3 Sabres That Looked Like They Were Built For The Playoffs

It is tough to sit here watching other teams continuing to play hockey as the Buffalo Sabres still lick their wounds from their second round exit to the Montreal Canadiens. However, as we all sit around and reflect back on how their playoff run was, there is a lot to look at and still feel proud of as a whole. They played hard, and some particular players emerged from the postseason with a newfound aura to them.

With so many Sabres players having this be their first postseason, there were a lot of questions going in as to which of them would thrive and which ones would end up fizzling out. It was some of the most fun hockey to see in ages, and watching these three players in particular put their stamp on the Sabres’ first postseason run in 15 years was just incredible.

Mattias Samuelsson, Defenseman

The resurgence of Mattias Samuelsson from whipping boy in 2024-25 to this season and the postseason is something that will never be forgotten. He became not just the defenseman that Sabres fans hoped that he would be, but so much more. He was physical, he was an offensive threat, and he was one of their best defenders on the ice every single night. Rarely was there a time when a replay could be found, and someone was saying, “What was Samuelsson doing on that play?” He did everything right all season long, and it carried over into the playoffs seamlessly. Not only did he look like he was ready to be there, but he looked like he had been there for years.

Samuelsson finished the playoffs with 13 games played, three goals and seven points, was a plus-4, and registered 44 hits. On top of that, one of his goals was the game-winner in the Sabres’ first playoff game since their drought ended. It was part of an electrifying performance that just continued to carry him forward and let him play the dynamic two-way game that he showed off all regular season. Samuelsson was easily one of the best overall players the Sabres had at their disposal, and his gameplay, production, and leadership were just a few things that proved he was built to be in his position.

Rasmus Dahlin, Defenseman

Before the playoffs even started, there was the question that lingered of whether Rasmus Dahlin could handle the pressure of being in the playoffs. Could he lead his team to victory? Could he establish himself as one of the NHL’s elite defenders? Could he be that difference maker that he needed to be? The answer ended up being a resounding “yes” on all accounts as Dahlin was arguably their best player in the entire postseason. He finished the playoffs with four goals and 14 points (good for second on the team) in 13 games, all while tying for the team lead in shots (46), leading the team in ice time with a 23:57 average, and tying for the team lead in power-play goals (two).

He was truly the definition of a captain that would do anything and everything to help his team win. If they needed some offense, he was there to make it happen. If they needed some stability and calmness, he was there to settle his team. If they needed some roughness to fire things up, he was right there in scraps. It was evident from the first game they played that Dahlin would not be stopped unless he was physically sitting on the bench, and he proved beyond any shadow of a doubt that he was built to be a playoff performer. It is scary to think what may become of him now that he has that experience under his belt.

Zach Benson, Winger

The spitfire of a player that the whole of Buffalo fell in love with during the playoffs was Zach Benson. I have been saying it since he was drafted by the Sabres that he is the perfect spark plug to be out there in every situation, and if he ever saw the playoffs, only heaven will save the opposing team from his antics. Benson was everywhere, and most importantly, he made sure he was in the heads of every single opponent that the Sabres went up against. He was out there every single night doing everything from scoring goals to drawing penalties, to even settling scores when he had the chance (in his own way).

Benson finished tied for the team lead in goals (five), was fourth on the team in points (nine), tied for the team lead in plus/minus (plus-6) with Josh Doan, and led the team far and away in penalty minutes (64), with the next closest player having 42 minutes less than him. He was the ultimate tool and team player all at the same time, and beyond keeping him physically off the ice, there was no stopping him.

Benson was out there every night busting out plays along the boards, driving the net with a purpose, stealing pucks off of sticks like a madman, and running his mouth like a proper pest should be. He played hard, and he backed up every word that came out of his mouth with some incredible plays. He was easily the Sabres’ most noticeable and fun player all throughout the playoffs.

Sabres Have Plenty To Build On

All three of these players are the tip of the iceberg when it comes to fulfilling potential on this roster. Tage Thompson had a great playoff run as their leading point scorer, Bowen Byram, and Owen Power both showed a lot of skill and heart on top of their numbers, and the young kids like Noah Ostlund and Konsta Helenius showed they had all the right tools to perform at the top level.

They all had great showings, but the three mentioned above were just a cut above everyone else. The Sabres have some housekeeping to do this offseason to see what they can retain and move around, but at the end of the day, players like Samuelsson, Dahlin, and Benson will not be going anywhere. Expect to see them all on the Sabres’ next postseason run doing all the same amazing things.