainly tempting potential. Being able to trust his partner at that level must also make power defensively better.
That said, it is expected that Kesselring is the kind of defender that the Sabres was missing in recent years. His ability as a penalty murderer will also be welcome, because the Sabres needs the team defense in almost all areas.
Worst scenario
Detractors will indicate that Kesselring has really delivered only one season. What if that is the case and he has a great regression with a more consistent role? The insufficient game, for his part, can be harmful to both the Sabres and Power.
The Sabres cannot afford a new disappointment of their defenders. Mattias Samuelsson already earns the anger of the fan base by being injured again, and a disruption of the top couple of Rasmus Dahlin and Bowen Byram would not be optimal. The team needs Kesselring to be everything he has been advertised.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was perhaps the biggest individual disappointment of the 2024-25 season. After an outbreak -effort the year before, he Earned an extension And gave everyone both within the organization and beyond that they had finally found their number 1 goalkeeper.
Luukkonen took a big step back last season and finally handed over the runway to veteran James Reimer along the piece. He now has to deal with an injury that could keep him out to start the season, not the ideal situation in view of the current target situation.
Best Scenario
In the ideal case, this is only a small setback for Luukkonen, and he will be back earlier instead of later. He gets every opportunity to reclaim the runway, so the ball is very in his court. He has previously proven that he can be a reliable daily goalkeeper and, at the age of 26, has his best days for him.
In an ideal situation, Luukkonen starts between 55 and 60 games. If he could return to the .910 marking in terms of savings percentage and approach his 2.57 goals against the 2023-24 season, that should be considered a big victory for the Sabres.
Worst scenario
The worst-case scenario looks like a potentially two-headed monster. In this situation, this injury in the lower body appears to be a long-term problem, so that it stays out of the line-up for a longer period. That leaves the keys to the fold in the hands of Alex Lyon – a backup of the career – and Alexandar Georgiev – less than lovingly known as “Fourgiev”.
Even when he returns, Luukkonen struggles to find the level of the game that he reached two seasons ago. He is wildly inconsistent, with dominant versions followed by head-scratchers. His failure to reclaim the runway leads to the panicky call from Devon Levi, which hinders its development. The situation with Luukkonen really has the potential to be the worst domino effect possible.
Health is crucial for the opportunities of the Sabes on Success
This season, health is becoming a crucial factor for the Sabres, especially at Forward. They are already thin in terms of proven talent; Losing one of the top six can have a far -reaching negative impact.
Luukkonen back and in the swing of things will also be critical, especially given the most important questions among him on the depth card. These are many questions that must be converted into definitive answers for the Sabres.
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