Camp notebook | Power-play notes, Danforth’s debut and more

When Lindy Ruff and Seth Appert say they spent time this summer working through the power play, believe them.

Hours upon hours were spent analyzing film, dissecting opponents’ man advantages and sifting through the numbers. In the process, Appert – who largely spearheads the power-play group – and Ruff involved Buffalo’s analytics department, which gave the coaches a report that was comprehensive, to say the least.

“We watched a lot of video together this summer, but the report to me was 50, 60 pages,” Appert said.

The players, though, don’t read 50 or 60 pages of raw data – Appert says he slimmed it down to just five or six pages for the skaters, who received the numbers earlier on in camp. Monday morning marked just the second day the Sabres worked on the power play in practice, but what happens on the ice is just the tip of the iceberg.

“I do think it's helpful just to know what's working around the league and what other teams are having success with, so we can kind of try to focus on that a bit,” said Jack Quinn, who will likely continue to play a decent role on Buffalo’s power play this year.

A lot of that work, Appert said, is examining the success – or lack thereof – other teams had on the man advantage. The Colorado Avalanche power play took up a lot of airtime in the Buffalo video room, namely due to their mediocre 2025-26 numbers (17.1%, 27th in NHL) despite having the likes of Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar and other prolific offensive stars on the unit.

“If it was simply based on talent, Colorado should be in the top five, if not higher, in the league, right?” Appert said “… Some things that make you a really good five-on-five player from a talent perspective don't always translate into power-play success. Usually, the power-play units that have the chemistry, mixed with the hockey IQ and the ability to think and solve problems together and individually, tend to be the units that have the most success, and then obviously being good around the net.”

Last season, the Sabres’ inconsistent man advantage improved slightly as the playoffs wore on, producing nine power-play goals in the seven-game Montreal series. That, per Quinn and Appert, is due to an increased presence around the net, which continues to be stressed at this year’s camp.

That also means players like Tage Thompson – known for his marquee one-timer – might be utilized a bit differently this year.

“I think that when Tage was getting all those one-timer goals, the league was killing a little bit differently, too,” Appert said. “There was a little more pushdowns, and if you solve that pushdown to the top, that flank one-timer was open. Well, teams aren't doing that (anymore); they're sitting in tight and sitting on one-timers now.”

Thompson had success at the Olympics when he was fastened up close to net, gathering passes in the low slot and still utilizing his hard shot. This year’s Sabres power play might see a multitude of players in that position – whether it be Thompson, Josh Doan, Zach Benson or anyone else – but keeping pucks low and anchoring players beneath the hashmarks are what the group believes will yield success on the man advantage.

“Almost everybody in this league can kill really good for 20 seconds, but to be able to kill really good for 40 or 60 gets really hard,” Appert said. “Guys that win puck battles and solve pressure in those low areas of the ice usually can extend those possessions.”

Quinn quietly turning heads

It’s been hard to keep your eyes off Jack Quinn this week.

The newly minted 25-year-old scored twice at the Blue & Gold Scrimmage on Saturday, but his performance as of late extends beyond what fans have been able to see. Quinn has buzzed around the ice, clicking seamlessly alongside new linemates Noah Ostlund and Zach Benson.

“I think he has (taken) another step,” Ruff said on Saturday, adding that Quinn’s line was “probably the best line on the ice.”

Quinn is entering the final year of his two-year deal signed back in June 2025 and is a plausible candidate for a breakout season. Circumstance has not been entirely kind to Quinn in his young NHL career, as a 2023 Achilles injury inflicted some turbulence on his journey to become the star Buffalo believes him to be.

Goals scored in practice and preseason don’t count – but Quinn has certainly scored a lot of them. And coming off a 20-goal season – his first staying healthy for the full 82-game duration – his play so far indicates he’s ready to raise those numbers even more.

“I (have been) trying to get stronger and faster still, and keep working on my shot and be able to hang on to some pucks a little more,” Quinn said.

Danforth’s long-awaited debut

Justin Danforth will candidly admit it – he’s never been more excited for a preseason game.

“After you miss a year of hockey, (you realize) you kind of take it for granted when you're healthy and you're playing games,” Danforth said. “I’m just excited to get back out there with the guys on the ice and show these guys what I can do.”

Danforth’s been in Buffalo for a year now, but there’s truth to his statement – he’s still showing what he can do on the ice, as the shot-block that resulted in a broken kneecap occurred just five games into last season.

“He’s certainly a guy that's really easy to like as a coaching staff because he plays so hard, he's so competitive,” Appert said. “And then he has the injury, and it's hard because he's also not totally embedded with the whole group yet.”

Monday’s game – though just preseason – is a culmination of what Danforth called the “toughest year of hockey” he’s had. Ten months of recovery – surgery, rehabbing, doctor’s appointments, physical therapy, skating, not skating – took a toll on the 32-year old, coined a “gym rat” by Appert.

Getting back on skates and feeling like himself again – that’s the win Danforth will take out of tonight’s game, regardless of what the scoreboard reflects.

“I think for me, feeling good on the ice – I missed that the most,” Danforth said. “… You’re at the six-, seven-month mark, and it's nothing's changing, and you're like, ‘When am I going to turn the corner?’ So, that's when you just had to ask the right questions and put the work in to get back. And I’m super thankful I was able to get the body feeling back to 100%, and I feel great now.”