BUFFALO SABRES' DEFENSE DOMINATES 2025 NHL RANKINGS: THE ELITE BLUE LINE YOU NEED TO SEE

The Buffalo Sabres' lack of defensive depth behind Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power has been a significant contributing factor in the team's lack of recent success. Multiple additions over the past 17 months have helped transform the group into one of the league's best, though.

TSN's Travis Yost released his NHL defense talent tiers for the 2025-26 season on Monday. The Sabres ranked in Tier 2 alongside the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers with only five teams ahead of them in Tier 1: the Carolina Hurricanes, Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, Edmonton Oilers and Ottawa Senators.

The fact both Florida and Edmonton, which faced off in the past two Cup Finals, are ranked so high showcases how important a strong defense corps is to building a legitimate contender.

"Finding areas to criticize the Buffalo Sabres organization is an easy exercise, but the one area of real strength for this team is on the blue line," Yost wrote. "Rasmus Dahlin has solidified himself as one of the best defenders in the league, and 22-year-old Owen Power has already shown himself capable of anchoring a second pairing. Couple that with Bowen Byram's likely return after his arbitration deal, and the Sabres should be able to ice three quality pairings this season — a luxury few teams around the league possess."

There are several reasons for the optimism around Buffalo's blue line ahead of the new campaign.

Byram returns amid trade rumors

The Sabres acquired Byram in a March 2024 trade with the Avalanche. He's coming off a career-high 38 points (seven goals and 31 assists) while playing all 82 games in his first full season with Buffalo.

He's been the center of trade rumors for most of the summer, including continued speculation since signing a two-year contract extension with the franchise. For now, it's likely he'll begin the season with the Sabres, but his future remains unsettled despite the new deal.

Byram's struggles away from Dahlin are a concern because it limits the coaching staff's flexibility when building the defense pairs. The tandem was terrific while together last season, however, highlighted by a 54.6% expected goals for percentage (xGF%) at 5-on-5, per Natural Stat Trick.

The bottom line is few teams in the league have more offensive upside on their top pair than the Sabres do with Dahlin and Byram.

Michael Kesselring arrives to help Power

Power was selected with the first overall pick in the 2021 NHL draft. General manager Kevyn Adams has struggled extensively over the past four years to find him a dependable playing partner. It's perhaps the biggest reason the University of Michigan product hasn't lived up to his potential.

Kesselring has the ability to change the narrative. He made steady progress across the past two seasons with the Utah Mammoth, and his ability to clear the crease with his 6'5'' frame should prove vital alongside Power, who's struggled in that area despite his own 6'6'' stature.

On paper, it looks like a perfect second pair as long as 25-year-old South Carolina native continues the upward trajectory he started in Utah. A defensive duo with that combination of size and two-way ability is incredibly difficult to find.

Mattias Samuelsson could thrive in smaller role

Samuelsson has become a punching bag for Sabres fans over the past few years, and in some respects rightfully so. His failure to stand up for superstar teammate Tage Thompson after a high hit last season was unacceptable. He's also failed to stay healthy for extended periods.

Dropping down to the third pair, likely with new arrival Conor Timmins, may be just what the doctor ordered. It'll decrease his minutes, ideally helping him stay off injured reserve, and allow him to play a role he's more built to handle: defensive-zone starts and penalty-kill situations.

Ultimately, that's always been the best-case scenario for Samuelsson. Pushing him up to the first pair with Dahlin was asking far too much. He's a stay-at-home defender who can make safe plays with the puck. His new spot in the lineup should allow him to maximize that limited skill set.