Sabres free agency preview: Kevyn Adams looks to use cap space to reshape roster (2024)

LAS VEGAS – A fan base clamoring for playoff hockey in Buffalo waited with bated breath this week as Kevyn Adams, the general manager of the Sabres, attempted to shape his roster into a contender after a season in which it underperformed.

The franchise’s foundation is in place with Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Power, Tage Thompson and Dylan Cozens signed to long-term contract extensions. They’re surrounded by a few accomplished veterans like Alex Tuch and Jordan Greenway, as well as promising young talent in JJ Peterka, Jack Quinn and Zach Benson.

The Sabres had approximately $23.5 million in salary cap space next season before the first round of the NHL draft began Friday night, according to CapFriendly.com, and Adams wanted to use a bulk of that money on upgrades, whether it be through a trade or unrestricted free agency.

Three prominent restricted free agents also require contracts for next season – Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Henri Jokiharju and Peyton Krebs – but the Sabres can weaponize their cap space to lure a veteran to join their roster once unrestricted free agency begins at noon Monday.

Between the players who can sign elsewhere and the needs on the NHL roster, the Sabres have the potential to be one of the most active teams in the coming days:

Free agents

Zemgus Girgensons: Still the longest-tenured player on the Sabres’ roster, Girgensons is an unrestricted free agent after a season in which he had eight goals and 14 points while averaging a career-low 11:51 of ice time across 63 games. The fourth-line winger has a contract offer from Buffalo to return for an 11th season, but will he want to explore opportunities elsewhere after watching at least one former teammate win the Stanley Cup in each of the last two seasons?

Victor Olofsson: The Sabres will not re-sign the Swedish winger after a disappointing season in which he had only seven goals and 15 points while counting $4.75 million against their salary cap. He averaged a career-low 11:34 of ice time but finished with a minus-1 rating after accumulating a minus-62 over the previous three seasons. Olofsson, 28, likely will need to accept a one-year contract and a fraction of his previous salary to join a contender.

Tyson Jost: Adams’ preference to add physicality to the Sabres’ bottom six likely spells the end of Jost’s time in Buffalo. He had three goals and six points in 43 games this season, and he passed through waivers to join the Rochester Americans for 25 games. Jost, 26, could be a smart depth signing if he’s willing to accept a two-way contract, but otherwise the Sabres are better off spending their cap space on a veteran with a different skill set.

Eric Robinson: Acquired from Columbus during the season, Robinson had some promising moments throughout his 40 games with the Sabres. He ranked in the top 10 on the team in individual shot quality and individual high-danger scoring chances at 5-on-5, according to Natural Stat Trick, but he had two goals with nine points. The 29-year-old is a 6-foot-2 winger who can make an impact on the forecheck. It seems unlikely, though, that he’ll have a spot on the team next season.

Eric Comrie: Would the 28-year-old goalie have interest in returning on a two-way contract to be the organization’s No. 3? Comrie would be an ideal fit. He’s a well-liked veteran who produced promising results as a backup in Winnipeg before he signed a two-year contract with the Sabres in 2022. There will be interest from other teams, but there’s a realistic scenario in which a starting gig with the Amerks is the best path for him to prove that he belongs in the NHL.

Brandon Biro: The Sabres should give the 26-year-old another two-way contract to see if he can finally break through to become an NHL player. Biro showed some promise with two goals in five games with Buffalo this season, and he produced 16 goals with 43 points in 59 games with Rochester. He hasn’t been able to stay healthy, though, and he may not have the skill set to contribute to the Sabres’ bottom six if they need to recall someone from the Amerks.

Brett Murray: Sabres associate GM Jason Karmanos made it clear in April that he’s interested in bringing back Murray. The 6-5 winger will have opportunities elsewhere, though. His former agent, Jeff Jackson, runs the Edmonton Oilers, and NHL teams are always looking for big power forwards who may have untapped potential. Murray, 25, had 17 goals and 32 points with the Amerks this season, and appeared in only two games for Buffalo. The issues with his skating will prevent him from earning a one-way contract elsewhere.

Linus Weissbach: The 2017 seventh-round pick seemed to be on the cusp of the NHL in September 2022 when he was a standout at the Prospects Challenge, however, he did not make the same impact with the Amerks this season. Weissbach, 26, has at least 16 goals in each of his three years in Rochester.

Needs

Top-six winger: The Sabres will have a significant hole in their lineup if they decide to buy out Jeff Skinner. Peterka had a breakthrough second season that included 28 goals and Quinn was mostly outstanding when healthy, but the Sabres need another option to skate next to Thompson or Cozens. South Buffalo’s Patrick Kane is a possible option in unrestricted free agency, but the club has been linked to Carolina Hurricanes winger Martin Necas, who is expected to be traded this summer.

Bottom-six center: The Sabres are not interested in spending big money on a center to displace Thompson or Cozens from the top six. Adams still believes in both players despite their up-and-down 2023-24 season, and they’ve already committed nearly $100 million dollars to them. Instead, they’re trying to add a veteran who can skate on the third or fourth line to compete with Peyton Krebs for the former role. The free-agent market is thin down the middle aside from Chandler Stephenson of the Vegas Golden Knights and the Toronto Maple Leafs’ Max Domi, but there are several intriguing options that may be available in a trade.

Defense depth: Jokiharju and Jacob Bryson are the wild cards here. The Sabres will only need to sign or re-sign a few defensem*n for Rochester if both restricted free agents return next season. However, they’ll need to add a third-pair option – left- or right-handed – if either or both leave this summer. Adams has expressed interest in bringing back Jokiharju, but his price tag may be too high for the role they envision for him under Lindy Ruff. Jokiharju is one year away from unrestricted free agency, which will impact his contractual demands. Ian Cole and Dmitry Kulikov are among the possible replacements if the Sabres elect to add a free agent.

Third goalie: Luukkonen and Devon Levi will be the goaltending tandem at the start of the season, according to Adams, but the Sabres must add two goalies for Rochester and at least one for their ECHL affiliate in Jacksonville, Florida. Would Comrie return on a two-way contract? Other free agents who may fit as the Sabres’ No. 3: Magnus Hellberg, Pheonix Copley and Kevin Lankinen.

Bottom-six wingers: Re-signing Girgensons was among the Sabres’ priorities leading up to unrestricted free agency, however, the market is filled with potential replacements if he opts to sign elsewhere, including Jordan Martinook, Yakov Trenin, William Carrier, Ryan Lomberg and Nicolas Aube-Kubel.

Rochester veterans: The Amerks will need to surround the Sabres’ prospects with experienced players. They re-signed defenseman Kale Clague to a one-year, two-way contract Friday, but Murray, Biro, Weissbach, Jeremy Davies, Joe Cecconi, Ethan Prow and Michael Mersch are also free agents.