July 1st, the start of NHL Free Agency and the date that many Sabres fans have circled on their calendar. This offseason for the Sabres front office is do or die, plain and simple, and the pressure is at an all time high for the Adams’ regime.
If they get the offseason right, the Sabres likely make the playoffs, but if they don’t the longest active playoff drought in NHL history will continue and major changes will likely follow. So let’s get into what a mock offseason could look like for Kevyn Adams and company!
Starting Cap Space: $23.5M
Re-sign Phase:
RFA’s: Jacob Bryson re-signs on a 1 year $1.25 million deal.
Peyton Krebs re-signs on a 2 year $2.5 million deal (1.25M AAV).
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen re-signs on a 3 year $15 million deal (5M AAV).
UFA’s: Brandon Biro re-signs on a 1 year $775,000 deal.
Jeremy Davies re-signs on a 1 year $775,000 deal.
Brett Murray re-signs on a 1 year $775,000 deal.
Notes: Bryson is coming off a very solid season as the Buffalo’s 6th/7th D, so Buffalo will bring him back for the same role next season. Peyton Krebs, who has his best hockey still to come, is coming off a disappointing year, but with Lindy Ruff coming in, the potential can still be unlocked. UPL is the absolute must RFA signing, 3×5 is about right with what Vancouver’s Thatcher Demko got last year. Lock your hope to be franchise goalie up, with Levi in the works as your future #1 netminder. Biro, Davies, and Murray serve as your veteran core down in Rochester and are serviceable short term call ups if need be.
Buyouts: Jeff Skinner is bought out which will save the Sabres roughly $7.5 million this offseason, while costing the Sabres $6.7 million the next offseason, followed by three additional years of costing $2.4 million/yr.
Notes: Skinner who is 32, is almost impossible to trade. He has a no-movement clause- which he reportedly is unlikely to waive, and per Elliotte Friedman on the Jeff Marek Show “it is a possibility [Skinner is bought out]”.
Trades:
Buffalo Receives: Travis Konecny Philadelphia Receives: Isak Rosen, 24’ 1st, 26’ 5th
Notes: The Sabres appear to still be looking at options to add to their top six, and have reportedly been interested in Noah Cates, Scott Laughton, and Travis Konecny. Konecny, the biggest fish of the three, will be an immediate insert to the top six as he is good for 60-70 pts a year. The Flyers, who appear to be retooling, receive a B tier prospect that’s almost NHL ready, 11th overall this year, and a late round pick a few years from now.
Photo Credits: Yong Kim/Philadelphia Inquirer
Buffalo Receives: Lars Eller, 24’ 7th (NYR) Pittsburgh Receives: Henri Jokiharju, 25’ 7th (NSH)
Notes: Buffalo since the Mittelstadt- Byram deal, is dying for a third line center. Eller, who isn’t the most popular, or even best option out there, just seems like an Adams type addition. Eller is known for his solid two way game, along with an elite ability to kill penalties. The Pens receive the rights to Jokiharju who will be an excellent third pair defenseman that can be ready to handle big minutes when either Kris Letang and/or Erik Karlsson hang them up.
Photo Credits: Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire
Free Agency: Sign Jani Hakanpaa (RHD) to a 3 year 2.5 million a year deal (3×2.5).
Sign Tyler Johnson (Forward) to a 1 year $2.25 million dollar deal.
Sign A.J Greer (Winger) to a 2 year $1.25 million a year deal.
Sign Jansen Harkins (LW) to a 1 year $885,000 deal.
Sign Chris Driedger (Goalie) to a 1 year $850,000 deal.
Notes: Hakanpaa who is a 6’7 stay at home, physical, right shot defenseman would be a great fit and addition to the Sabres top 4. He was known for his shutdown ability in Dallas. Tyler Johnson is your ideal middle six flexible veteran forward. He can take faceoffs, play the wing, and likely play on the second powerplay unit. Greer is your physical, defensive fourth line winger, who can also drive the play, but has had a hard time finishing. The former Calgary Flame would be Zemgus Girgensons’ replacement. Jansen Harkins, who is coming off a rough season that didn’t see him score a goal in Pittsburgh, would be a speedy defensive depth winger that would be a nice 13th or 14th forward. Lastly, Driedger would be an elite third goalie for the organization to have if injury strikes in net, or Devon Levi isn’t quite ready.
Pictured Above: A.J Greer Photo Credits: Sergei Belski/USA Today
Cap Space Left: 5-7 million
Projected Lines:
Peterka-Thompson-Tuch
Konecny-Cozens-Quinn
Benson-Eller-Greenway
Greer-Krebs-Johnson
Dahlin-Byram
Power-Hakanpaa
Samuelsson-Clifton
UPL
Levi
Extras: Harkins, Bryson, Rousek
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.