Illness Taking A Toll On Zucker
What looked to be a short-term absence due to illness for Sabres winger Jason Zucker has now become a longer one. Matthew Fairburn of The Athletic notes (Twitter link) that the veteran hasn’t been able to eat solid food in nine days while battling the illness and has lost considerable weight as a result. Accordingly, he’s going to need a bit of a build-up from a conditioning standpoint once he’s able to eat again before he can be cleared to return. Zucker had been off to a solid start to his season before being sidelined, picking up four goals and three assists in a dozen games, providing the type of secondary scoring that Buffalo has been lacking for a while now.
Sabres Activate, Reassign Carson Meyer
Nov. 11: Meyer has cleared waivers and has been reassigned to Rochester, the team announced.
Nov. 10: Sabres forward Carson Meyer has landed on waivers today, per Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. That’s an indication he’s been cleared to return after starting the year on the season-opening injured/non-roster list. Assuming he clears tomorrow, he’ll get his campaign started with AHL Rochester.
Meyer, 28, last appeared in the NHL with the Blue Jackets in April 2024. The 5’11” winger has 41 games of NHL experience, all with Columbus, which drafted him in the sixth round in 2017. He’s got two goals and four assists to his name with a -4 rating, averaging 9:03 of ice time per contest.
The Ohio State product and Ohio native spent last year in the Ducks organization. He’d signed a two-way deal with Anaheim for 2024-25 after reaching Group VI unrestricted free agency, playing outside of Ohio for the first time since spending the 2015-16 season with Nebraska’s Tri-City Storm in the USHL. Meyer cleared waivers and was productive for the Ducks’ AHL affiliate in San Diego, recording 21 points in 29 games, but had his season cut short by an ACL surgery.
His recovery from that surgery was why Meyer was a non-participant in Buffalo’s camp and why he was on SOIR. He inked a two-year, two-way deal with Buffalo this past offseason that pays him $350,000 for 2025-26 and $375,000 for 2026-27 if he’s in the minors the whole way through.
He’ll be relied upon to be a top producer for a Rochester side that’s been stretched thin offensively due to a rash of injuries in Buffalo. Three of its six top scorers, Zachary Jones, Noah Ostlund, and Isak Rosen, are currently up with the Sabres.
Sabres’ Jiri Kulich Diagnosed With Blood Clot, Out Indefinitely
Sabres center Jiri Kulich will miss a “significant amount of time” after a blood clot was diagnosed during an unrelated injury absence, head coach Lindy Ruff told reporters today (per Joe Yerdon of Bleacher Report). Ruff demonstrated optimism about Kulich being able to play again this season, but wouldn’t commit to it, leaving the door open to Kulich’s IR stint being permanent for the balance of the campaign.
They’ll have a better estimate of Kulich’s return timeline based on how his treatment progresses in the next three to four weeks, Ruff said. That’s normal for clotting issues. The Penguins recently had the same thing sideline rookie Filip Hallander and immediately gave him a three-month timeline.
Kulich had already missed three games with a facial injury and was placed on IR late last week as Buffalo tries to manage a crushing amount of injuries to its forward group. Five regulars – Kulich, Zach Benson, Justin Danforth, Joshua Norris, and Jason Zucker – are currently on injured reserve with none expected back in the short term. Understandably, the team’s offense has faltered. Their 2.67 goals per game are sixth-worst in the league, and they’re averaging just 1.75 per game over their last four outings.
Kulich’s long-term health now takes the forefront, though. The 21-year-old had played in 12 straight to begin the year and was frequently serving as their top center between Benson and Tage Thompson. He’s notched three goals and five points with a -4 rating while averaging a career-high 16:22 per game. The No. 28 pick in the 2022 draft is in just his second season as a regular but has managed an 18-11–29 scoring line through his first 75 career games.
With both of Thompson’s usual linemates out of commission, he’s seen Ryan McLeod and Alex Tuch elevated to ride shotgun. That trio practiced together again today, although Buffalo is off until Wednesday after losing 6-3 to the Hurricanes on Saturday.
Sabres Looking To Move Alexandar Georgiev
It has been a rough run over the last year and a bit for veteran goaltender Alexandar Georgiev. After struggling mightily between Colorado and San Jose last season, his first trip through unrestricted free agency didn’t yield much interest. Instead, he had to wait until just before the start of training camp to get a contract as he signed a one-year, $825K deal with the Sabres as an insurance policy with some uncertainty surrounding Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen heading into camp.
However, after a poor training camp, Buffalo elected to bring in a different insurance policy, claiming Colten Ellis off waivers from St. Louis. As a result, Georgiev was placed on waivers and was sent to AHL Rochester after passing through unclaimed. Meanwhile, Luukkonen has returned and the Sabres appear to be intent on carrying three goalies this season.
Meanwhile, Devon Levi is Buffalo’s preferred goaltender in Rochester. While he hasn’t had the immediate NHL impact they were hoping when they signed him a few years ago, he’s still a decent prospect and needs to be getting the bulk of the playing time. As a result, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported earlier this week that Buffalo is now trying to find a new home for Georgiev.
The 29-year-old has respectable career numbers at the NHL level despite his recent struggles. In 303 games over parts of eight seasons, he has a 151-108-26 record with 2.99 GAA, a .903 SV%, and 15 shutouts. However, the last time he posted a save percentage over .900 was back in 2022-23 so it’s fair to suggest that anyone who might be looking to add him would be viewing him more as injury insurance than someone who could come up and play in the NHL right away.
With Levi getting the bulk of the workload, Georgiev has been limited to just two appearances in the minors through the first month of the season where he has allowed seven goals on 67 shots in a pair of losses. That said, a chance to play more regularly might result in a better performance moving forward.
The fact that Georgiev’s contract is a one-way pact will also limit his value. While more teams are now willing to pay NHL money to a third-string netminder, quite a few still try to avoid doing so while those who have an AHL netminder on a one-way deal likely won’t be looking to add another. However, as goalie injuries pick up, Buffalo might have a chance to move him for a future considerations type of return over the coming weeks. For someone who was a number one NHL goalie to start last season though, this is quite the fall from grace for Georgiev and his value.
Sabres Recall Zac Jones
The Sabres announced that they’ve recalled defenseman Zachary Jones from AHL Rochester. Jones will replace rearguard Rasmus Dahlin on the active roster as he heads to the non-roster list following today’s news of an indefinite leave of absence.
Jones, 25, has parts of five NHL seasons under his belt but hasn’t yet appeared for Buffalo this year. He was briefly rostered for a couple of days last month but didn’t get into a game. The lefty debuted with the Rangers back in 2020-21 and languished in a fringe press box/minor-league role for essentially his entire tenure. He never logged more than 46 appearances in a campaign, that career-high coming last season, and was finally non-tendered by the club last summer.
Despite looking like he could at least be a reliable No. 7 option in New York, the market for Jones wasn’t very strong. He accepted a high-paying two-way deal from Buffalo ($950K NHL/$550K AHL) and cleared waivers at the beginning of the season. Aside from that two-day call-up in October, he’s spent the season in Rochester with mixed results. Jones has always been viewed as an offensively talented rearguard who was considered enough of a defensive liability to keep him out of an everyday role. Nothing he’s done in Rochester has changed that perception. He’s off to an electric start on the scoresheet with a league-leading 13 assists but has a -4 rating, tied for second-worst on the team.
That dichotomy will keep him from being an NHL regular, but he remains an intriguing call-up option if a team needs a puck-mover in sheltered minutes. With Buffalo’s offensive heartbeat on the blue line in Dahlin now unavailable, bringing up an offensive-minded name from the minors is a natural choice. Jones, a 2019 third-round pick, has a 4-24–28 scoring line in 115 career appearances while averaging 15:54 of ice time per game.
Rasmus Dahlin Taking Leave Of Absence
Buffalo Sabres captain and star defenseman Rasmus Dahlin is taking a leave of absence from the team, head coach Lindy Ruff announced today. There is currently no timetable on how long Dahlin will be away from the team. The Athletic’s Matthew Fairburn noted that the absence is for Dahlin to return to Sweden, his home country, to be with fiancée, Carolina Matovac.
In September, Dahlin and Matovac jointly announced that Matovac had undergone a heart transplant over the summer following a traumatic health scare while travelling in Europe. In the letter, Dahlin said “this has undoubtedly been the most challenging chapter of our lives” and expressed gratitude for those who supported them at the time.
Per The Buffalo News’ Mike Harrington, Ruff told the media that “things are going well” at the moment with Matovac, but also that it was important to let Dahlin step away at this time. He added that Dahlin has “got the support of everyone on this” and that “this is bigger than hockey.”
Dahlin is one of the Sabres’ most important players, and has been since he was made the number-one overall pick at the 2018 draft by the team. He’s their captain, their number-one defenseman, and leading defensive scorer. Taking a moment to consider the hockey implications of this announcement, it appears likely that both Bowen Byram and Owen Power will be leaned on more heavily by Ruff while Dahlin is away.
Sabres Activate Tyson Kozak, Place Jiri Kulich On IR
Ahead of tonight’s game vs the Blues, the Buffalo Sabres activated Tyson Kozak and placed Jiri Kulich on injured reserve, as shared by Paul Hamilton of WGR Sports Radio 550. Kozak originally landed on IR in late October, due to a lower-body injury suffered against the Maple Leafs. Meanwhile, Kulich’s ailment is not hockey related, as he is dealing with an issue related to his ear, as shared by the team, and hopefully will not be out for long.
Kozak has jumped right back into the Sabres lineup tonight, centering Jordan Greenway and Jack Quinn. The 22-year-old has two goals in seven games. Kozak was a great find from Buffalo, drafted in the seventh round in 2021, and projects as a solid bottom six center with a hard-nosed style and high motor. Having missed the last five games, Kozak has 28 NHL games under his belt across the last two seasons.
On the other hand, Kulich, a more highly touted young forward, drafted 28th overall by Buffalo in 2022, has had an up-and-down season so far. The Czech native caught some blame from Head Coach Lindy Ruff during the team’s brutal start. Tested right out of the gate, it appeared Kulich’s future in Buffalo could be in limbo. However, since then, the club has worked its way out of the early hole, currently above the .500 mark, and Kulich has been a mainstay in the lineup until the ear issue, with five points in 12 games. Still just 21, Kulich will look to come back shortly and keep pushing to solidify himself as an NHLer, potentially surpassing last year’s output of 15 goals, and 24 points.
Norris Resumes Skating, Kozak Could Play Thursday
There’s some good news on the horizon for the Sabres on the injury front. Head coach Lindy Ruff told reporters including Bill Hoppe of the Olean Times Herald that center Josh Norris has resumed skating as he continues to recover from an early-season upper-body injury sustained in Buffalo’s season opener. While the team never announced a formal timeline for his return beyond his absence being a long-term one, there was some hope that he’d only miss a couple of months. Since he’s back on the ice already, that could ultimately be the case, assuming there aren’t any setbacks.
Meanwhile, another center is about to return as Tyson Kozak was a full participant in practice and could suit up on Thursday against St. Louis. The 22-year-old has missed the last six games due to a lower-body injury and has a pair of goals in his seven appearances this season. The Sabres have a full 23-player roster so they will need to make a move to free up a roster spot before Kozak can be activated off injured reserve.
Summer Synopsis: Buffalo Sabres
With the regular season now upon us, the bulk of the heavy lifting has been done from a roster perspective. Most unrestricted free agents have found new homes, the arbitration period has come and gone, and the trade market has cooled. Accordingly, it’s a good time to take a look at what each team accomplished over the offseason. Next up is a look at the Buffalo Sabres
The Sabres haven’t made the playoffs since 201o-11 and went into this season expecting to miss the postseason once again. It’s tough to be a Sabres fan right now, and it’s easy to feel indifferent about the future of this roster. That said, there are talented players in Buffalo, but management hasn’t been able to support them or find middle-tier players who can play alongside them. The Sabres have again started the season slowly, and if this keeps up into 2026, there could likely be significant changes in Buffalo.
Draft
1-9 – D Radim Mrtka, Seattle (WHL)
3-71 – D David Bedkowski, Owen Sound (OHL)
4-103 – C Matouš Jan Kucharcik, Slavia Praha Jr. (Czechia U20)
4-116 – G Samuel Meloche, Rouyn‑Noranda (QMJHL)
5-135 – D Noah Laberge, Acadie‑Bathurst (QMJHL)
6-167 – C Ashton Schultz, Chicago (USHL)
7-195 – LW Melvin Novotny, Leksands IF J20 (J20 Nationell)
7-199 – G Yevgeni Prokhorov, Dinamo‑Shinnik Bobruysk (MHL)
7-219 – C Ryan Rucinski, Youngstown (USHL)
The Sabres drafted in the top 10 once again, and it’s starting to feel like an annual tradition. This time, they picked a defenseman with excellent size, standing 6’6” and weighing 218 lbs. Mrtka moves well for such a big guy, skating smoothly and closing gaps easily, while showing a talent for moving the puck and making solid offensive reads. Despite his size advantage, Mrtka is still working on his strength and might have some way to go; he isn’t an overly aggressive defenseman in the corners and may take some time to develop that mean streak that could turn him into a real force.
The Sabres clearly targeted a specific type in this draft, selecting another big, right-shot defenseman with their third-round pick. Bedkowski is slightly shorter than Mrtka but has a mean streak, enjoying physical play and battling for pucks with high aggression. He hits to punish opponents, both along the boards and in open ice, and isn’t afraid to show some flair with his passing and skating. He can also shoot the puck, unleashing a heavy one-timer from the blue line that is sure to turn heads.
The issue with Bedkowski —and probably why he remained in the third round —is that he needs significant work on his mobility, and his decision-making is often lacking. He also has some injury history, which has limited his sample size and makes him somewhat an unknown commodity.
The Sabres kept their focus on drafting big players by selecting Kucharcik in the fourth round. The 6’4” center will need to bulk up if he wants to make it in the NHL, but he sees the ice well and is solid defensively. His ability to read plays as they happen could make him a dependable two-way center, although his scoring isn’t high, which might limit his ceiling. His potential as a top-end player could be as a middle six forward who can kill penalties and provide consistent play at both ends of the ice.
The Sabres have faced challenges in developing goaltenders and added to their pipeline in the fourth round by selecting Meloche, a goaltender who is slightly smaller than current NHL goalies but still has solid size at 6’3’’. He has good fundamentals, a calm net style, and the ability to stay composed and read plays well are probably his top assets. It still needs to be tested against more formidable opponents, which will give a clearer idea of whether he’ll be an NHL netminder. Goalies are notoriously difficult to project, but based on Meloche’s athleticism, reflexes, and demeanour, he has a solid shot at making the NHL.
Trade Acquisitions
D Isaac Belliveau (from Pittsburgh)
F Josh Doan (from Utah)
D Michael Kesselring (from Utah)
D Conor Timmins (from Pittsburgh)
Trading JJ Peterka was never expected to improve the Sabres more than the 23-year-old, but they did manage to add two roster players in Doan and Kesselring. The trade highlights a broader issue in Buffalo: their long, documented decade and a half of misery that has eroded the spirit of a once-proud NHL franchise.
Doan is the son of former NHL star Shane Doan and plays a very similar game to his dad, using his high motor to stay in motion and hope to unleash his heavy shot. Doan is also an underrated passer and a consistent pest on the forecheck, forcing turnovers or stripping pucks away for himself. Doan could benefit from working on his footspeed, but even as it is, he remains a solid NHL player.
Kesselring fits the profile of what the Sabres aimed for this summer, as he is a big right-shot defender who can keep the puck away from danger zones and does a decent job moving the puck. He isn’t a skilled playmaker, but he skates well and can chip in some offense from the back end. He played significant third-pairing minutes last year in Utah and is worth thinking about as a potential second-pairing option on the right side.
UFA Signings
F Justin Danforth (two years, $3.6MM)
D Mason Geertsen (two years, $1.55MM)*
G Alexandar Georgiev (one year, $825K)
D Zachary Jones (one year, $900K)*
C Jake Leschyshyn (one year, $775K)*
G Alex Lyon (two years, $3MM)
RW Carson Meyer (two years, $1.55MM)*
D Jack Rathbone (two years, $1.6MM)
*-denotes two-way contract
^-denotes re-signing
The Sabres didn’t make any significant moves in the UFA market this summer, and it’s reasonable to believe that their long history of missing the postseason played a role in their quiet free agency period. Even when Buffalo was a playoff team, it was never a top choice for many reasons largely beyond their control. However, given their record over the past 14 years, no top free agent is likely to choose Buffalo over numerous other offers, which is reflected in their efforts this year in the market.
No disrespect to the signed players, but the Sabres’ list of UFAs is underwhelming and raises questions about whether the Sabres truly believe they’ve finished rebuilding. Danforth was their most significant signing; he’s a high-energy player and hard to contain on the forecheck, but he isn’t considered an impact player and can best be described as a bottom-six option. Danforth’s speed will be an asset, and he might be the only player on the list of UFAs the Sabres signed who will make an NHL impact this season.
Lyon could have an impact in the NHL depending on how the Sabres’ goaltending develops early on. He was slightly above average over the last two seasons with Detroit and is definitely a capable NHL goalie and a decent backup option. It’s likely he’ll fill that role over the next two seasons with the Sabres, and at 32 years old, that’s probably his NHL ceiling.
RFA Re-Signings
D Bowen Byram (two years, $12.5MM)
D Ryan Johnson (three years, $2.325MM)*
C Tyson Kozak (three years, $2.325MM)*
G Devon Levi (two years, $1.625MM)
C Ryan McLeod (four years, $20MM)
D Conor Timmins (two years, $4.4MM)
RW Jack Quinn (two years, $6.75MM)
*-denotes two-way contract
The Sabres made several short-term signings this summer, with one medium-term deal given to McLeod, who had a career year last season with 20 goals and 33 assists in 79 games. It was McLeod’s first year with Buffalo, and he translated his previously efficient production into tangible results, earning him a four-year extension. McLeod remains one of the fastest players in the NHL and is strong on both sides of the puck, serving as a penalty killer and a two-way center. His offensive skills are also very evident as he continues to be a good puck distributor and a solid transition player. The deal takes McLeod into his late twenties and offers him some security as he continues to develop his game.
The Sabres postponed a significant decision by signing Byram to a two-year deal. They might still choose to sign the defenseman to a long-term contract, but they could also decide to move him before this deal expires. Byram is a talented player who skates well, handles the puck, and sets up scoring opportunities for his teammates. He exemplifies the typical offensive defenseman. However, despite these skills, he hasn’t consistently produced strong results on the ice in recent years, having difficulty controlling play for both Buffalo and his former team, Colorado. His advanced analytics don’t reflect his perceived impact, highlighting a discrepancy between his skill and results. Byram continues to rack up points and likely will attract interest if he becomes available via trade. Still, the Sabres may not receive the offers they anticipate, and they may also be cautious about the long-term cost.
The Sabres chose a short-term deal with forward Quinn, signing him to a two-year bridge contract for a player who is clearly talented but has experienced injuries. Quinn had a productive final season in the OHL with the Ottawa 67s; however, his junior career was interrupted by the pandemic, which may have impacted his development along with those injuries. Quinn is a highly creative player capable of generating offense from nearly anywhere on the ice. His stats from last season seem solid at first glance, but a closer look shows he struggled to control play and also had issues with turnovers.
Departures
D Jacob Bernard-Docker (signed with Detroit, one year $875K)
D Connor Clifton (traded to Pittsburgh)
F Mason Jobst (remains unsigned)
F Sam Lafferty (traded to Chicago)
F JJ Peterka (traded to Utah)
G James Reimer (remains unsigned)
*-denotes two-way contract
The Sabres lost several players from their roster, most of whom were at the bottom of their lineup. However, Peterka was at the top of the lineup and was one of the better young players in the NHL last season, recording 21 goals and 37 assists in 77 games. Some might wonder why Buffalo would trade an offensive young player, but Elliotte Friedman reported in the summer that Peterka was unhappy in Buffalo, which probably prompted the move. Despite his talent, Peterka has his flaws. He mainly scores on the rush and needs to improve his overall offensive game, despite his high skill. His defensive efforts in Buffalo left much to be desired, and it will be interesting to see if he can elevate his play in Utah.
Clifton and Lafferty were both salary dumps for Buffalo, with Lafferty moving to Chicago and Clifton heading to Pittsburgh, along with a draft pick to facilitate the deal. Clifton is an eight-year NHL veteran who has never been an analytics favourite but plays a brutal and honest game. Although considered a defensive defenseman, Clifton did have some skill with the puck, even if it didn’t always show on the scoresheet. He faced some very tough assignments last year, which likely affected his metrics and probably contributed to his trade to the Penguins.
Lafferty was never a good fit in Buffalo and was sent back to Chicago. His speed and forechecking ability were expected to boost the Sabres’ bottom six, but his overall play left a lot to be desired, so he was moved on. Lafferty has always felt like he had more to offer an NHL team, which is maybe why Buffalo signed him to his current contract. Once they realized their situation, the Sabres opted to cut ties and move on to other players.
Salary Cap Outlook
The Sabres are in a surprisingly poor position regarding the salary cap, considering they have built a roster that is average at best and among the bottom 10 in the league at worst. The Sabres currently have only $2.45MM available under the salary cap, which is projected to be $9.57MM at the NHL Trade Deadline (as per PuckPedia). Their long-term cap situation isn’t dire, as they have 18 players signed for 2026-27 and nearly $22MM in available cap space. However, they will need to address forward Alex Tuch’s next contract and Kesselring’s new deal. Tuch is expected to earn just over $8.5MM annually on a seven-year deal, while Kesselring is projected to sign a three-year extension at $4.27MM per season (as per AFP Analytics). Combined, that would total $12.77MM annually, leaving Buffalo with less than $10MM to sign three more players, which opens the possibility of adding one impact player.
Key Questions
Can they finally make the playoffs?
It’s fair to say that when it comes to making the playoffs, the Sabres are long overdue. They have been in a constant state of rebuilding for the last 14 years, and while they came close to making the playoffs a few years back, they have mostly stayed at the bottom of the Eastern Conference. The team has some talented young players signed long-term, and eventually you have to believe they will make the postseason. However, considering the competition in the Atlantic Division, this doesn’t seem like the year they will end the streak.
Will they trade Owen Power?
Much of the trade chatter regarding Power has been precisely that, chatter. That being said, nothing feels more Buffalo than the idea of trading Power and then using the financial savings to lock up Byram long-term. That’s not to say that Byram is a terrible option, but to keep him as a mainstay over Power would be a disastrous decision. No one is saying that they will, but given the track record of the Sabres, I wouldn’t call it impossible either. Neither is trading Power, and while it would be a mistake to move the former first overall pick, you have to think that nothing is off the table in Buffalo.
Can Josh Norris stay healthy?
Norris is a terrific player when he’s healthy enough to play. However, so far in his career, that hasn’t been the case. Buffalo took a lot of risk when they acquired him from Ottawa at last year’s NHL Trade Deadline, giving up Dylan Cozens and a second-round pick in the process. They also received Bernard-Docker in the trade, but saying the results favour Ottawa is an understatement. The Sabres need Norris to be healthy and productive if they want to compete for a playoff spot, and so far, things don’t look promising.
Photo by Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
Sabres Recall Noah Ostlund
The Sabres announced the recall of center Noah Ostlund from the AHL’s Rochester Americans. Buffalo does not have an open roster spot, but placed winger Jason Zucker on injured reserve in a corresponding move, per the NHL’s media portal. He’s expected to miss tonight’s game against the Mammoth due to an illness, but the IR placement rules him out for another two games after this one.
It’s the second recall in recent succession for the 21-year-old Ostlund. A first-round pick out of Sweden’s Djurgården in 2022, he still ranked as the Sabres’ No. 3 prospect entering the season. He’s an undersized but extremely cerebral pivot who demonstrated high-end two-way acumen against professionals in his home country. He made the jump to North America last year and has played primarily with Rochester since then, but has gotten a handful of NHL chances – including an 11-day call-up last month.
Ostlund has arguably been the Amerks’ best forward since his arrival. He put together a 19-17–36 line in 45 games last season, along with a +20 rating that led Rochester forwards. The defensive play hasn’t quite been at that level so far in 2025-26, but he’s been a scorching hot playmaker, rattling off a pair of goals and five assists for seven points through his first six minor-league games.
He’s fallen victim to limited ice time and role when given NHL call-ups, though. In 12 career appearances, he’s averaged just 10:50 per game and is still looking for his first career point. His defensive impacts haven’t yet translated, either. That was particularly true during last month’s recall, when Ostlund controlled just 41.3% of shot attempts at 5-on-5 despite starting 75% of his shifts in the offensive zone. He’s struggled in the faceoff dot, too, going 36% on draws.
He’ll nonetheless get another chance here to squeeze into a role as Buffalo’s forward group is decimated by injuries. Not only will Kulich be unavailable tonight, but they’re also expected to be without center Jiri Kulich as he deals with an undisclosed injury. That’s on top of the four forwards they already had on injured reserve before today, a list that includes a pair of top-six names in Zach Benson and Joshua Norris. As such, Buffalo’s lineup card will be submitted tonight without five of its top 12 forwards on the organizational depth chart.