Predicted Sabres lineup tonight: Buffalo's projected lineup for NHL season opener against Devils | Oct. 4, 2024

The Buffalo Sabres open the 2024-25 NHL season against the New Jersey Devils on Friday. The game will take place in Prague, Czech Republic, at 1 pm ET as part of the NHL Global Series.

The Sabres enter the 2024-25 NHL season with hopes of ending their 13-year playoff drought, which is the longest in the league. Lindy Ruff was hired by the Sabres as their coach, and he led the team from 1997 until 2013. Heading into the season, Ruff is looking for the Sabres to flip the switch and be a playoff team.

"I think it is a mindset change," Ruff said, via NHL.com. "You know you can make a lot of plays in preseason that don't matter. Now, can you make them when they do matter? Can you make that play under pressure? Can you find that outlet when you're under pressure when plays really mean something, whether it means creating an opportunity or giving up an opportunity?"

Ahead of their season opener, here is what the Sabres lineup projects to be.

Buffalo Sabres predicted lineup

Forwards

• JJ Peterka - Tage Thompson - Alex Tuch
• Zach Benson - Dylan Cozens - Jack Quinn
• Jason Zucker - Ryan McLeod - Jordan Greenway
• Beck Malenstyn - Sam Lafferty - Nicolas Aube-Kubel

The Sabres were adding depth forwards to their roster this offseason. Buffalo signed Jason Zucker, Sam Lafferty, and Nicolas Aube-Kubel, while the Sabres traded for Beck Malenstyn and Ryan McLeod.

Defense

• Rasmus Dahlin - Henri Jokiharju
• Bowen Byram - Owen Power
• Mattias Samuelsson - Connor Clifton

The Sabres didn't make many changes on defense. Buffalo has three young defensemen — Dahlin, Byram and Power — bolstering the Sabres lineup.

Goalies

• Ukko Pekka-Luukkonen
• Devon Levi

Pekka-Luukkonen is the Sabres starting goalie for the 2024-25 NHL season, but Levi will still get plenty of games.

The Sabres are +124 underdogs against New Jersey on Friday.