Heading into the 2026-2027 National Hockey League season, the biggest question mark for the Buffalo Sabres continued success was who would provide scoring after key departures.
The Sabres moved both winger Alex Tuch and defenseman Bowen Byram when they couldn’t secure contract extensions to retain them. Tuch netted 33 goals for Buffalo in 25-26, while Byram added 11 tallies from the blueline.
Defenseman Olen Zellweger was brought in to help fill Byram’s spot, but ultimately the Sabres were looking for goal-scoring from within their current roster.
Jack Quinn has provided a goal-scoring answer so far this season. The 25-year-old winger has found the back of the net five times through nine games and added four assists.
Quinn was selected by the Sabres in the first round of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft with the eighth overall pick. The talented shooter appears poised to build on his career-high 20-goal mark from last season.
While the early stages of the season have presented areas of concern on special teams and between the pipes, the Sabres have been able to pick up points allowing them to stay in the tight Atlantic Division race.
In four consecutive division contests, Buffalo collected six out of a possible eight points, with a regulation home win against Florida, an overtime victory at Toronto, and two visits to Montreal gaining a shootout loser point and overtime loser point.
Despite key injuries to team captain Rasmus Dahlin, Jason Zucker, Conor Timmins and netminder Alex Lyon, Buffalo has been able to stay in games and have shown an ability to rebound from slow starts and erase deficits.
“Just a lot of compete,” said Quinn. “And I think the belief that we have in here that we can come back in games. Obviously you don’t want to be trailing games but the mindset never changes. Do everything you can as a team to play your best hockey. “
Quinn has been instrumental in helping his team stay in the playoff chase, providing key goals when points are on the line.
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