Mattias Samuelsson (David Kirouac, USA TODAY Images) [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/2092b78e-2e95-48fc-bbdf-472ab482962a.jpeg] Mattias Samuelsson (David Kirouac, USA TODAY Images) The Buffalo Sabres have made changes to their roster this summer, but the core of the team is still essentially the same. And so are the expectations on all Sabres players in that they know this is a make-the-Stanley-Cup-playoffs-or-bust season for them. That said, specific expectations are different for each of Buffalo's players, and that's what we're analyzing in this player-by-player series for THN.com's Sabres site [http://thn.com/buffalo]. As part of this series, we'll be looking back at each player's key statistics, as well as what's expected for them next season. We started the series with looks at Buffalo's goaltenders, and more recently, we moved into the Sabres' defense corps. And in today's file, we're looking at veteran blueliner Mattias Samuelsson. "The Wraparound" Player Name: Mattias Samuelsson Position: Defenseman Age: 25 2024-25 Key Statistics: 62 games, 14 points, 19:18 average time-on-ice 2025-26 Salary: $4.285-million [https://puckpedia.com/player/mattias-samuelsson] 2025-26 Expectations: Samuelsson is currently slotted in as the Sabres' second-pair blueliner, and with the development of younger players Bowen Byram, Owen Power and Rasmus Dahlin, Samuelsson doesn't have to do the heavy lifting for this Buffalo team, The Swedish blueliner will likely have some flexibility as to where they play, he could be on Buffalo's first 'D' pairing. And that could be music to the ears of Sabre fans. Sabres 2025-26 Player Expectations: D-Man Byram Has New Contract, Heightened Bar To Clear [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/54380b84-a62a-4c87-a33d-95af034eeb92.webp] Sabres 2025-26 Player Expectations: D-Man Byram Has New Contract, Heightened Bar To Clear The expectations on every one of the Buffalo Sabres' players are all about getting this team into the Stanley Cup playoffs. But other than that, the expectations change from player-to-player. And to that end, <a href="http://thn.com/buffalo">THN.com's Sabres site</a> is breaking down the expectations on each and every Buffalo player this coming season. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/buffalo-sabres/latest-news/sabres-2025-26-player-expectations-d-man-byram-has-new-contract-heightened-bar-to-clear] At age 25, Samuelsson is being compensated handsomely, and while he's never going to be mistaken for Colorado [http://thn.com/colorado] 's Cale Makar as the NHL's best blueliner. And he's shown in the past that he can be an above-average player for Buffalo, eating up more than 19 minutes per night on average. Samuelsson still hasn't played an 82-game series at the NHL level, with his 62-games this past season a career high. The Sabres need more out of him than that, And Buffalo's improved defense corps should have a positive impact on him. Buffalo's group of blueliners is one of the deepest groups of defensemen in the league. But everyone on the back end has to their part, and that mean Samuelsson must put in a better effort than he did last season. Sabres 2025-26 Player Expectations: Blueliner Power Needs To Elevate His Game [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/58c1e602-05f7-48db-9c1e-bdd4a77e72a4.webp] Sabres 2025-26 Player Expectations: Blueliner Power Needs To Elevate His Game The NHL’s 2025-26 season is only a handful of weeks away, and here at <a href="http://thn.com/">THN.com</a>’s <a href="http://thn.com/buffalo">Buffalo Sabres site</a>, we’ve started a player-by-player series that analyzes each Sabre this past season and their probable contributions next year. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/buffalo-sabres/latest-news/sabres-2025-26-player-expectations-blueliner-power-needs-to-elevate-his-game] Samuelsson doesn't have much flash-or-dash to his game. He's a straightforward stau-at-home defenseman, and even if he didn't have the best year in 2024-25, the same can be said for just about every Sabres player. Samuelsson definitely has to be considerably better next season, because if he doesn't come through with a strong show, the Sabres will definitely look to send him packing.
