dpStorylines to watch
1. Kulich, Danforth make preseason debuts
Kulich and Danforth were both on last year’s opening night lineup – Kulich as the team’s projected No. 1 center, Danforth having just signed a two-year contract to be an impact bottom-six player.
Both players saw their seasons end early. Danforth sustained a broken kneecap during the fourth game of the season; Kulich was diagnosed with a blood clot on Nov. 1.
The Sabres will use camp to find out where both players, now healthy, fit into their organizational picture to begin this season. Kulich has practiced thus far on a line with Sam Carrick and Beck Malenstyn but has history playing a top-six role. Danforth, meanwhile, is one of several viable candidates for a bottom-six, penalty-killing role. That group also includes Tyson Kozak, who will be in Monday’s lineup.
2. Competition on defense
The Sabres enter the season with their top-six defensemen seemingly set: the returning quartet of Rasmus Dahlin, Mattias Samuelsson, Owen Power and Conor Timmins plus two newcomers in Olen Zellweger and Louis Crevier.
The depth behind that group of six will be highlighted in Pittsburgh. Zach Metsa and Dennis Gilbert open as the frontrunners for the role of seventh defenseman, having spent the start of training camp with the NHL practice group. Ryan Johnson has NHL experience and could factor into that conversation as well, while Radim Mrtka – Buffalo’s first-round pick in 2025 – is looking to make an impression as he begins his first professional season.
3. Pittsburgh’s roster
Bryan Rust and Krist Letang are among the NHL regulars included on Pittsburgh’s roster for the game, which features a mix of veterans and young players. View their full roster here.
