Sabres Blue Line Replacement Options for Samuelsson and Zellweger
The Buffalo Sabres played their second preseason game on Tuesday night, defeating the Columbus Blue Jackets 5–1. It was the first preseason matchup featuring their full NHL roster, as most teams typically showcase their regular lineup on home ice for their fans. Even though Columbus iced mostly non‑roster players, the Sabres still looked sharp. They made simple plays, played fast, and brought plenty of physicality. Unfortunately, a couple of negatives emerged, including injuries to key defensemen.
Midway through the second period, Mattias Samuelsson blocked a shot and headed to the locker room shortly afterward. He did not return. Then, with just under two minutes left in the period, Carson Soucy delivered a hit on newly acquired defenseman Olen Zellweger, who appeared to be knocked out on the play and suffered a concussion. He also did not return.
Head coach Lindy Ruff provided updates on both players on Wednesday. Samuelsson is week-to-week with a lower body injury while Zellweger is currently in concussion protocol. With two important blueliners already dealing with injuries, the Sabres may need to explore reunion options to reinforce their defensive depth.
Ryan Johnson
The Sabres drafted Ryan Johnson 31st overall in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. He's struggled to find his footing in the NHL as he only has 44 career games played, with 42 of them coming during the 2023-24 season where he recorded seven assists.
He's had some success in the American Hockey League where last season he recorded 19 points in 56 games played. That point total was six more points than the 2024-25 season where he also played in 10 more games. If the Sabres were to name him to the opening roster, he'd be a third pair guy logging around 12 minutes a night.
It'd be his last opportunity to show the organization that he is a more than capable NHL defenseman and i do believe he will show the organization that he can stick around in the league. Even once Samuelsson and Zellweger come back and he get's sent back down to the AHL, if he shows he can be a solid injury replacement that's still good for his NHL career.
Johnson is great at moving the puck, he's also a great skater and is a very solid replacement for a player like Zellweger in which they play a very similar game. If Johnson is the guy they replace Zellweger with while he's out of the lineup, I have confidence in him and you should too.
Radim Mrtka
Radim Mrtka is one of the Sabres top defensive prospects. He played most of last season in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Seattle Thunderbirds where he recorded 34 points in 43 games. He finished last season in the AHL playing in eight games wile recording one assist.
I believe Mrtka is a long shot to help replace Samuelsson and Zellweger but he would be the perfect Samuelsson replacement. A big body who can be physical when he needs to be but is an overall great puck moving defenseman. He uses his body and length well in front of the net and is a goaltenders best friend.
My only concern with having Mrtka replace Samuelsson would be his lack of professional hockey experience. He's only 19-years-old and this season is supposed to be the season he plays the entire year in the AHL with the Rochester Americans to develop and round out his game more. I can absolutely even see them go down the Konsta Helenius route where he spends the full two years in the AHL just to make sure he is not rushed.
Again, Mrtka is a long-shot in my opinion but i've seen way crazier things happen than a 19-year-old be thrust into a third pair role right away in the NHL.
Logan Stanley
Defenseman Logan Stanley remains unsigned. At last year’s trade deadline, the Sabres added size and toughness, which included aquiring Stanley from the Winnipeg Jets. With one year left on his deal, Buffalo took a flyer on him. He wasn’t particularly effective down the stretch or in the playoffs, saw limited minutes when he did play, and was a healthy scratch for most of the second round. Ultimately, the team chose not to re‑sign him.
With six days until the Sabres’ season opener on Oct. 1, Stanley could be a realistic option if Buffalo wants additional blue‑line depth. It wouldn’t be the flashiest signing, but bringing in a proven NHL defenseman as the seventh D or even a third‑pairing option would not be a bad move.
He would also add the physicality and toughness the Sabres want in their lineup. If teams try to bully Buffalo, he would join a group that includes Beck Malenstyn, Sam Carrick, and Dennis Gilbert, who returned to the organization this offseason, that knows how to push back. It’s not a long‑term solution, but it’s a practical one if the Sabres need stability and snarl on the back end.
Jacob Bryson
The Sabres drafted Jacob Bryson 99th overall in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut during the 2020–21 season, appearing in 38 games and recording nine points. From that season through last year, Bryson mostly served as a seventh defenseman, rotating in and out of the lineup. Buffalo eventually traded him to the Jets as part of the deal that brought in Stanley and Luke Schenn.
What he does have is familiarity with the organization, and he could step into the lineup in a pinch. In some situations, he might even be a more reliable minute‑eater than Gilbert, but that depends entirely on how the Sabres envision their third‑pair playstyle. Since Jarmo Kekalainen took over as general manager, he has emphasized that the team will not be outworked or pushed around. If that philosophy still holds, Bryson becomes more of a last‑resort option rather than a preferred one.
We’ll find out soon enough what direction Kekalainen chooses once the team has a better idea of what the timeline for return looks like for both Samuelsson and Zellweger.
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