In 2025-26, Kulich's season was cut short by a blood clot in November. Kulich was playing a key role for the Sabres and had tallied five points (3G / 2A) in 12 games before being shutdown for the season. This summer he said that he feels good and expects to be ready for Opening night on October 1st.
McDonough, a seventh-round pick of the Vancouver Canucks in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, is coming off an impressive 2025-26 season in the AHL, scoring 44 points (23G / 21A) in 65 games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. The 26-year-old forward played six NHL games in 2022-23, but has exclusively played in the AHL since.
Polin played four games with the Colorado Avalanche last season, but has primarily been an AHL player. The 27-year-old forward scored 21 points (10G / 11A) last season in 46 games with the Colorado Eagles (AHL).
Kuntar, a third-round pick of the Boston Bruins in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, made his NHL debut last season, playing one game with the Buffalo Sabres. The 25-year-old forward spent most of the 2025-26 season in the AHL, scoring 37 points (21G / 16A) in 37 games with the Rochester Americans.
After spending most of the 2024-25 season in the AHL, Sheary returned to the NHL in a bottom-six role with the New York Rangers, scoring 18 points (7G / 11A) in 62 games. The 34-year-old 5'8 forward rejoins the Buffalo Sabres, a team he spent two seasons with earlier in his career.
Gilbert has played 119 career NHL games, but only suited up in eight last season with the Ottawa Senators. The 29-year-old defenseman will provide some reliable depth on Buffalo's blueline after signing a one-year deal worth $850K.
Buffalo acquired the rights to Olen Zellweger last week for Anton Wahlberg and a 2026 2nd round pick and has now signed the defender to a three-year deal worth $3.1M AAV ($9.3M total). The 22-year-old will join Buffalo after three solid seasons in Anaheim which saw him surpass 7+ goals and 20+ points twice. He is expected to fill the void left by Bowen Byram being traded to Chicago for the upcoming 2026-27 season.
In his two seasons with Buffalo, Malenstyn has impressed in a bottom-six role, earning himself a six-year contract extension worth $17.5 million ($2.917 AAV). The 27-year-old forward averaged 11:15 time-on-ice, recording 282 hits and 14 points (7G / 7A) in 81 games last season.
Zellweger was drafted 34th overall by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft and had an impressive 2025-26 season with the Ducks, scoring 22 points (7G / 15A) and averaging 16:59 time-on-ice in 76 games. With Bowen Byram's recent departure from Buffalo, the 22-year-old Zellweger looks poised to see an elevated role in 2026-27 with his new team.
Benson was drafted 13th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft and made his presence felt with a breakout 2025-26 season, scoring 43 points (13G / 30A) in 65 games. The 21-year-old forward continued to gain attention in the postseason, where he scored nine points (5G / 4A) in 13 games. He should continue to see his role elevate in the upcoming season with the Sabres, especially with the recent departure of top-six forward Alex Tuch.
