Ryan McLeod set for Sabres preseason debut as Rasmus Dahlin continues to progress
McLeod, whom the Sabres acquired for Matt Savoie, will draw into the lineup and center free-agent signing Jason Zucker, along with Jordan Greenway, when puck drops at 5 p.m.
Two of Kevyn Adams' offseason additions will make their Sabres preseason debuts Monday night when Buffalo hosts the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Ryan McLeod, whom the Sabres acquired for Matt Savoie, will draw into the lineup and center free-agent signing Jason Zucker, along with Jordan Greenway, when puck drops at 5 p.m.
Buffalo Sabres center Ryan McLeod skates during practice on opening day of Sabres camp, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. Derek Gee/Buffalo News
Devon Levi will start in goal, with Felix Sandstrom slated to backup the 22-year-old. Dennis Gilbert will also debut with his hometown team after signing a one-year contract in July. Gilbert will likely skate on a defense pairing with Connor Clifton.
Defenseman Rasmus Dahlin remains out as he works his way back from an injury that coach Lindy Ruff described as a "middle-body" tweak. Dahlin did not skate with the team for three days after he experienced discomfort Wednesday in the first workout of camp.
Dahlin was on the KeyBank Center ice early Monday with a few players who aren't on the game day roster, as well as Levi and Sandstrom.
Alex Tuch, Jacob Bryson, Jiri Kulich and Lukas Rousek are not playing after skating Saturday in the win over the Penguins. The entire game day roster is McLeod, Zucker, Greenway, Gilbert, Clifton, Nicolas Aube-Kubel, Peyton Krebs, Dylan Cozens, Zach Benson, Jack Quinn, Sam Lafferty, Beck Malenstyn, Tage Thompson, Bowen Byram, Owen Power, Henri Jokiharju and Mattias Samuelsson.
The Blue Jackets are bringing a mix of NHLers and prospects, led by Adam Fantilli, Cole Sillinger, Dmitri Voronkov, David Jiricek and goalie Jet Greaves. Columbus is now coached by Dean Evason, who was fired by Minnesota during last season.