3 Sabres Preseason Position Battles to Watch

The Buffalo Sabres have their first preseason game on Saturday, and internal competition is heightened more than in recent years. The Sabres stepped into training camp with four goalies with significant NHL experience, a handful of quality depth defensemen, and top forward prospects looking for promotions. General manager Kevyn Adams stated that he’s excited for the competition with a new coaching staff in place.

We’ve learned a lot through the first few days of camp. Until the Sabres see real game action in the preseason, we won’t have the full scope of who is ready to claim the open spots within the organization.

Here are the top battles to monitor heading into preseason action.

Second Line Left Wing

The Sabres’ forward group looks set now that Peyton Krebs has signed, giving them 13 forwards. There will be competition within the group for a top-six role after Buffalo bought out key scorer Jeff Skinner in the offseason. Newcomer Jason Zucker, second-year pro Zach Benson, and Jiri Kulich, the top performer in the Prospects Challenge, are candidates for the position.

Zach Benson

Benson surprised everyone last season by making the NHL outright as an undersized 18-year-old after the Sabres drafted him 13th overall. His rookie season consisted of quality defensive play, strong forechecking, and flashes of offensive skill.

He looks to be the favorite to win the second-line left-wing spot, rotating with Kulich on a line with Dylan Cozens and Jack Quinn in practice. It bodes to the resounding confidence that the Sabres have in the second-year forward, hoping that he can take a step offensively with productive linemates.

Benson would have to show more consistent offensive production to retain the role, as 30 points won’t be enough. Right now, he’s projected for 34 points according to PuckLuck, with an upside of 48. He’ll have to score closer to that ceiling number, and even surpass it, to justify a top-six position.

More Benson: Can Zach Benson Take a Leap in Sophomore Season for Sabres

Jiri Kulich

Coming off of a stellar rookie camp, Kulich is the most intriguing player who could win a top-six role. He spent the summer rounding out his game, and it showed as he dominated the Prospects Challenge.

The leg-up Kulich has in the race is that he’s a big threat on the right flank on the powerplay. It’s a spot the Sabres are sorely lacking, although he’s not included in the presumed top 13 forwards to start. We have yet to see any special teams work at training camp, so our first taste of how the powerplay will look will likely come in Saturday’s preseason game.

Related: Top 3 Sabres Prospects in Challenge Against Blue Jackets

Jason Zucker

Zucker’s experience and history of scoring give him an edge for the spot in the long term. Although he only managed 14 goals last season, he has plenty of exposure to the role.

His history of scoring includes six seasons of 20 goals or more. Zucker’s played pivotal top-six roles for the Minnesota Wild and Pittsburgh Penguins, complementing their best talent. His recent time with the Arizona Coyotes last season didn’t go as well, although he reverted to a 20-goal pace in the final 18 games with the Nashville Predators.

Although they may not be the prime top-six options the Sabres set out to find this offseason, Benson, Kulich, and Zucker all have traits that can make them good fits with Cozens and Quinn.

Backup Goalie

The Sabres added two goalies with NHL experience in the offseason, James Reimer and Felix Sandstrom. With incumbent starter Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and top prospect Devon Levi, the Sabres have plenty of quality depth at the position.

Devon Levi

The story with the goaltending revolves around Devon Levi. Last season, he started as Buffalo’s number-one goalie but was demoted to AHL Rochester halfway through. Levi bounced back to finish the year strong, but the uncertainty and his age have people wondering where he should start the season.

One thing made clear at the start of training camp is that the Sabres plan to carry two goalies. General Manager Kevyn Adams said it was their preference on media day, and alluded to Levi getting the chance with the Sabres.

Once practices began, it was Levi, not the more experienced Reimer, with the main group. The 22-year-old projects well as a prospect, so don’t be surprised if he garners more starts than initially expected.

James Reimer

Reimer throws a wrench in the goaltending situation for two reasons. First, he has performed consistently well over the last handful of seasons. Second, to be sent down to Rochester, he must clear waivers.

It sounds like the plan is to keep Reimer around for the Europe trip. Since the Sabres are granted an extended roster, they can take three goalies. He’ll be tough to pass through waivers if injuries hamper another team within that time. If he can start in Rochester though, Buffalo should boast one of the best three-man punches at the position in the league.

Right now, it looks like a Luukkonen and Levi tandem to start the season, with Reimer primed to fill in should an injury arise.

Depth Defense

A slew of defensemen with NHL experience make up the Sabres’ depth, including Dennis Gilbert, Jacob Bryson, Ryan Johnson, Kale Clague, and Jack Rathbone. There’s not much separating the five defensemen, although they all bring different elements to the team.

It may come down to preference, but only one or two spots are available with the Sabres in the long term.

Dennis Gilbert

Gilbert and Bryson received the advantage of practicing with the first group. Meanwhile, Johnson, Clague, and Rathbone were relegated to the other two groups, consisting mostly of players destined for the AHL.

Looking at the depth defensemen, Gilbert is the most physical of the bunch. He can step in as an immediate replacement for Connor Clifton or Mattias Samuelsson. If he’s smart, the Buffalo native will use that to his advantage.

Sabres Depth: Sabres Depth Chart Update Heading into Training Camp

Jacob Bryson

Bryson was the odds-on favorite to begin the season as Buffalo’s extra defender. This is mostly thanks to a good stretch of play on the bottom pair to end last season. His rapport with his teammates and mobility are his two strongest assets. He’ll have the others breathing down his neck due to similar styles of play, but, for now, Bryson is one of the last ones in.

Ryan Johnson

If we were charting players’ chances of making the Sabres over the last few weeks, Johnson’s stock would be on the rise. The second-year defenseman was in complete control during the Prospects Challenge. He was also the first called up to the main group after Rasmus Dahlin’s injury.

Johnson’s smooth skating and steady defending are certainly NHL-caliber. His detractor is his contract, which makes him waiver-exempt and able to report to Rochester without any hiccups.

More Johnson: Don’t Forget About Sabres Second Year Defenseman

Kale Clague

Clague is a dark horse candidate to make the team. Over the past two seasons, he’s seen time with the Sabres and had impressive stretches with Owen Power on a pair.

Clague’s two-way deal exposes his spot in the pecking order though and limits his ability to leapfrog anyone above him on the depth chart.

Jack Rathbone

Newcomer Jack Rathbone is in a similar position as Clague. He’s on a two-way contract, meaning he’s paid less in the AHL than in the NHL. Rathbone appeared in 28 games on defense for the Vancouver Canucks from 2020 to 2023, registering five points.

The fourth-round draft pick took major strides in development since being drafted. He was considered a promising prospect in Vancouver before being surpassed on the depth chart by some of the Canucks’ top talent.