FILE - Buffalo Sabres left wing Jason Zucker (17) skates up ice during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators, March 7, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes, File)
Sabres forward Jason Zucker expected to miss start of season after having sports hernia surgery
Sep 16, 2026 | 12:36 PM
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BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Veteran Buffalo Sabres forward Jason Zucker is expected to miss the start of the season after having surgery to repair a sports hernia.
General manager Jarmo Kekäläinen announced the injury on Wednesday as Sabres players reported for the start of training camp. Kekäläinen did not provide an exact timeline, but said Zucker could potentially miss the first two weeks.
The 34-year-old Zucker returns for a third season with Buffalo, coming off a year in which he had 21 goals and 45 points in 62 regular season games. He added two goals and two assists in 13 playoff games.
Zucker’s been a dependable two-way forward but missed 20 games due to an assortment of injuries last season, including an 11-game stretch in December.
