The Top 25 Under 25 is a collaboration by members of the Die By The Blade community. 92 readers ranked Buffalo Sabres players under the age of 25 as of August 1, 2026. Each participant used their own metric of current ability and production to rank each player.
Olen Zellweger
Drafted: 2021 – 2nd Round (34th Overall) by Anaheim Ducks
Position: Defense
Born: September 10th, 2003 – 22 Years Old
2025-2026 Stats: GP 76 G 7 A 15 PTS 22 / Playoffs GP 3 G 1 A 1 PTS 2, NHL
2025 T25U25 Ranking: Not Ranked
The Sabres were targeting a puck moving defenseman that could fill the shoes left vacant by Bowen Byram after he was traded to Chicago before the draft. They found a near identical match from a playstyle perspective. Olen Zellweger is an incredible skater who fits the mold of an offensive, puck moving defenseman. In his first two full NHL seasons, he has a combined 14 goals and 42 points in 138 games. He has all the tools to be the kind of offensive force on the backend that Lindy Ruff loves.
As was the case with Byram, Zellweger struggles in the defensive zone. Primarily, his decision making can lead to quality scoring chances against and led to him falling out of favor at time with Joel Quenneville last season. The Sabres don’t need him to be a stout defender, but eliminating some of the glaring miscues will go a long way. He should focus on using his elite skating skills to escape the opposing forecheck and transition to offense.
The opportunity for him to increase his role in Buffalo is obvious. The Sabres leaned heavily on their top 4 last season and they’re looking for a consistent partner for Owen Power. Plays like this could be one reason, particularly late in games, that could land Zellweger in that coveted position:
After the trade, Zellweger signed a three-year contract with an affordable $3 million AAV. If he shines in an increased role, that contract will be an absolute steal for its entire duration.