Buffalo Sabres 2025-26 Player Grades: Jordan Greenway

The Buffalo Sabres had a banner season in 2025-26, winning the Atlantic Division and winning their first playoff series since 2007. Not everyone had their best season, however, and that may impact their decisions as they figure out how to best address their needs.

The subject of today’s series on player grades is easily one of the most divisive on the roster. On paper, he has everything you could want out of a forward, but Jordan Greenway has more than drawn his share of ire from the Sabres fanbase.

Production

At his peak, Greenway is capable of hitting double digits in goals and about 25-30 points. Then again, he needs to be healthy and in the lineup to achieve that, something he has not been able to do for the past two seasons in Buffalo.

Greenway was once again limited, this time to 40 games. He managed a single goal and six points, plus an ugly minus-10 on a team that was filled with plus players. He also saw just 12:27 of ice time – his lowest ever – further underscoring his dwindling role with the Sabres.

Intangibles

When Greenway is in the lineup and healthy, he brings value thanks to his size, speed, relentless motor, and physicality. Toward the end of the season and into the playoffs, the fourth line became highly effective largely because of their tenacity on the forecheck, and Greenway was a key player.

He is never going to be what was once hoped for him offensively and if you can get 10 goals out of him, that’s probably his ceiling. On a cheaper contract, he would be a nice long-term fit as a fast, physical fourth liner who can sometimes kill penalties.

Overall Grade: C

Greenway’s grade is largely a product of his lack of availability. With just 74 appearances in 164 possible games, Greenway has never been around. Spending time on injured reserve isn’t helping the lineup, and it’s doing even more damage when it comes at a cost of $4 million per season.

His saving grace was his effectiveness down the stretch as a forechecker on the fourth line. If you could have him for under $2 million, the talk would be about what a valuable presence he can be. Instead, he’s become overpriced, oft-injured, and a challenge for the roster structure of this team.

Will He Be in Buffalo Next Season?

Though Alex Tuch is leaving and his departure gives the Sabres a bit more flexibility, Greenway feels like another candidate to be elsewhere in 2026-27. He has one season left at $4 million before becoming an unrestricted free agent, and you have to think the Sabres would like to move him.

When healthy, Greenway can be an effective bottom-six presence, and the hope is that multiple sports hernia surgeries have cleared up any on-going issues. That said, given his role and his salary, the Sabres may be better off moving on and filling out their bottom six holes from within.