Sabres’ Olen Zellweger in concussion protocol after preseason game

Buffalo Sabres defenseman Olen Zellweger suffered a concussion and was forced to leave Tuesday’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Zellweger suffered the injury after Blue Jackets defenseman Carson Soucy delivered a hit on the Buffalo defender late in the second period of Tuesday’s game.

According to Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff, Zellweger is in concussion protocol and will be further evaluated Wednesday.

Zellweger, 23, finished the night with four shots in 13:37 of ice time.

Fellow Sabres defenseman Mattias Samuelsson also missed the third period with an undisclosed injury. Ruff said he will also be evaluated Wednesday.

The Calgary native was acquired by the Sabres last summer in a trade with the Anaheim Ducks. In 164 career regular-season games, Zellweger, a 2021 second-round pick, has 16 goals and 35 assists for 51 points.

Zellweger spent four full seasons playing junior hockey in the Western Hockey League. He scored 50 goals and recorded 133 assists for 183 points in 180 career regular-season games. In 2022-23, he had 32 goals and 48 assists for 80 points.

He twice represented Canada at the World Junior Championships. In 14 career games, he scored twice and added 15 assists for 17 points.

The Sabres went 50-23-9 for 109 points in 2025-26, finishing first in the Atlantic Division and with the fourth-best record in the NHL. They were eliminated by the Montreal Canadiens in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.