Helenius played his first season with the Rochester Americans in 2024-25 and put up some solid numbers. In 65 games with the AHL squad this past campaign, he recorded 14 goals, 21 assists, and 35 points. Now, so far this season, he is already showing signs of clear improvement with Rochester.

The Sabres have been a different team since the first week of the season. Here are some things to take note of in the early going.

When the Edmonton Oilers shipped Ryan McLeod and prospect Tyler Tullio to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Matt Savoie, the trade was seen as a gamble by both sides.

The Columbus Blue Jackets will get Miles Wood back and start goalie Jet Greaves against the Buffalo Sabres to open another back-to-back set.

Buffalo Sabres star Tage Thompson delivered a message to his team and fanbase as they work through an early resurgence.

The Buffalo Sabres (4-4-1, 11th in Eastern Conference) host the Columbus Blue Jackets (4-4, 13th in Eastern Conference) at KeyBank Center on Tuesday at 6:45 p.m. ET. Buffalo fell in a 4-3 overtime loss on the road its last time out on Oct. 25 against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Buffalo Sabres have come alive, and this time the trust is genuine. After a difficult beginning of the season, Buffalo has managed to climb into the Eastern Conference wild-card battle, proving that sometimes the soul can be stronger than the past.

The Sabres fell to the Maple Leafs 4-3 in overtime, but the ingredients of their strong recent play remained intact. They held their opponent to 22 shots with tight, persistent checking. Both special teams units continued to excel. Physicality was met with timely responses.

Last summer, the Buffalo Sabres shipped disgruntled left-winger JJ Peterka to the Utah Mammoth in exchange for defenseman Michael Kesselring and left-winger Josh Doan.

During the 2025 NHL off-season, the Buffalo Sabres acquired forward Josh Doan as part of the deal that sent winger JJ Peterka to the Utah Mammoth. The Sabres also brought in defenseman Michael Kesselring in the trade from Utah.

BUF 3, TOR 4 | OT, 1:28 – John Tavares (5) from Matthew Knies (8) The Sabres return home, where they've won four straight, to face the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday. Tickets are available here. Puck drop is scheduled for 6:45 p.m., with MSG's pregame coverage beginning at 6.