Sabres’ 3 Young Centers All Poised For Big Seasons in 2026-27

The Buffalo Sabres are in a fairly unique position for the 2026-27 season. They have three young centers who all showed signs of massive potential, and each one has a different skill set that they bring. With all of them likely to make the roster, there are a few questions that linger over them: will any of them claim the top line center role? How well can they hold up top the pressure of being a big piece of a potential playoff team? And will their production hold up, or go up from the previous season? Let’s have a look at each one, and see how they stack up.

Jiri Kulich – The Goal Scorer

The reality with Jiri Kulich is, that if he was not sidelined with a blood clot issue early on last season, we would all likely be having a wonderful discussion about how many goals he scored in his second full season in the NHL. Unfortunately, with him being unable to play from the point he was diagnosed, nobody got to see what steps he could have taken on this budding Sabres team. The fact of the matter is he was, for all intents and purposes, their top-line center regularly between Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch. With Tuch now out of the picture, and the Sabres needing to replace that production more than ever, Kulich will need to step up big.

He will have every chance to take on that top-line role once again, but he will have some stiffer competition. What distinguishes his from his fellow young guns, however is his ability to find open ice, and put the puck in the back of the net. Kulich possesses one of the best shots on the Sabres’ roster, and if he is truly at full health to start the season, I can see him coming out of the gate firing. He may not have a ton of NHL goals to his name just yet, but if he has been hard at work this summer, I see no reason why he cannot reclaim his top line spot and even put up a 30 goal season.

Noah Ostlund – The Two-Way Terror

Most people probably wrote off Noah Ostlund as a trade bait piece along with former prospect Isak Rosen. He showed some good signs of production at the minor league level, and played fairly well when he got called up to the NHL, but the initial signs he would stick with the team later in the season just weren’t there. In the Sabres’ playoff run, however, he became such a valuable piece to their lineup that he was dressed in favor of a healthy Josh Norris.

Of the three, he is the most versatile, able to play both center and wing. Realistically, he succeeds more on the wing as his faceoff numbers need some work, but that should not deter head coach Lindy Ruff from putting him at center ice. Ostlund was an outstanding penalty killing, and power play asset to them last season. His calming presence with the puck and his creativity, when mixed with his ability to make and finish plays are just immaculate at times. It would not surprise me to see him challenge for a top-six spot this season.

His 11 goals and 27 points in 60 games last season were admirable and impressive. With an increased role this season, Ostlund is poised to break out. I easily could see him putting up 50-plus points if he finds his groove and if he gets more power-play opportunities.

Konsta Helenius – The Workhorse

It was a very small sample size last season, and he is technically at the bottom of these three on the Sabres’ depth chart, but the truth is, Konsta Helenius deserves a roster spot. He came up and played a handful of games for the Sabres (nine) and was productive along the way, while taking the lessons he learned back to the Rochester Americans and honing the skills needed to come back up and prove he deserved a greater look. When his chance finally came in the playoffs he did not disappoint, as he put up two goals in 4 games. Then, even after the Sabres were eliminated from the playoffs, he went on to the international stage and scored the game-winning goal for Finland to win the IIHF World Championship against the Swiss team.

He has a lot to prove if he earns a roster spot, but he has all the right tools. He works hard, he can score, he goes to the net, has amazing vision, can set up plays from anywhere, and he has a defensively sound mind. Helenius has all the makings to be an outstanding all around player, and with the Sabres being content to keep most of their roster from last season without much tampering, he will have a shot to make a big impact. With how he plays, it is likely he puts up some decent numbers; at least 35 points as a rookie, but if he gets momentum, and secures a higher role on the team, he has 60+ point potential.

Sabres Can Use All Three

The Sabres have the luxury of being able to use all three of these young talented centers this season. All three are capable of playing the wing if need be, and all of them have different play styles that can be used in so many ways. From the pure goal scoring, to the defensive two-way minds, and the playmaking capacity, all three young players are set up for success. The only question now is which will rise to the challenge and if any will falter?