In the third of a 32 part series leading up to the start of the 2025-26 National Hockey League regular season, we will look at the key off-season transactions made by all NHL organizations with an overall grade. Here are the Buffalo Sabres.
The Sabres added five players in the offseason who are projected to be in the opening lineup. They are two forwards, two defensemen and one goaltender.
Josh Doan
The native of Scottsdale, Arizona is the son of former Arizona Coyotes legend Shane Doan of Halkirk, Alberta. Josh Doan spent his rookie season with the Coyotes in 2023-24, before playing an additional season with the Utah Hockey Club. In the offseason, Doan was traded with American defenseman Michael Kesselring of Florence, South Carolina for JJ Peterka of Munich, Germany on June 26. This past season, Doan had seven goals and 12 assists for 19 points and was a -2. In Buffalo, Doan is expected to be a productive checker and be a winger on the third line alongside Ryan McLeod and Jack Quinn.
Justin Danforth
The native of Oshawa, Ontario signed a two-year contract worth $3.6 million. Danforth is projected to play on Buffalo’s fourth line as a right winger, alongside Peyton Krebs and Jordan Greenway. In 2024-25, Danforth had nine goals and 12 assists for 21 points. He has spent his first four NHL seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Michael Kesselring
As mentioned, Kesselring came to Buffalo in the Doan deal. In 2024-25, he had seven goals and 22 assists for 29 points. This past season, Kesselring emerged as more of a complete defenseman. He had career highs in goals, assists, points, penalty minutes (89), power-play points (three), shots on goal (150), blocked shots (67), and takeaways (22). Kesselring also has the distinction of being only the second NHL player ever from South Carolina. The first was Minnesota Wild right winger Ryan Hartman. Kesselring is projected to play alongside former first overall pick Owen Power.
Conor Timmins
Timmins of St. Catherines. Ontario was traded from the Pittsburgh Penguins to the Sabres on June 28. The Sabres acquired Timmins and defenseman Isaac Belliveau of Fleurimont, Quebec, Â for defenseman Connor Clifton of Long Branch, New Jersey and a second round pick in the 2025 National Hockey League Entry Draft. (The Penguins selected defenseman Peyton Kettles of Winnipeg, Manitoba 39th overall). Timmins is projected to be on the Sabres’s third pairing alongside Mattias Samuelsson.
Alex Lyon
The native of Baudette, Minnesota signed a two year deal worth $3 million to back up Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. He previously played four seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers, one season each with the Carolina Hurricanes and Florida Panthers, and the last two seasons with the Detroit Red Wings. In 2024-25, Lyon had a record of 14 wins, nine regulation losses and one loss in extra time, a goals against average of 2.81, save percentage of .896, and one shutout. The shutout came in a 1-0 Red Wings win over the New York Islanders on October 22.
Projected Grade
The Sabres improved their goaltending depth in the offseason, and I like what they did to their defensive group. However, the Sabres are not as strong offensively as they were last season. Losing Peterka is huge, and I am not convinced Jiri Kulich will be an effective first line center after only getting 24 points in 62 games last season. My offseason grade for the Sabres is a C.
