Sabres Open 2025/26 Training Camp

Photo Credit: Micheline Veluvolu (X: @MiMiV4682)

The Buffalo Sabres officially kicked off training camp this week with a 61-man roster featuring 32 forwards, 21 defensemen, and eight goaltenders all fighting for spots on opening night. Ahead of the first skate, Head Coach Lindy Ruff and General Manager Kevyn Adams addressed the media, setting a clear tone for the 2025–26 season: it's time to defend better, build a winning culture, and taking the next step.

While Sabres fans have heard similar promises many times before, the organization now faces the challenge of turning words into action and finally ending its 14-year playoff drought.

Ruff: “Hard to Play Against”

Back behind the Sabres bench, Ruff made it clear that defensive improvement is the team’s top priority after an inconsistent 2024–25 campaign. Despite boasting one of the league’s most dangerous offenses – featuring multiple 20-goal scorers, including Tage Thompson with 44 goals and Jason Zucker with 36 – Ruff stressed that success will come only by tightening up in their own zone.

To address that need, Buffalo added several key pieces over the summer, including defensemen Michael Kesselring and forward Justin Danforth, along with goaltenders Alexandar Georgiev and Alex Lyon. Ruff called Georgiev a “quality goaltender” with something to prove, noting that his late offseason addition provides crucial depth while Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen recovers from an undisclosed injury.

Another major boost comes from forward Josh Norris, now fully healthy after an injury-plagued season. Ruff praised him as an “elite” two-way player capable of impacting both ends of the ice, underscoring his importance to the team’s balance.

Reflecting on last season, Ruff pointed out that 78% of NHL games were decided by one or two goals—an area where Buffalo must improve to reach playoff contention. He emphasized work ethic, defensive commitment, and culture-building, revealing that the team will hold a retreat this year to bring players, staff, and families closer together.

“The vision is simple,” Ruff said. “We want to be hard to play against and play well defensively. That’s what playoff teams do.”

Adams: Pressure Is On

Adams struck a candid tone in his media session, acknowledging that results will define his fifth year as general manager. “We’ve got to win hockey games,” he said plainly. While the current roster isn’t responsible for the franchise’s 14-year drought, Adams stressed that the responsibility now is to block out the noise and deliver.

He also provided updates on several key players:

• Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (G): Day-to-day with a lower-body issue; imaging revealed no structural damage.

• Alex Tuch (F): Day-to-day with a minor issue, though Tuch and GM expect him back soon.

• Jordan Greenway (F): Suffered a setback requiring a second surgery and will miss training camp.

Adams confirmed the September 11th signing of Georgiev as precautionary depth in net. On the contract front, negotiations with Tuch are ongoing, with both sides expressing interest in a long-term deal.

He also highlighted the growth of young talents like Jack Quinn and rookie Radim Mrtka, while pointing to defenseman Bo Byram’s two-year extension as a key piece of stability.

Ultimately, he echoed Ruff’s message: the Sabres must grow defensively and become a team opponents dread facing.

Training Camp Opens with Energy 

Day 1 of camp carried a noticeable edge. Ruff, who admitted he left his house at 5 a.m. out of excitement, pushed the team through nearly 45 minutes of skating and conditioning before pucks even touched the ice. Tuch and Luukkonen watched from the bench, while newcomers made strong early impressions.

Forward Alex Tuch praised the group’s mindset: “The group that we have in front of us, can get the job done. We’re going to keep growing each and every day as a full team, and I don’t think I’ve hit my potential and I think everyone in that locker-room thinks they have more to give and they want to give it, they want to come in and work each and every day, so I’m really confident we can win with this group.”

Opening Line Combinations (Sept. 18)

Forwards

• Benson – Norris – Thompson

• Quinn – Kulich – Doan

• Zucker – McLeod – Danforth

• Geertsen – Krebs – Malenstyn

Defense

• Byram – Dahlin

• Power – Kesselring

• Samuelsson – Timmins

• Bryson – Jones

*The full training camp roster list can be accessed here. 

The roster will be trimmed in the coming days as the Sabres prepare for their first preseason matchup against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday, September 22 at 7:00 p.m. That game will mark the start of six preseason contests leading into the October 9 season opener against the New York Rangers.