Levi allowed four goals on 30 shots in the Sabres' loss to the Rangers on Thursday. Levi has quickly established himself as the Sabres' No.1, having gone 5-3-0 with a 3.07 GAA and .901 SV% in eight career NHL games. On Saturday he will face an Islanders team that was 23rd in GF/60 (2.92) last season.

Levi appears likely to enter the season as the starting goalie for the Buffalo Sabres after a seven-game stint (5-2-0) with the team at the end of the 2022-23 campaign that saw him post a 2.94 GAA and .905 SV%. Expectations are high in Buffalo for the rookie goaltender as the team around him has solidified an equally impressive core of young forwards and defensemen. The Sabres are +117 home underdogs tonight against a New York Rangers team that ranked 12th offensively last season, scoring an average of 3.33 goals per game. Working in his favour, Levi has already suited up twice against the Rangers in his young career, posting a dazzling 1.89 GAA and .934 SV% in those contests (2-0-0).

Levi appears likely to enter the season as the starting goalie for the Buffalo Sabres after a seven-game stint (5-2-0) with the team at the end of the 2022-23 campaign that saw him post a 2.94 GAA and .905 SV%. Expectations are high in Buffalo for the rookie goaltender as the team around him has solidified an equally impressive core of young forwards and defensemen. The Sabres are +117 home underdogs tonight against a New York Rangers team that ranked 12th offensively last season, scoring an average of 3.33 goals per game. Working in his favour, Levi has already suited up twice against the Rangers in his young career, posting a dazzling 1.89 GAA and .934 SV% in those contests (2-0-0).

The first overall pick of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, Power is coming off an impressive rookie season. The 20-year-old registered four goals and 31 assists in 79 games despite receiving limited power-play minutes, and was a reliable defender in his own end. The lack of power-play time may not improve so long as Rasmus Dahlin is still in town, but Power nevertheless seems poised for a breakout year in 2023-24.

McLeod has missed time throughout training camp but is expected to play Wednesday vs. the Canucks. McLeod, who had 11 goals and 12 assists (23 points) in 57 games a season ago, should serve as Edmonton's third line centre with Warren Foegele and Dylan Holloway on his wings.

Buffalo has locked up one of the league's premiere defensemen with a huge eight-year contract extension. The first overall pick from the 2018 NHL Entry Draft had a breakout season last year, scoring 73 points (15G / 58A) in 78 games. Look for Dahlin to build on those totals as the star defenseman is, once again, expected to compete for the Norris Trophy.

Lafferty had 12 goals, 15 assists, 102 SOG, 37 PIMs, and a -11 plus/minus through 70 games played with Chicago and Toronto in 2022-23 and has been traded from Toronto to Vancouver for a 2024 fifth-round pick. The 28-year-old centre will be joining his fourth NHL team in his fifth season and has 23 goals and 59 points in 210 career games played.

Quinn's original timetable was 4-to-6 months, but the latest update suggests that he'll be be back at the tail-end of that timeline. Quinn had a solid rookie season, scoring 14 goals with 23 assists (37 points) in 75 games. He figures to be a key figure in the Sabres' middle-6 once he returns to the lineup.

McLeod had 11 goals, 12 assists, 78 SOG, 18 PIMs and a +4 plus/minus through 57 games played with Edmonton in 2022-23 and has signed a two-year, $4.2 million contract extension ($2,100,000 AAV) with the Oilers. The 23-year-old has 20 goals, 45 points and two SHG across his 138 games NHL career after being drafted in the second-round of the 2018 Draft (40th overall) by Edmonton.

Benson was Buffalo's 2023 1st-round pick (13th overall) and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract Friday. The 18-year-old forward had 36 goals, 62 assists, 49 PIMs and a +68 plus/minus through 60 games with Winnipeg (WHL) in 2022-23. He is expected to return to Wenatchee (WHL) for the 2023-24 season.

Murray had 23 goals, 26 assists, 46 PIMs and a -1 plus/minus through 71 games with Rochester (AHL) in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, two-way contract extension worth $775,000 with Buffalo. The 24-year-old right-winger was drafted in the fourth-round of the 2016 NHL Draft (99th overall) and has two goals and six points across 21 career NHL games played.

Clague split his time between the NHL and AHL during the 2023 season. During his time with the Sabres, the 25-year-old defenseman had four assists in 33 games while averaging a modest 15:06 TOI/gm. Given the additions of Connor Clifton and Erik Johnson in free agency, Clague seems destined to start the 2024 season in the AHL.

Byram had 10 goals, 14 assists, 65 SOG, 38 PIMs and a +7 plus/minus across an injury riddled 42 games played in 2022-23 and has signed a two-year contract extension worth $7.7 million ($3.85M AAV) with Colorado. The 22-year-old was the Avalanche's 2019 1st round pick (4th overall) and has 15 goals, 43 points and a +15 plus/minus through 91 games across three shortened seasons.

Zucker has been with the Penguins for the last three seasons since being dealt from Minnesota win 2020. Injuries plagued him in his first two seasons with Pittsburgh, but he missed just four games last year, scoring 27 goals with 21 assists (48 points) in 78 games. With the Coyotes, Zucker will provide some much-needed offensive punch to their top-6 and looks primed to be traded to a contender at the 2024 Trade Deadline.

Clifton spent the first five seasons of his NHL career in Boston, tallying 43 points (10G / 33A) across 232 games. The 2023 season was his best to-date, posting 23 points (3G / 18A) with 120 blocked shots and 208 hits in 78 games. He brings a hard-nosed style to the Sabres' blueline and should fit well on their second pairing, potentially as a partner to up-and-comer Owen Power.

Reimer was 12-21-8 with a .890 SV% and 3.48 GAA with San Jose in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year contract worth $1.5 million with the Detroit Red Wings. The 35-year-old goaltender will join his fifth NHL team and brings a career 204-169-61 record, 2.87 GAA and .911 SV% to the Red Wings.

Quinn had 14 goals, 23 assists, 126 SOG, 15 PIMs and a -7 plus/minus through 75 games in 2022-23 but will miss a good portion of the beginning of the 2023-24 season as he recovers from Achilles Surgery (4-6 Month recovery). It is a tough blow for the 21-year-old right-winger who was expected to take on a larger role in his second full season in Buffalo. He was the Sabres 2020 1st Round draft pick (8th overall).

Quinn suffered an Achilles tendon injury during training and underwent successful surgery on Wednesday. Quinn will miss the start of the 2023-24 season but could be back by early November.

Rousek made his NHL debut in 2022-23, scoring a goal and picking up an assist with three SOG and a +2 plus/minus through two games and has signed a two-year, $775,000 AAV contract extension Tuesday. The 24-year-old right-winger was the Sabres' 2019 sixth round pick (160th overall).

Johnson was selected in the first round (No.31 overall) of the 2019 NHL draft, and signs his ELC after his senior season at the University of Minnesota. The 21-year-old defenseman had 18 points (4G / 14A) in 40 games this season, and figures to start the 2023-24 season with Rochester (AHL).