Camp notebook | Practice lines, Thompson’s position, Dahlin’s normal summer

The Buffalo Sabres held their first training camp practice Thursday at LECOM Harborcenter, a fast-paced, high-compete morning that had guys winded by the end. Still, they’re in a solid spot ahead of Monday’s preseason opener.

“When you watch just this first practice, I think our level of fitness is even way ahead of where we were at the start of last year – and especially the start of two years ago,” coach Lindy Ruff said.

As Ruff and general manager Jarmo Kekäläinen emphasized Wednesday, this is a new season with new faces and new standards. And the players, starting at the top, are on the same page as they race toward the Oct. 1 opener in Columbus.

“If we thought last year was hard, this year is going to be harder, I think,” captain Rasmus Dahlin said. “… We have higher expectations on ourselves and higher expectations around the league. We're not the ‘old Sabres’ anymore in other teams' eyes, so I think that's going to be a big bump.”

Not that they’re wiping 2025-26 from their memory. Their six-month climb from last place to the second round of the playoffs offered a blueprint for how to win consistently and compete in this Atlantic Division.

“There’s no gray area; it’s pretty black and white on what we need to do to be successful,” said alternate captain Tage Thompson. “And I think it all stems from work ethic and doing the little things that just add up over the course of a game.”

Now, some news and notes from the first on-ice day of camp – a key step in establishing that work ethic.

Thursday’s practice lines

With four days to go before the preseason opener, the Sabres gave us a first look at some lines and pairs. Of note:

• The goalies are in no particular order.
• Louis Crevier, who underwent offseason shoulder surgery, was a full participant.
• Tyson Kozak and Justin Danforth rotated into line rushes.

Tage up the middle

Ruff had indicated Thompson, who bounced between positions last season, would likely start 2026-27 at center. Sure enough, Thursday’s line rushes had him between Peyton Krebs and Josh Doan, a trio that led the team’s turnaround last December.

Thompson has said he prefers playing center, and some of his best offensive stretches have come there, but the position comes with added responsibility. As Kekäläinen explained, a center does more work down below the goal line at both ends, and that extra skating can add up throughout the season for a big-bodied, big-minutes guy like Thompson.

Regardless of No. 72’s role, the Sabres will have opportunities at center for the likes of Noah Ostlund, Konsta Helenius and Jiri Kulich, each 22 or younger. Thompson, who had a similar experience breaking into the league as a 19-year-old forward in St. Louis, reflected on the experience.

“It’s a challenge for sure,” he said, “especially if you’re playing in the top six and you’re getting all the best matchups and you’re facing the other team’s best D pairing every night – and, a lot of times, centers that have been doing it for 10-plus years. So, it’s a challenge just being consistent.

“… But with that being said, you don’t do it alone, right? You go with your teammates everywhere. It’s a five-man pack on the ice, and those guys are there to help you. … We have a lot of guys in this room that have done it before, and I think those young guys can look to us and lean on us, ask questions.”

Dahlin’s normal summer

Compared to last summer, when Dahlin dealt with his fiancée, Carolina’s, emergency heart transplant and recovery, this was a much calmer one for the captain.

“Oh, night and day,” he said. “I can actually focus on hockey and not have to worry every day of what's going on. So that's a big one. It's just nice to have our life back together now. And I'm ready to go. I was able to actually train this summer and grind, so that was fun.”

By his standards, Dahlin got off to a bit of a slow start last season with nine points (1+8) and a minus-11 rating in his first 14 games. After taking a brief personal leave and rejoining the team Nov. 15 in Detroit, however, he was plus-29 with 65 points (18+47) in 63 games, a run that included 17 multi-point nights.

Dahlin’s 74 points were a career high and earned him a third-place finish in Norris Trophy voting. If he picks up where he left off, and especially if the Sabres improve their power play, the superstar defenseman could reach even greater heights this season.

Thompson eyes 50

Thompson has 198 goals since the start of the 2021-22 season, eighth most leaguewide: 38, 47, 29, 44, then 40 last year.

That consistent production has required evolution – “the more seasons you go, you’ve got to find new ways to score,” he said. His lethal slap shot, for example, netted 12 goals in 2022-23 but only five last season. One-timers have generally become less effective around the league as defenses focus on shooters like Thompson.

So, it won’t be easy, but Thompson admittedly still has dreams of a 50-goal season.

“Obviously, scoring’s great, and it’s one of my roles that helps us be successful, but there’s definitely other aspects of my game that I want to get better at,” he said. “I think the ultimate goal is to win a Stanley Cup and be successful as a team first. But yeah, 50 is definitely one of those individual goals I’ve set for myself and worked towards.”

Practice sound

Up next

The Sabres practice again Friday, then play the Blue & Gold Scrimmage on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. at KeyBank Center. Claim your free tickets here.