What Sabres coach Lindy Ruff thinks of nightly traffic jam in NHL’s Eastern Conference

Buffalo Sabres general manager Ted Black made a summer trade to acquire Olen Zellweger from the Anaheim Ducks. The move came after a long playoff drought, with the team hoping to build sustained success on the ice. Zellweger impressed the Sabres right from the start, showing promise in his first season with the Ducks. However, Anaheim opted to move on.

Coach Lindy Ruff has been pleased with Zellweger's performance early on and believes he can be a key part of the team's future. Zellweger has stepped up in the Sabres lineup, filling in as the top pairing defensemen while Rasmus Dahlin has been recovering from injury. The defenseman has been a dominant force on the ice, making crucial defensive plays and scoring two goals in a recent game against the Canadiens.

He has also played significant minutes, logging nearly 26 minutes in the loss. Zellweger's performance has exceeded the expectations set by the coaching staff and his teammates praise his skating abilities and edge work. With Dahlin's early return on the horizon, Zellweger could see an increased role on the team. His strong start to the season has already paid off for Buffalo, and he has a chance to continue this high-level play against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday night.