Byram Will Not Play in Buffalo Return
Unfortunately, there is only one “revenge game” tonight. Former defenseman Bowen Byram will not play for Chicago tonight. Blackhawks coach Jeff Blashill said Byram is tending to a family matter. That means Sabres fans will have to wait for Byram’s first game back at KeyBank Center since Buffalo traded him to Chicago this summer. Jordan Greenway is still expected to be in Chicago’s lineup and will face the Sabres for the first time since the trade. Byram’s absence forces Chicago to reshuffle its defense. Kevin Korchinski and Ethan Del Mastro will both make their season debuts after sitting out the Blackhawks’ first two games. Byram didn’t have the best first game, but I’m sure it will improve. Byram got everything he wanted when he was traded: to be the #1 D-man and a big contract, so “revenge” is a little harsh.
Zellweger Is In
There is no longer much uncertainty surrounding Olen Zellweger, and the Byram replacement will get his first look in the blue and gold. Zellweger will make his Sabres season debut tonight after recovering from the concussion he suffered during the preseason against Columbus. He practiced alongside Owen Power on Friday and is listed with Power on Buffalo’s second defense pair in the NHL’s latest projected lineup. That gives Buffalo another high-end skating and puck-moving option on the back end and changes the look of the defense from Thursday’s loss in Columbus. The NHL’s current projection has Matt Grzelcyk returning to the lineup alongside Louis Crevier; they played together in Chicago last year on the third pair, with Zach “fighting” Metsa listed as a scratch.
Updated Projected Lineups
Buffalo Sabres
Forwards
Josh Norris – Tage Thompson – Josh Doan
Zach Benson – Noah Östlund – Jack Quinn
Peyton Krebs – Konsta Helenius – Ryan McLeod
Jiri Kulich – Sam Carrick – Beck Malenstyn
Defense
Mattias Samuelsson – Rasmus Dahlin
Olen Zellweger – Owen Power
Matt Grzelcyk – Louis Crevier
Goaltenders
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Colten Ellis
Scratched: Tyson Kozak, Justin Danforth, Zach Metsa
Injured: Alex Lyon, Conor Timmins, Jason Zucker
Starting goalie: NHL currently lists Luukkonen first in its projected lineup.
Chicago Blackhawks
Forwards
Roman Kantserov – Frank Nazar – Patrick Kane
Tyler Bertuzzi – Anton Frondell – Teuvo Teravainen
Ryan Donato – Oliver Moore – Nick Lardis
Cole Smith – Ryan Greene – Jordan Greenway
Defense
Alex Vlasic – Ian Cole
Wyatt Kaiser – Artyom Levshunov
Kevin Korchinski – Ethan Del Mastro
Goaltenders
Spencer Knight
Arvid Söderblom
Scratched: Bowen Byram, Sam Rinzel
Injured: Connor Bedard, Andrew Mangiapane
Starting goalie: NHL currently lists Knight first in its projected lineup.
Final Thoughts
The Byram storyline has changed, but plenty remains around Buffalo’s home opener. Jordan Greenway returns to KeyBank Center in a Blackhawks sweater, Patrick Kane is back in Buffalo, and Olen Zellweger will make his Sabres debut.
Chicago is also changing two-thirds of its bottom four on defense after surrendering 11 goals through its first two games. For Buffalo, the task remains the same: take advantage of a struggling team, clean up special teams, and establish control early rather than letting Chicago hang around. Last season’s Atlantic Division banner goes up in the rafters tonight.
Then Buffalo gets back to work.