In the offseason, the Sabres bolstered their forward group, which already includes eight regular players from the previous season, by adding veteran depth. Additionally, a set of prospects who might be ready to progress further are also part of the team.

Our initial insight into how the pieces fit together will be provided by the training camp.

Here is a detailed analysis of the forwards and storylines to look out for as the Sabres take to the ice in the upcoming weeks.

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Returning players: Alex Tuch, Dylan Cozens, Jack Quinn, JJ Peterka, Jordan Greenway, Peyton Krebs,* Tage Thompson, Zach Benson

Notable departures: Jeff Skinner, Tyson Jost, Victor Olofsson, Zemgus Girgensons

Offseason additions: Beck Malenstyn, Jason Zucker, Nicolas Aube-Kubel, Ryan McLeod, Sam Lafferty

*Remains an unsigned restricted free agent

Storylines to watch

1) Who slots into the top six?

The top-six forward role, previously occupied by Jeff Skinner, is now vacant after his contract was bought out on June 30. The Sabres have a variety of candidates who could potentially fill this position.

Skinner spent most of his time on the left wing with Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch in the last two seasons. The Sabres had a successful last season when JJ Peterka filled that position, scoring 13-5 against their opponents when playing 5-on-5 with Thompson and Tuch.

Dylan Cozens and Jack Quinn, who has returned to health after topping the Sabres’ points per 60 minutes chart in a season cut short by injury, are also expected to start the year in top-six roles. This would leave one position available.

Jason Zucker, who boasts six seasons with 20 or more goals, has positioned himself as a potential candidate for the open spot after signing a one-year contract as a free agent. A physical presence like Jordan Greenway could supplement a skilled line, or Zach Benson, who played 71 games at 18-years-old last season, might step up his game.

Alternatively, one of the Sabres’ highly talented forward prospects could advance – leading us to our next narrative.

2) Which players are on the cusp of the NHL?

Let’s begin this discussion by talking about Jiri Kulich and Isak Rosen, two first-round picks who had fruitful AHL seasons even before turning 22. Last season, Kulich topped the Amerks’ score chart with 27 goals, while Rosen shared the team lead with 50 points.

Both players have made strides in improving their games. Seth Appert transitioned from the position of Rochester’s head coach to Buffalo’s assistant coach this summer. He relied on Rosen as a versatile player and described him as one of the team’s most effective defensive wingers last season when he was just 21. Kulich, who is 20, was given the opportunity to play in top-line matchups at center.

Another potential scenario – like we observed last year when Benson made the roster months after being the 13th draft pick – is a powerful camp from 2024 first-round pick, Konsta Helenius. According to Adams, Helenius’ style and experience could be well-suited for North American professional hockey in the near future.

Helenius has participated in several seasons in Finland’s premier professional league and has gone up against NHL players at the IIHF World Championship in May.

Adams said, “He’s an extremely competitive player with a skill set we believe will transition excellently to the National Hockey League. The timeline for when a player like this will be ready to assist us is unpredictable. However, the experience he’s acquired from the men’s league and the World Championships certainly accelerates the process.”

3) The new-look bottom six

Through the free agent signings of Nicolas Aube-Kubel and Sam Lafferty, along with the trade acquisitions of Ryan McLeod and Beck Malenstyn, the Sabres have bolstered the bottom half of their forward group with speed, physicality, and defensive experience.

Last season, Aube-Kubel, Lafferty, and Malenstyn would have each topped the list of Sabres forwards in hits. While playing for the Capitals, Malenstyn and Aube-Kubel were often paired up as linemates, playing a key defensive role that included one of the highest defensive-zone usage rates in the NHL.

Meanwhile, McLeod played a crucial role in Edmonton’s penalty kill, which was instrumental to the team’s mid-season resurgence and Stanley Cup Final run. He was on the ice for every 4.20 power-play goals against per 60 minutes during the regular season, ranking seventh-best in the NHL. In the playoffs, he spent 36:43 shorthanded without allowing a goal when he was on the ice.

The common characteristic among the four mentioned additions, McCleod, Malenstyn, Aube-Kubel, and Lafferty, is speed. Last season, they all recorded top skating speeds, ranking in the 93rd percentile or higher among NHL players, as per NHL EDGE.

 4) Krebs’ contract

Peyton Krebs, aged 23, is the only restricted free agent left for the Sabres. He recently completed a season where he played a record 80 games in his career. During this time, he further established himself as a two-way center, frequently playing between ex-veterans Zemgus Girgensons and Kyle Okposo.

Earlier in the offseason, Adams commended Krebs’ growth as a defensive centerman and suggested that he could potentially take on a more offensive role in the future.

“Over the last year, he has demonstrated significant progression in understanding the defensive aspect of the game,” Adams remarked in June. “He’s an extremely competitive young man, consistently improving in various areas. He possesses an excellent vision and offensive skill, something we were aware of from his previous performance before acquiring him. Now, he’s on track to find his own way.”

“We believe he has potential as an upper-lineup player, whether as a center, which we think is his position, or possibly even a wing. We’re open to that possibility.”