Sabres’ Jason Zucker to miss start of season; Louis Crevier coming off offseason surgery

The Buffalo Sabres will be down a forward to start the season, and possibly a defenseman, too.

On Wednesday, Sabres general manager Jarmo Kekalainen revealed that winger Jason Zucker will not be ready for the start of the season as he is recovering from offseason surgery to repair a sports hernia. Defenseman Louis Crevier underwent offseason shoulder surgery, and his status for the start of the season is up in the air.

Zucker, 34, put up 24 goals and 21 assists for 45 points in 62 regular season games for Buffalo last year, while missing time at multiple points thoughout the season due to illness or injury. He then had two goals and two assists for four points in the Sabres’ 13 playoff games.

The Newport Beach, California native is entering his third season with the Sabres after joining them as a free agent in July of 2024.

Selected by the Minnesota Wild in the second round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, Zucker has played for five different teams over 15 seasons playing in the NHL. He is set to become an unrestricted free agent next offseason upon the completion of his current two-year, $9.5 million deal.

Crevier, 25, was acquired by Buffalo this offseason as a part of the trade that sent defenseman Bowen Byram to the Chicago Blackhawks. In 78 games with Chicago last year, his first full-time season in the NHL, he registered seven goals and 18 assists for 25 points, while averaging just over 17 minutes of ice time.

At 6’8″ and 228 pounds, the Quebec City native stands out on any sheet of ice. He was initially selected by the Blackhawks in the seventh round of the 2020 Draft, and is scheduled to become a restricted free agent next offseason.

Buffalo’s preseason will begin on September 21 at the Pittsburgh Penguins.