Buffalo Sabres 2025-26 Player Report Card: Conor Timmins – The Hockey Writers – Buffalo Sabres

It was a season of bad luck and unfortunate timing for Conor Timmins. He was acquired initially from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Connor Clifton to be an upgraded third-pairing defender, and when he was able to play, he was. The unfortunate part was that early on in the season, he suffered a debilitating leg break injury, and that kept him out for a very long time. However, when he did return to the lineup, he was a valuable member of the team.

Timmins Played Well in His Role

When he was on the ice, Timmins was mostly used as a third-pairing defender, with some time occasionally in the top four to round things out when needed. Most of his valuable time was spent on the penalty kill for the Buffalo Sabres, as he commonly was seen out there with Mattias Samuelsson on the first unit. He was not much of a threat offensively otherwise, as he put up only eight points (all assists) and was just over one shot per game (44 shots in 39 games). However, he did provide value in one particular area above all else.

Whether on the penalty kill or at even strength, Timmins was a shot-blocking machine. He managed to block 81 shots in his 39 games played, and that was good enough for fifth on the team. If he had played the entire season, he would have rivaled or even passed the dominant Samuelsson for the team lead (154) for sure. It was evident from his first game in a Sabres uniform; he was willing to sell out his body to block any shot, and while it may have cost him a lot of his season, the end result was absolutely worth it for both him and the team.

Grading Timmins

While his grade for last season is more of a limited look at what he is capable of, Timmins was not really in a limited role in any capacity. His ice time was consistent as he averaged just under 19 minutes per night, and he was plugged immediately back in the lineup as soon as he was healthy enough to play. On top of that, he played all 13 playoff games and stayed consistent in his usual role during that time as well. With that being said, these would be his grades:

• Scoring – C
• Defense – B+
• Leadership – B
• Playmaking – C
• Teamwork – A

Timmins is the kind of defender that rounds out a roster nicely. He plugs into his spot, plays his role, and when he performs just above what is expected, that is just icing on the cake. For this past season, he was everything that was expected, just in a smaller sample size.

Timmins’ Future With the Sabres

Timmins is in the final year of his two-year contract with the Sabres, and with a couple of high-end right-handed prospects potentially ready to make the jump to the NHL in the next season or two, the likelihood that he stays is small. On top of that, head coach Lindy Ruff has shown favoritism towards defender Zach Metsa, who emerged as a very solid third-pairing defender in Timmins’ absence last season. He will serve his purpose and be a steady presence on their blue line in 2026-27, but beyond that, he will likely be moved or go to free agency.