3. Can Mattias Samuelsson and Jack Quinn stay healthy?

Defenseman Samuelsson and forward Quinn have been battling injuries over the past two seasons, putting a strain on the Sabres’ roster depth.

Samuelsson played in just 41 games last season after suffering a season-ending upper-body injury on Jan. 23. He missed a month of the 2022-23 season with a lower-body injury and another injury kept him out for the final week of the season.

Usually paired with Rasmus Dahlin in the top pairing, the 24-year-old’s absence has left a void in the top four. With limited options to fill and struggles among those who try, it’s resulted in an even heavier workload for Dahlin and Owen Power. While they’ve added depth on defense, Samuelsson will need to be out for the season if the Sabres are to succeed.

After a strong rookie season, Quinn was slated for a starting role until an Achilles tendon injury suffered during offseason training forced him to miss the first 32 games of the season. The 22-year-old returned in mid-December but was sidelined for two months after undergoing surgery on a lower-body injury on Jan. 27.

The 22-year-old didn’t seem to lose his rhythm in either rotation, finishing with 19 points (nine goals, 10 assists) in 27 games. But without him and several others struggling, the Sabres were unable to solidify key parts of the roster. A healthy Quinn will be important not only for the forward group, but also for Quinn himself as he continues to develop.