- Mason Geertsen is generating attention at Buffalo Sabres camp with his physical play, and it is becoming increasingly possible that the 30-year-old veteran finds his way back to an NHL roster in 2025-26. The Athletic’s Matthew Fairburn reported today that head coach Lindy Ruff “envisions [Geertsen] as the team’s enforcer,” and Buffalo Hockey Beat’s Bill Hoppe wrote that Sabres fans should “expect” Geertsen “to rack up some fighting majors this season.” Geertsen is a 6’4″, 231-pound natural defenseman who is also capable of playing forward in a traditional enforcer’s role. He hasn’t played in the NHL since 2021-22, when he skated in 25 games for Ruff’s New Jersey Devils. He didn’t earn his first NHL point in that stint, but he did fight five times and rack up 77 penalty minutes. Geertsen has since played exclusively in the AHL, but with the Sabres potentially looking to up their physical edge heading into 2025-26, it appears Geertsen could be getting another chance to play in the NHL. Geertsen, who is repped by Quartexx’s Paul Capizzano, signed a two-year, two-way contract this summer that carries a $775K salary at the NHL level and a $425K AHL salary.