Sabres' Quinn makes season debut after Achilles surgery

Buffalo Sabres forward Jack Quinn was in the lineup Tuesday for his season debut against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Quinn sustained an Achilles tendon injury while training in June and underwent surgery. He was expected to miss the start of this season and had a four-to-six month timetable based on the typical recovery time.

The 22-year-old collected 14 goals and 23 assists over 75 games as a rookie last season, as well as two tallies and five helpers in 10 games for Canada en route to the gold medal at the World Championship.

Quinn produced 26 goals and 35 assists across 45 contests with the Sabres' AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans, in 2021-22.

The Sabres drafted him eighth overall in 2020.

Buffalo has taken a step back this season after a promising 2022-23 campaign in which the rebuilding club missed the playoffs by a single point. The Sabres entered Tuesday sitting second-last in the Atlantic Division at 13-16-3.