The Buffalo Sabres added key players to all three elements of the roster this summer.
The arrival of productive forward Kyle Okposo, steady defenseman Dmitry Kulikov, and backup goaltender Anders Nilsson should help the Sabres improve on last season's 35-36-11 record.
Here's how Buffalo's depth chart looks heading into the 2016-17 season:
Forwards
| LW | C | RW |
|---|---|---|
| Evander Kane | Ryan O'Reilly | Kyle Okposo |
| Tyler Ennis | Jack Eichel | Sam Reinhart |
| Matt Moulson | Zemgus Girgensons | Brian Gionta |
| Marcus Foligno | Johan Larsson | Nicolas Deslauriers |
- Tyler Ennis could eventually land on the top line and Evander Kane could play on the second unit with Jack Eichel, whom he clicked with last season.
- Hudson Fasching showed flashes of his talent in a seven-game stint and might work his way back into the fold.
Defense
| LD | RD |
|---|---|
| Dmitry Kulikov | Rasmus Ristolainen |
| Jake McCabe | Zach Bogosian |
| Josh Gorges | Cody Franson |
- Assuming Rasmus Ristolainen gets a new contract, he'll be in the top pairing, likely alongside Kulikov.
Goalies
| G |
|---|
| Robin Lehner |
| Anders Nilsson |
- Robin Lehner has to stay healthy if the Sabres are going to make progress. Linus Ullmark could see more NHL action if Nilsson struggles.
NHL Depth Charts
ANA | ARI | BOS | BUF | CGY
CAR | CHI | COL | CBJ | DAL
DET | EDM | FLA | LA | MIN
MTL | NSH | NJD | NYI | NYR
PHI | PIT | OTT | STL | SJ
TB | TOR | VAN | WSH | WPG
