With July 1st and the official start of NHL Free Agency approaching, it’s a date many Sabres fans have circled since the end of the season. With general manager Kevyn Adams’ and head coach Lindy Ruff’s contracts both due to be up following the upcoming season, there is a tremendous amount of pressure entering the offseason. 

If things go wrong, another rebuild could be on the way, but if things go right, the Sabres could be in contention to break the 14-year playoff drought. What could a realistic offseason look like for Adams and company? Let’s take a look.

Starting Cap Space: $23.2M

Re-sign Phase:

RFA’s:  J.J. Peterka re-signs on a two-year, $14 million deal ($7M AAV).

           Ryan McLeod re-signs on a five-year, $25 million deal ($5M AAV).

           Devon Levi re-signs on a two-year, $1.85 million deal ($925k AAV).

           Jacob Bernard-Docker re-signs on a three-year, $3.3 million deal ($1.1M AAV).

           Tyson Kozak re-signs on a two-year, $1.8 million deal ($900k AAV).

           Ryan Johnson re-signs on a one-year, $925k deal.

UFA’s:   None

Notes: The elephant in the room is what the Sabres will do with 23-year-old forward JJ Peterka. NHL insider Elliotte Friedman recently stated the Sabres are talking calls on the forward, but still prefer to keep him. The German forward, who is reportedly unhappy and likely prefers a short-term contract. As for the Sabres, a short-term contract also makes sense, as analytics show Peterka has struggled defensively. Ryan McLeod is coming off a career-high 53-point season and showed versatility up and down the lineup. Devon Levi has yet to show that he can consistently play at the NHL level, but the 23-year-old still has plenty of potential to become a solid NHL starter one day. Jacob Bernard-Docker, a piece in the Dylan Cozens trade, showed glimpses of possibly being Owen Power’s future defensive partner. The stay-at-home defenseman logged a 55.1% goals percentage and a +3 in 15 games with Buffalo. Tyson Kozak showed that he can be a cheap rotational bottom-line piece with potential in 21 NHL games last season. The 2021 7th-round pick recorded five points in the 21 contests. Ryan Johnson has failed to become an everyday NHL’er, but has shown the potential to be a reliable bottom-pair NHL defenseman. With a logjam of left-shot defensemen in the organization, don’t be shocked if the former first-rounder is part of a bigger trade in the future.

Trades: 

Buffalo Receives: Bryan Rust

Pittsburgh Receives: Jack Quinn, 2026 4th round pick (EDM)

Notes: Over the past two seasons, it has been reported that the Pittsburgh Penguins are looking to get younger. 33-year-old Bryan Rust has been rumored to be a player who could be traded this summer, as he loses trade protection after July 1. Rust is coming off a 65-point season in 71 games and has shown he can be a vital piece in the top-six. In return, the Penguins get 23-year-old winger Jack Quinn and a mid-round pick next summer. Before this previous season, Quinn was viewed as one of the most vital pieces in Buffalo’s organization. In Quinn’s first 114 NHL games, he recorded 58 points and showed moments of efficient 200-foot play. The Ottawa natives best play is likely still ahead of him. 

Photo Credits: Charles LeClaire/Imagn Images

Buffalo Receives: K’Andre Miller’s rights (signs five-year $26.25M deal, $5.25M AAV), Brett Berard

NYR Receive: Bowen Byram’s rights, 2025 4th round pick

Notes: Frank Seravalli and several other insiders have reported that the Rangers’ 25-year-old left-shot defenseman’s RFA rights are on the market. Miller is coming off a 27-point season and has been known for his strong two-way game and penalty killing. Although a redundant left-shot role in Buffalo, the team lacks another proven two-way defender (other than Dahlin) that can immediately make the 23rd-ranked penalty kill better, while adding to the team’s offense. 

Brett Berard played his first 35 career NHL games this past season and recorded six goals and 10 points. Berard could serve as a solid winger who could play up and down the lineup. As for the Rangers and their return, Bowen Byram appears to be valued more by the rest of the NHL than the Sabres, as he has received “plenty of interest”, according to insider Kevin Weekes. The 2022 Stanley Cup Champion has undeniable talent and has reportedly wanted to be a team’s number one defenseman. Both teams exchange similar players whose names are on the block.

Pictured above: K’Andre Miller

Photo Credits: Rich Schultz/ AP

Buffalo Receives: 2026 7th Round Pick

Chicago Receives: Connor Clifton

Notes: Although Clifton is one of the few right-shot Sabres defenseman, he has not lived up to the three-year $9.9M contract he signed in the summer of 2023. With one year remaining, the Sabres could look to dump the veteran defenseman’s salary to a rebuilding team like Chicago that needs help on the blue line. 

Photo Credits: Micheline Veluvolu

Free Agency:  Sign Jan Rutta (RHD) to a one-year $1.85M deal. 

Pictured Above: Jan Rutta

Photo Credits: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA Today

          Sign Oscar Dansk (goalie) to a one-year $775k deal.
Notes: Rutta, who is a right-shot two-time Stanley Cup winner, has played over 400 NHL games in his career. The 34-year-old is coming off a season in San Jose where he was only a -3 in 54 contests. Although the veteran’s advanced analytics aren’t the prettiest, his stay-at-home tendency could mesh well on the third pairing. As for Dansk, the goalie market this year is thin. Dansk would be Rochester’s starter next fall and would be the organization’s third goalie. In six NHL appearances over the Swede’s career, he is 4-1 with a .906 save percentage and a 3.10 goals allowed average.

Mock Summary: The Sabres pay their own, while adding to the offense. Defensively, the team brings in two new defenseman, but still lacks in the right-shot department. A rebound year from the goalie department is vital to pair with healthy campaigns from Josh Norris and/or Jordan Greenway. 

Cap Space Left: ~$500k

Projected Lines: 

Peterka-Kulich-Thompson

Rust-Norris-Tuch

Zucker-McLeod-Benson

Greenway-Krebs-Berard

Dahlin-Samuelsson

Power-JBD

Miller-Rutta

UPL

Levi

Extras: Malenstyn, Bryson

First Callups: Lafferty/Kozak, Ryan Johnson

With the excitement and importance of these next few weeks, who would you like to see the Sabres acquire through free agency and/or trades? Feel free to let me know on X, @CarsonHayek