Sabres welcome Zucker’s scoring, energy, experience back into lineup

The Sabres expect to welcome a key piece back into their lineup Wednesday against the Flyers.

Jason Zucker, who missed training camp and the first nine games while recovering from August sports hernia surgery, is fully rehabbed and ready to start his third season in Buffalo.

The 34-year-old winger has 45 goals since the start of 2024-25, third most on the Sabres, and he leads the team with 21 power-play goals in that span. Buffalo (4-3-2) has been looking for more offense from its forwards – beyond the steady second line – and Zucker should help provide it.

“A guy that’s played well for us,” coach Lindy Ruff said after Tuesday’s practice at LECOM Harborcenter. “Tops of the circles-down, around the net front. He’s been great at tipping goals and second opportunities. Been good on the power play for us.”

Based on this week’s practices, Zucker will likely start on the third line with Josh Norris and Konsta Helenius. He and Helenius found instant chemistry together in the playoff series against Montreal, teaming up for a handful of odd-man rushes that eventually paid off – Helenius’ first chance was saved, his second hit the post, and his third beat Habs goalie Jakub Dobes for insurance in Game 6.

“He passed to me the first two times, I didn’t score, so I was surprised that he passed to me a third time,” Helenius recalled. “He’s a smart player and he makes smart plays on the ice, so it’s easy to play with him.”

A lot is made of “veteran presence,” but as the 20-year-old Helenius sees it, Zucker’s communication makes life much easier for his linemates.

“He’s talking a lot on the ice. Just small things. Like before a shift, before practice, he tells me what he wants me to do and where he’ll be. If I’m in trouble with the puck, he will be there, and he helps me,” Helenius continued. “You see that he’s been in the league a long time, because he knows all the things, and he helps young players.”

Zucker will surely help the Sabres’ last-ranked power play – he worked with the second unit at Tuesday’s practice, in his usual net-front spot. And he might jump to the top unit sooner rather than later, Ruff said. When the Buffalo man advantage has worked best in recent seasons, it’s been Zucker cleaning up loose pucks around the crease and beating goalies in tight.

Regardless of line, even strength or power play, Zucker’ always brings the energy in practices and games, and when he scores, he’s sure to enjoy it.

“Some of those older guys, they just don’t know whether they’re ever gonna score again,” Ruff joked, “so they get pretty excited.”

Helenius looks for another level

Helenius feels he has more to give the Sabres. The 2024 first-round pick has one goal and one assist through eight games, averaging 13:45 of ice time, and he was a healthy scratch for the Oct. 10 loss to Utah.

“One game out of the lineup, that means that you’ve got to do something differently, you’ve got to play better,” Helenius said. “You’ve got to move on, but you have it back of your mind that you want to be a better player, you want to help the team.”

Ruff called for better compete from Helenius when asked about that healthy scratch, and the coach also gave his young forward some firm (and loud) feedback during a 5-on-5 drill at Monday’s practice – “He’s a great coach, and I like when they’re honest with you,” Helenius reacted.

“Konsta Helenius was excellent in the playoffs, and the expectations are higher this year, now that we’ve seen what he could do in the most important part of the year, in the playoffs against Montreal,” GM Jarmo Kekäläinen said Tuesday in an appearance on WGR. “He hasn’t gotten off to a start that he wants to, but we – as a team, as management, coaches – believe that he will.”

More from Tuesday’s practice

• Colten Ellis had the starter’s net, indicating he’ll likely be in goal against the Flyers. Ellis last played Oct. 12 versus Florida but was pulled after allowing two goals in 26 minutes.
• Sam Carrick (middle body) and Justin Danforth (upper body) were both absent and are considered day to day, Ruff said.
• Alex Lyon (upper body) is “improving,” per Ruff, but it’s unclear whether he’ll join the Sabres on their upcoming four-game road trip. The Sabres leave Friday for games in Washington, San Jose, Anaheim and Los Angeles.

Up next

The Sabres return face the Flyers on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. It's a national broadcast on TNT, truTV and HBO Max. Get your tickets today.