Buffalo Sabres 2025-26 Player Report Card: Mattias Samuelsson

If “Redemption” had a name, this season it would be Mattias Samuelsson for the Buffalo Sabres. By every single metric that can be measured, and even by some that can only be observed, Samuelsson was hands down the player that changed the most from last season to this one.

From being booed in the home opener by fans for how little they felt about his prior season, to being one of the best all-around defenders, and the hero of their first-ever playoff game in 15 years, Samuelsson proved anyone can recover from a bad season.

Samuelsson Looked Like a New Player

For those who were unfamiliar with Samuelsson’s name or the type of game he typically played prior to this season, allow me to fill in some gaps for you.

He usually barely managed to stay healthy, and regularly was out of the lineup, he blocked shots, threw some hits, but he was never known for any offensive capabilities whatsoever; so much so, that a few years ago on the Jeff Skinner video series “Between Two Stalls“, the joke was made that Samuelsson had no reason to have his own goal song, because he would never hear it.

Then, there was the incident in the 2024-25 season, where Samuelsson was standing around after Tage Thompson was hit with a cheap shot by Stefan Noesen, and fans were calling for his head.

This season, all of that felt like ancient history. Samuelsson was 10th overall in points (41) on the team, second in goals (13) by a defenseman (behind Rasmus Dahlin), and led the entire team in plus/minus (plus-41), which was simultaneously good enough for 7th overall in the entire NHL.

He looked like a complete turnaround from any other season, as he posted career highs in every single major category. His defensive efforts, combined with his newfound transitional play to create offense was something to marvel at, and he never truly had a low point where he slowed down either.

Grading Samuelsson

If Samuelsson was traded over the summer of 2025, not a single fan would have blinked an eye at that time, but as it stands, he has shown that he truly is the defenseman that they drafted him to be, and need him to be. With his turnaround, his stellar numbers, and everything he brought to the table as a player and as a leader this season, his grades would look like the following:

• Scoring – A+++++
• Defense – A+
• Leadership – A
• Playmaking – A
• Teamwork – A+

It cannot be undersold or overstated how much Samuelsson had an impact on the success of this Sabres team. He was like the glue that held everything together, and he could be used in every situation. Giving recently extended head coach Lindy Ruff that kind of flexibility and versatility in a player is nothing short of a godsend. There is no way to give him anything other than perfect, plus more for his marks. He played his heart out, and he earned his redemption.

Samuelsson’s Future in Buffalo

Samuelsson will be heading into the fourth year of his seven-year contract that has him being paid a very modest $4.285 million per season, and there is no reason to think he will be moved or that he would want to be. As an alternate captain of the Sabres and a core part of their stacked defensive group, the only place he will be going is to the bank when his contract expires in 2030. The Sabres were smart to lock him up as early as they did, and to get him under such a reasonable number is just icing on the cake.

The Sabres have a ton of good contracts on their roster, and as of right now, not a single one feels like the player isn’t meeting it or outplaying it in some way.

Samuelsson will continue to be a big part of this team moving forward, notably as Rasmus Dahlin’s defensive partner, but also as one of Ruff’s “go-to” players in tough situations. Expect to see his minutes, responsibilities, and overall numbers continue to climb. What an incredible season out of Samuelsson. Everyone should be looking forward to more.