The Buffalo Sabres and Columbus Blue Jackets kick off the 2026-27 NHL season on October 1 at Nationwide Arena, with both teams showcasing revamped rosters and new contracts.
The Buffalo Sabres and Columbus Blue Jackets open the 2026-27 NHL season on October 1 at Nationwide Arena, with both teams looking to build on busy offseasons. Buffalo enters as the top team in the Atlantic Division, while Columbus sits fifth in the Metropolitan Division, but the preseason standings mean little once the puck drops. With key signings and new front-office additions on both sides, this matchup promises to be a competitive start to the campaign.
Buffalo Sabres: New Leadership and a Locked-In Core
The Sabres have reshaped their hockey operations this summer, hiring veteran NHL executive John Davidson as senior adviser. Davidson, who spent 18 seasons as president of the Blues, Blue Jackets, and Rangers, brings a wealth of experience to Buffalo’s front office. The team also locked in forward Peyton Krebs to a new deal, though contract terms were not disclosed. In a notable move, former NHL forward Milan Lucic, once a Sabres antagonist, has been hired as a pro scout, part of a series of hirings and promotions announced Tuesday.
Buffalo’s on-ice roster remains largely intact from last season, with no major player departures or acquisitions reported in the brief. The Sabres’ first-place standing in the Atlantic Division heading into the preseason suggests a team with high expectations, but they will need to prove it on the ice. With no recent game data available, the focus is on how the new front-office additions and Krebs’ extension will translate to early-season success.
Columbus Blue Jackets: Securing the Future
The Blue Jackets have been busy locking up key pieces. Defenseman Zach Werenski has reiterated his desire to stay with Columbus long term, despite having two seasons left on his current contract, signaling the franchise’s commitment to building around him. Forward Cole Sillinger avoided arbitration by signing a three-year, $13.875 million deal, while goaltender Jet Greaves inked a three-year, $15 million contract through the 2028-29 season. These moves solidify the team’s core and goaltending picture for the foreseeable future.
Columbus is also entering a new broadcast era, as one of four NHL teams (along with Carolina, Minnesota, and St. Louis) to have their games produced and distributed by the NHL this season. The Blue Jackets were active in free agency, though specific signings were not detailed in the brief. With a fifth-place standing in the Metropolitan Division, the Blue Jackets have clear ambitions to climb higher, and the season opener against Buffalo will be an early test.
Head-to-Head: The X-Factor
Both teams are coming off strong offseasons, but the key difference may be in goal. Columbus has solidified its netminding with Jet Greaves’ new deal, while Buffalo’s goaltending situation remains unclear from the available data. Special teams could also play a role, as both teams look to establish their systems early in the season. The Sabres’ new front-office leadership and the Blue Jackets’ contract extensions could provide motivational boosts, but on the ice, it will come down to execution.
- Buffalo’s first-place Atlantic standing vs. Columbus’s fifth-place Metropolitan ranking
- Peyton Krebs’s new deal and potential impact on the Sabres’ forward group
- Zach Werenski’s commitment and leadership on the Blue Jackets’ blue line
- Jet Greaves’s new contract solidifying Columbus’s goaltending
- John Davidson’s influence on Buffalo’s hockey operations
Prediction
This season opener is a toss-up on paper, but the Blue Jackets have the advantage of home ice at Nationwide Arena. With a stable goaltending situation and a committed core, Columbus may edge out the Sabres in a tight contest. Expect a low-scoring, defensive battle, with special teams potentially deciding the outcome. The Blue Jackets’ recent contract extensions could provide a sense of security and cohesion, giving them a slight edge in the season opener.
Prediction: Columbus Blue Jackets win 3-2 in a shootout.
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