BUFFALO – At each level before he reached the NHL – junior, college and the AHL – Sabres winger Josh Doan showcased offensive growth in his second season.

With the Chicago Steel, he shook off a frustrating five-goal rookie year and scored 31 times. As a sophomore at Arizona State University, he upped his goal total from 12 to 16.

In his first taste of the pros, Doan registered three goals in 14 games for the Tucson Roadrunners. The next season, he tallied 26 times in 62 outings.

He carried that scoring prowess into the NHL in 2023-24, registering five goals in his first 11 appearances. He slumped, however, after the Arizona Coyotes moved to Utah last year, mustering just seven goals in 51 contests.

So over the summer, Doan whose shooting percentage dropped from 21.7 to 8.0, focused on capitalizing on those opportunities he couldn’t convert.

After the Sabres acquired him June 26 in the trade that sent JJ Peterka to the Mammoth, he said he expected to break through offensively.

Just five games into season, the 6-foot-2, 198-pound Doan has displayed strong signs of offensive development. He had registered two goals and five points in the last two games entering Monday’s road contest against the Montreal Canadiens.

His willingness to go to the net and embrace the chaos, a part of the game he said he enjoys, has served him well.

In Saturday afternoon’s 3-0 win against the Florida Panthers, Doan scored two power-play goals from the top of the crease.

“When it goes the right way, you see tonight where pucks just kind of hit you and go in, and that’s part of it is you’re going to take a cross-check here or there in games and not score, then there’s gonna be games where (the puck) just kind of hits you and goes in,” Doan said following Saturday’s game in KeyBank Center. “So it’s a great trade off.’

The Sabres scored just two goals during their dreadful 0-3-0 start, in part, because they did not create havoc around the goalie.

“I think that’s something that we’ve put a little bit of awareness on recently and getting to the net front,” Doan said. “I don’t think we generated enough the first three games and create enough chaos for the goalie, so in practice and in video we’ve done a lot of work the last couple days, and it’s been paying off pretty good for us.”

So far, the Sabres have put Doan in positions where he can have offensive success. In addition to skating on the top power-play unit, he has a spot on left wing alongside center Ryan McLeod and Alex Tuch.

“Great guy on the puck, getting around the puck, getting to the net,” Ruff said of Doan, who registered three assists in Wednesday’s 8-4 win over the Ottawa Senators. “Really, I think we’ve just seen a glimpse of his game.”

– The Sabres on Sunday recalled defenseman Zac Jones and center Noah Ostlund from the Rochester Americans.

In Saturday’s win, defenseman Jacob Bryson entered concussion protocol after Panthers winger Jonah Gadjovich hit him into the boards in the first period, knocking him out of the game.

Ruff told reporters Monday in Montreal that Bryson is still in protocol but feeling better. Meanwhile, winger Beck Malenstyn has left the team for a personal matter.

Defenseman Zach Metsa, who made his NHL debut, and forward Josh Dunne moved into the lineup against Montreal.

The 5-foot-11, 190-pound Jones has registered four assists, all on the power play, in four games with the Amerks this season. Jones, 25, has compiled four goals and 28 points in 115 career NHL contests with the New York Rangers.

He cleared waivers during training camp and was assigned to Buffalo’s AHL affiliate.

Meanwhile, the 5-foot-11, 180-pound Ostlund has recorded one goal and five points in four games with the Amerks this season. Ostlund, 21, went pointless in his first eight appearances with the Sabres last season.

– The Sabres on Monday announced they will be holding a reunion night for their 2005-06 team that reached the Eastern Conference final on Jan. 15 during their game against the Montreal Canadiens.

Several members of the popular team that earned 110 points and came within one game of the Stanley Cup final will be attending. The guest list will be announced at a later date.

– The NHL on Sunday fined Panthers winger Brad Marchand $5,000, the maximum amount allowed under the CBA, for his unsportsmanlike conduct actions against the Sabres.

In the second period, Marchand responded angrily after Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin cross-checked him to the ice in the Florida zone.

A few seconds later, Marchand interfered with Dahlin in the slot, knocking him down. Marchand then pounced on Dahlin and started punching him on the ice. Sabres winger Tage Thompson quickly came to Dahlin’s defense, and a melee erupted.

Marchand earned roughing and interference penalties.

When the fracas ended, Marchand took Dahlin’s helmet with him to the penalty box and tore off the chin strap after he sat down.