The Ex-Files: How Are Former Sabres Doing? - Atlantic Division

The Buffalo Sabres are in the middle of the pack in the Atlantic Division nearly one month into the 2026-27 regular season, but we throughout the year will keep tabs on former Sabres around the NHL.

Here are how some former Sabres are doing with their division rivals:

JJ Peterka - Boston

Peterka is one of five former Sabres on the Boston roster. The former Buffalo second-rounder was dealt to Utah for Michael Kesselring and Josh Doan in June 2025 and acquired by the Bruins exactly one year later for a pair of first-round picks after scoring 25 goals. In 10 games, he has started with six points (3 goals, 3 assists).

Sam Reinhart - Florida

The 2014 second overall pick has been remarkably consistent since being acquired from Buffalo in 2021 for Devon Levi and a 2022 first-round pick (Jiri Kulich), scoring 30 or more goals in four of his five seasons with Florida. Reinhart scored twice in the Panthers loss to the Sabres last week, and in nine games, he has eight points (5 goals, 3 assists).

Dylan Cozens/Linus Ullmark - Ottawa

Cozens was swapped for Josh Norris in March 2025 and in his first full season with the Senators, had his second-best offensive season (28 goals, 31 assists), but the 25-year-old has struggled mightily this season, posting only two assists in nine games. Conversely, former Sabre Ullmark has built on an excellent playoff performance in a loss to Carolina, and is tied for the NHL lead with six victories, with a microscopic 1.33 GAA, and .945 save %. 

Other Sabres Stories

Mrtka Looking To Take The Next Step Towards The NHL  

Zemgus Girgensons - Tampa Bay

Some do not consider Brandon Hagel an ex-Sabre because he never played a game for them, but the former Buffalo draft pick currently leads the Lightning with seven goals and is second behind Nikita Kucherov with 12 points. Girgensons signed with Tampa in the summer of 2024 after a decade in Buffalo and had his best offensive season since 2015 with 20 points last season. This year, the 32-year-old has two points (1 goal, 1 assist) in nine games. 

Jake McCabe - Toronto 

The former Sabres blueliner has been part of Toronto’s shutdown pairing with Chris Tanev, but after Tanev was injured earlier this month, began partnering on the top pairing with Darren Raddysh. In the Leafs 6-2 win over Columbus, McCabe received a high stick under his visor from Blue Jackets forward Kent Johnson and did not return to the game. Leafs head coach Jim Hiller indicated after the game that he was kept out for precautionary reasons, but it appears that a serious injury was avoided. 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo