Buffalo Sabres roster analysis: Breaking down the lines, pairings, injury questions

The Buffalo Sabres finalized their initial 23-man roster ahead of their season opener against Columbus on Thursday night. Head coach Lindy Ruff faces early lineup challenges after losing Alex Tuch and Bowen Byram during the offseason, alongside early injury concerns for Mattias Samuelsson, Conor Timmins, Jason Zucker, and Conor Sheary.

Buffalo's projected forward lines feature Peyton Krebs alongside Tage Thompson and Josh Doan, with Ryan McLeod, Josh Norris, and Konsta Helenius forming another unit. Zach Benson, Noah Ostlund, and Jack Quinn emerged as an effective combination in training camp, while Tyson Kozak and Justin Danforth remain as extra forwards.