Buffalo Sabres Placed Eight Players on Waivers
The team moved to trim its roster ahead of the upcoming regular season.
Updated on Sept. 25, 2026 in Hockey
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The Buffalo Sabres placed eight players on waivers on Friday as the team works to finalize its regular season roster. These players, including Dennis Gilbert and Ryan Johnson, are now available for other NHL teams to claim.
Why it matters
Placing players on waivers is a standard mechanism for teams to clear roster spots and assign personnel to their AHL affiliates. This process ensures the Sabres reach the mandatory regular season roster size required by the league.
The list of players placed on waivers includes veterans like Dennis Gilbert, who has 119 career NHL games, and 2019 first-round pick Ryan Johnson. The status of these claims will be finalized on Saturday.
The players
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo that competes in the Atlantic Division of the NHL Eastern Conference.
Rochester Americans
The Rochester Americans serve as the primary American Hockey League affiliate for the Buffalo Sabres.
Dennis Gilbert
Dennis Gilbert is a professional defenseman who has recorded 119 career NHL games.
Ryan Johnson
Ryan Johnson is a 25-year-old defenseman who was selected 31st overall in the 2019 NHL Draft.
Trevor Kuntar
Trevor Kuntar is a forward who played collegiate hockey for Boston College before turning professional.
The details
The group of players placed on waivers includes Mason Geertsen, Dennis Gilbert, Ryan Johnson, Trevor Kuntar, Aidan McDonough, Carson Meyer, Jason Polin, and Matt Villalta. Players who pass through waivers unclaimed will be assigned to the Rochester Americans, the Sabres' AHL affiliate.
Timeline
The Buffalo Sabres placed eight players on waivers on Friday, September 25, 2026.
Waiver claims status will be known by the end of Saturday, September 26, 2026.
The Big Picture
This roster adjustment follows the developmental timeline of prospects drafted in the 2019 NHL Draft. It demonstrates how teams manage the maturation of these players as they move between the NHL and AHL levels.
Players not claimed by other NHL teams will be assigned to the Rochester Americans, which solidifies the AHL roster composition. Fantasy managers and fans should monitor Saturday's clearing status to determine which of these players remain within the organization.
The takeaway
The waiver process is an essential tool for NHL front offices to manage salary cap space and roster depth throughout the season. These moves represent a strategic balance between maintaining veteran experience and integrating younger prospects into the system.
Further reading
For more updates on the roster, visit the Buffalo Hockey section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Heavy.
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