Buffalo Sabres News

Zucker has been with the Penguins for the last three seasons since being dealt from Minnesota win 2020. Injuries plagued him in his first two seasons with Pittsburgh, but he missed just four games last year, scoring 27 goals with 21 assists (48 points) in 78 games. With the Coyotes, Zucker will provide some much-needed offensive punch to their top-6 and looks primed to be traded to a contender at the 2024 Trade Deadline.

The 2023 season was Brannstrom's first full NHL season, scoring two goals with 16 assists (18 points) in 74 games. Brannstrom is a quality offensive-defenseman but it will be hard for him to carve out a significant role with Thomas Chabot, Jakob Chychrun and Jake Sanderson ahead of him on the depth chart.

Quinn had 14 goals, 23 assists, 126 SOG, 15 PIMs and a -7 plus/minus through 75 games in 2022-23 but will miss a good portion of the beginning of the 2023-24 season as he recovers from Achilles Surgery (4-6 Month recovery). It is a tough blow for the 21-year-old right-winger who was expected to take on a larger role in his second full season in Buffalo. He was the Sabres 2020 1st Round draft pick (8th overall).

Quinn suffered an Achilles tendon injury during training and underwent successful surgery on Wednesday. Quinn will miss the start of the 2023-24 season but could be back by early November.

Meyer had an assist, 17 SOG, six PIMs and a -2 plus/minus through 14 games with Columbus in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, two-way contract extension worth $775,000. The 25-year-old right-winger has played in two seasons for the Blue Jackets, picking up a goal and four points across 27 total NHL games played.

Jones spent most of the 2023 season in the AHL, collecting 31 points (8G / 23A) in 54 games with Hartford. During his brief time with the Rangers, he had two points (1G / 1A) in 16 games, giving him a combined eight points (1G / 7A) in 38 career NHL games. The one-way deal suggests that Jones is a part of the Rangers' blueline plans for the 2023-24 season.

Johnson was selected in the first round (No.31 overall) of the 2019 NHL draft, and signs his ELC after his senior season at the University of Minnesota. The 21-year-old defenseman had 18 points (4G / 14A) in 40 games this season, and figures to start the 2023-24 season with Rochester (AHL).

Neuchev was selected by the Sabres in the third round (No.74 overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft. Neuchev spent the 2023 season in the KHL, picking up 12 points (4G / 8A) in 57 games with Yekaterinburg Automobilist.

Dunne spent most of the season with Cleveland (AHL), where he tallied 20 goals and 17 assists (37 points) in 65 games. He appeared in eight NHL games this season and 14 total in his career, but has yet to record a point with the Blue Jackets.

Lyon stopped 34 of 37 shots (.919 SV%) to even up the Panthers' opening series with a 6-3 win over Boston in Game 3. The 30-year-old journeyman had an exceptional end to the 2022-23 season as he propelled Florida into the playoffs with his 9-4-2 record, 2.89 GAA and .914 SV%. He will hope for more positive results in Game 3 vs. Boston, who closed out the regular season second in the NHL in goals per game (3.67) and ninth in shots per game (33.0).

Lyon allowed three goals on 29 shots (.897 SV%) in Game 1 but stood on his head for the majority of the game and will get the nod for Game 2 Wednesday in Boston. The 30-year-old journeyman was a revelation for the Panthers this season, going 9-4-2 with a .914 SV% and 2.89 GAA. He takes on the Boston Bruins, who are without star centre Patrice Bergeron (upper-body) but finished the regular season with the most Wins all time (65) and most points all time.

Lyon was a revelation for the Panthers in the season's final months, picking up points in seven of his last eight starts while posting a 9-4-2 record, with a 2.89 GAA and .914 SV%. The 30-year-old has yet to experience playoff hockey throughout his six-year NHL career and will make his playoff debut Monday as he takes on the Boston Bruins. He draws the incredibly difficult task of taking on the Bruins, who set NHL records in both wins (65) and points (135) on way to a historic regular season finish.

Thompson will not play in the Sabres' final game of the season Friday vs. Columbus due to an upper-body injury. It puts the cap on a phenomenal breakout campaign for the 25-year-old, who had 47 goals, 47 assists, 295 SOG, 39 PIMs and a +4 plus/minus though 78 games in 2022-23.

Kesselring had three assists, eight SOG, six PIMs and a -1 plus/minus through nine games this season with Arizona but has been assigned to Tucson (AHL) Friday following the conclusion of Arizona's season. The 23-year-old returns to the AHL, where he had 14 goals, 14 assists, 45 PIMs and a +10 plus/minus through 58 games with Tucson (AHL) and Bakersfield (AHL) this season.

Kesselring has 14 goals, 14 assists, 45 PIMs and a +10 plus/minus through 58 games between Tucson (AHL) and Bakersfield (AHL) and has been recalled to Arizona Thursday. He returns to the Coyotes, where he had an assist, six PIMs and a -3 plus/minus in eight games during his last call-up.

Samuelsson had two goals, eight assists, 76 SOG, 20 PIMs and a +14 plus/minus through 55 games but will not play Thursday vs. Ottawa in the Sabres' season finally. The 23-year-old puts the cap on a fairly successful third NHL season, which saw him play a career-high in games while putting up career goal and point totals as well.

Lyon allowed two goals on 25 shots (.920 SV%) to snap a five-game winning streak as he was narrowly defeated by the Toronto Maple Leafs in overtime in his previous start. The 30-year-old veteran has enjoyed an incredible last few weeks as he propelled the Panthers into the playoffs with his 9-3-2 overall record, .916 SV% and 2.80 GAA. He takes on the Carolina Hurricanes, who just snapped a three-game losing skid with a 4-1 victory over Detroit last game.