How the Sabres Stack up Against the Atlantic Division in 2026-27
Up front, Boston still leans on its top trio of David Pastrnak, Morgan Geekie, and Pavel Zacha. Adding James Hagens should help, and Fraser Minten is expected to take another step to address some of their scoring and depth concerns. Still, Buffalo holds the advantage here. With another season of Josh Doan, one of the league’s premier goal scorers in Tage Thompson, and expected growth from Zach Benson, Konsta Helenius, Jiri Kulich, and Noah Ostlund, the Sabres simply have more depth and upside throughout their forward group.
On defense, the gap widens. Outside of Charlie McAvoy, Boston’s blue line lacks the depth required for a deep playoff run. Mason Lohrei remains a question mark, Hampus Lindholm’s future form is uncertain, and the bottom pair of Nikita Zadorov and Henri Jokiharju has limitations, even with Will Borgen added for stability. Buffalo, meanwhile, features a Norris finalist in Rasmus Dahlin, plus Owen Power, Mattias Samuelsson, and newcomers Zellweger and Louis Crevier. The Sabres finished third in defensive scoring last season, and even with Byram gone, Zellweger should slide into his role seamlessly.
Goaltending is the one area where Boston has a clear edge. Jeremy Swayman was a Vezina finalist and played a major role in their first‑round battle with Buffalo last season. While Ukko‑Pekka Luukkonen and Alex Lyon were excellent for the Sabres, some regression is reasonable to expect. Swayman remains the more proven option.
Forwards: Sabres
Defense: Sabres
Goaltending: Bruins
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings have had a rough offseason. Their captain, Dylan Larkin, requested a trade, Steve Yzerman stepped down as general manager, and Patrick Kane returned to Chicago. It’s been setback after setback.
Their forward depth remains a major concern. Outside of Larkin, Alex DeBrincat, and Lucas Raymond, they lack reliable scoring. Viktor Arvidsson helps, but not enough to close the gap between them and Buffalo. The Sabres have significantly more firepower with Thompson, Benson, and a deeper supporting cast that includes Jason Zucker, Ryan McLeod, Beck Malenstyn, and Peyton Krebs. Detroit simply doesn’t have the depth to match that.
Defensively, the Red Wings are stronger, led by Moritz Seider and Simon Edvinsson, with Axel Sandin‑Pellikka adding upside. But beyond those three, the blue line thins out quickly. Buffalo, meanwhile, has an elite No. 1 defenseman and three more high‑end options, plus a solid bottom pair: a level of depth Detroit can’t match.
Goaltending is closer. John Gibson is still a serviceable starter at this stage of his career. He posted a .901 save percentage (SV%) last season, which is respectable, but still a tier below Luukkonen’s .907. Buffalo holds the edge here as well.
Forwards: Sabres
Defense: Sabres
Goaltending: Sabres
Florida Panthers
The Panthers, when healthy, have one of the deepest rosters in the league. Entering this season, they finally have Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk back after both missed significant time last season. Their forward group is loaded with talent: Sam Reinhart, both Tkachuk brothers, Barkov, Carter Verhaeghe, Marchand, and Anton Lundell, who centers their third line. Few teams can match that combination of star power and depth.
On defense, Florida has a strong top pair with Aaron Ekblad and Gustav Forsling leading the way. The unit is above league average overall; they may not have a true game‑breaker as Buffalo does, but head coach Paul Maurice’s structure and the veteran presence throughout the lineup make them consistently reliable. Still, the Sabres’ blue line is deeper and more dynamic, giving Buffalo the edge in this category.
Goaltending is the one area where Florida has some uncertainty. They let Sergei Bobrovsky walk and traded for Markstrom from New Jersey. If the team stays healthy, Markstrom should be solid enough to keep them competitive. Compared to Buffalo, though, their goaltending is just a bit weaker, even if the gap isn’t huge.
Forwards: Panthers
Defense: Sabres
Goaltending: Sabres
Montreal Canadiens
The Sabres’ second‑round opponent from last season, the Montreal Canadiens, enter this season with one of the deepest and most dangerous forward groups in the league. They have both depth and star power: Cole Caufield is coming off a 50‑goal season, Nick Suzuki hit 100 points, Ivan Demidov led all rookies with 62 points, and Juraj Slafkovsky added 73. Their supporting cast is just as strong, with Alex Newhook, Kirby Dach, and Alex Texier all stepping up in the playoffs. As much as it stings to admit, Montreal has the edge up front, and it isn’t particularly close.
