Photo Courtesy: Sabres.com

After breaking a 14-year playoff drought, the Buffalo Sabres will have a new goal: turning a playoff team into a Stanley Cup contender.

With July 1, the National Hockey League’s start of free agency approaching, the Sabres will have several key questions to answer. Will Buffalo re-sign Alex Tuch, what will Zach Benson’s new deal look like, and who will general manager Jarmo Kekäläinen target via free agency and/or trade in his first offseason? Let’s look at what a realistic offseason could look like. 

Re-sign Phase:

Restricted Free Agents: 

– Zach Benson signs an eight-year $56 million deal ($7 million AAV)

– Peyton Krebs signs a three-year $9.75 million deal ($3.25 million AAV)

Unrestricted Free Agents:

– Beck Malenstyn signs on a four-year $12 million deal ($3 million AAV)

Notes: The Sabres, as of publication, have just under $12 million in cap space. According to several NHL insiders, such as Pierre LeBrun and Elliotte Friedman, there remains a gap in negotiations between Tuch and the team. Multiple reports suggest the 30-year-old will test free agency. Benson, 21, who set career highs in goals, assists, and points this past season and stood out in the playoffs, received high praise from Kekäläinen, who said at his end-of-year press conference he wanted to lock Benson up long-term. A versatile player who could play on any line, Krebs posted career bests in goals, assists, and points, along with six points in 13 playoff games this past year. Krebs, a former 2019 17th overall pick, said he would “love to be a part of this team as long as I can” at his end-of-season presser. Malenstyn served as a key bottom-six piece and a strong penalty killer. The 28-year-old led the team in hits (282) and finished seventh in blocked shots (75).

Trades:

Buffalo Receives: 2026 sixth-round pick (BOS)

Vancouver Receives: Jordan Greenway

Notes: Greenway has one year left on his contract with $4 million remaining. The 231-pound forward has struggled to stay healthy as he’s played just 74 regular-season games in the last two seasons. When healthy, Greenway serves as an effective middle-six power forward who can play on the penalty kill. This move allows the Sabres to free up $4 million in cap space, while the Canucks, who enter the offseason with nearly $22 million in cap space and finished last in the league by 14 points, receive a veteran middle-six forward.

Buffalo Receives: Michael Amadio (50% retained)

Ottawa Receives: Devon Levi

Notes: Levi, 24, has played 39 career NHL games, compiling a 17-17-2 record with a 3.29 goals-allowed average and a .894 save percentage. When Levi signed with the organization in March 2023, he was viewed by many Sabres fans as the future franchise goalie. Now, the former 2020 seventh-round pick will become waivers-eligible next season and has three goalies ahead of him on the depth chart. According to NHL insider Jeff Marek, “It’s over with Devon Levi and the Buffalo Sabres.” According to Kevin Weekes, the Senators have been one of several teams interested in Levi. In exchange, Buffalo receives a speedy defensive bottom-six winger who recorded a career-best 35 points in 81 games last season at $1.3 million. 

Buffalo Receives: Nick Perbix

Nashville Receives: 2028 third-round pick, 2027 sixth-round pick

Notes: Following the Sabres’ trading Michael Kesselring on June 17, the organization now has just two right-shot defensemen on the active roster under contract for next season —Timmins and Metsa— creating a potential need on the blue line. Nashville, which hired a new general manager on June 2, could look to shake up the roster by moving the 6-foot-4 defenseman, who had a down year with the Predators. Perbix could serve as a strong bottom-pair right-shot defensive defenseman for the Sabres. 

Free Agency: 

– Sign Carl Grundstrom to a one-year $1.25 million deal.

– Sign Dysin Mayo to a one-year $850,000 deal.

– Sign Jiri Patera to a two-year $850,000 deal. 

Notes: Grundstrom has ties to Sabres assistant general manager Marc Bergevin dating back to his time with the Los Angeles Kings. Grundstrom recorded nine goals and 13 points in 47 games for the Flyers last season. The right winger could fill the role of Greenway as a two-way bottom- six winger who can hit and also ranked in the top 72nd percentile in top skater speed (22.66 mph), according to NHL Edge. Mayo, a right shot, would play in Rochester and serve as the eighth or ninth defenseman in the organization, as he has 85 games of NHL experience throughout his career. Patera would be Rochester’s starting netminder as he went 12-14-3 with a .910 save percentage and a 2.63 goals-allowed average with Abbotsford last year. In nine career NHL games, the 6-foot-3 goalie went 3-4-1. 

Cap Space Left: ~$1.2 million

Projected Lines:

Forwards

Benson-Norris-Thompson

Doan-McLeod-Quinn

Zucker- Helenius-Ostlund

Malenstyn-Carrick-Amadio

Defensemen

Dahlin-Samuelsson

Power-Byram

Perbix-Timmins

Goaltenders

Lyon

Luukkonen

Extras: Grundstrom, Krebs, Ellis

First call-ups for forwards: Kulich, Danforth, Kozak

First call-ups for defenseman: Metsa, Johnson, Mayo, Rathbone

Mock Summary: The Sabres re-sign some of their top depth, make trades to create cap space while also getting a well-respected defenseman, and add depth via free agency. The organization will continue to rely on forward flexibility and its effective youth development from Benson, Helenius, Ostlund, and Kulich next season. If the Sabres’ young core continues to develop, Buffalo could emerge as a top contender in the Eastern Conference.