Pro Hockey Rumors

With the regular season now upon us, the bulk of the heavy lifting has been done from a roster perspective.  Most unrestricted free agents have found new homes, the arbitration period has come and gone, and the trade market has cooled.  Accordingly, it’s a good time to take a look at what each team accomplished over the offseason.  Next up is a look at the Buffalo Sabres

The Sabres haven’t made the playoffs since 201o-11 and went into this season expecting to miss the postseason once again. It’s tough to be a Sabres fan right now, and it’s easy to feel indifferent about the future of this roster. That said, there are talented players in Buffalo, but management hasn’t been able to support them or find middle-tier players who can play alongside them. The Sabres have again started the season slowly, and if this keeps up into 2026, there could likely be significant changes in Buffalo.

Draft

1-9 – D Radim Mrtka, Seattle (WHL)
3-71 – D David Bedkowski, Owen Sound (OHL)
4-103 – C Matouš Jan Kucharcik, Slavia Praha Jr. (Czechia U20)
4-116 – G Samuel Meloche, Rouyn‑Noranda (QMJHL)
5-135 – D Noah Laberge, Acadie‑Bathurst (QMJHL)
6-167 – C Ashton Schultz, Chicago (USHL)
7-195 – LW Melvin Novotny, Leksands IF J20 (J20 Nationell)
7-199 – G Yevgeni Prokhorov, Dinamo‑Shinnik Bobruysk (MHL)
7-219 – C Ryan Rucinski, Youngstown (USHL)

The Sabres drafted in the top 10 once again, and it’s starting to feel like an annual tradition. This time, they picked a defenseman with excellent size, standing 6’6” and weighing 218 lbs. Mrtka moves well for such a big guy, skating smoothly and closing gaps easily, while showing a talent for moving the puck and making solid offensive reads. Despite his size advantage, Mrtka is still working on his strength and might have some way to go; he isn’t an overly aggressive defenseman in the corners and may take some time to develop that mean streak that could turn him into a real force.

The Sabres clearly targeted a specific type in this draft, selecting another big, right-shot defenseman with their third-round pick. Bedkowski is slightly shorter than Mrtka but has a mean streak, enjoying physical play and battling for pucks with high aggression. He hits to punish opponents, both along the boards and in open ice, and isn’t afraid to show some flair with his passing and skating. He can also shoot the puck, unleashing a heavy one-timer from the blue line that is sure to turn heads.

The issue with Bedkowski —and probably why he remained in the third round —is that he needs significant work on his mobility, and his decision-making is often lacking. He also has some injury history, which has limited his sample size and makes him somewhat an unknown commodity.

The Sabres kept their focus on drafting big players by selecting Kucharcik in the fourth round. The 6’4” center will need to bulk up if he wants to make it in the NHL, but he sees the ice well and is solid defensively. His ability to read plays as they happen could make him a dependable two-way center, although his scoring isn’t high, which might limit his ceiling. His potential as a top-end player could be as a middle six forward who can kill penalties and provide consistent play at both ends of the ice.

The Sabres have faced challenges in developing goaltenders and added to their pipeline in the fourth round by selecting Meloche, a goaltender who is slightly smaller than current NHL goalies but still has solid size at 6’3’’. He has good fundamentals, a calm net style, and the ability to stay composed and read plays well are probably his top assets. It still needs to be tested against more formidable opponents, which will give a clearer idea of whether he’ll be an NHL netminder. Goalies are notoriously difficult to project, but based on Meloche’s athleticism, reflexes, and demeanour, he has a solid shot at making the NHL.

Trade Acquisitions

D Isaac Belliveau (from Pittsburgh)
F Josh Doan (from Utah)
D Michael Kesselring (from Utah)
D Conor Timmins (from Pittsburgh)

Trading JJ Peterka was never expected to improve the Sabres more than the 23-year-old, but they did manage to add two roster players in Doan and Kesselring. The trade highlights a broader issue in Buffalo: their long, documented decade and a half of misery that has eroded the spirit of a once-proud NHL franchise.

Doan is the son of former NHL star Shane Doan and plays a very similar game to his dad, using his high motor to stay in motion and hope to unleash his heavy shot. Doan is also an underrated passer and a consistent pest on the forecheck, forcing turnovers or stripping pucks away for himself. Doan could benefit from working on his footspeed, but even as it is, he remains a solid NHL player.

Kesselring fits the profile of what the Sabres aimed for this summer, as he is a big right-shot defender who can keep the puck away from danger zones and does a decent job moving the puck. He isn’t a skilled playmaker, but he skates well and can chip in some offense from the back end. He played significant third-pairing minutes last year in Utah and is worth thinking about as a potential second-pairing option on the right side.

UFA Signings

F Justin Danforth (two years, $3.6MM)
D Mason Geertsen (two years, $1.55MM)*
G Alexandar Georgiev (one year, $825K)
D Zachary Jones (one year, $900K)*
C Jake Leschyshyn (one year, $775K)*
G Alex Lyon (two years, $3MM)
RW Carson Meyer (two years, $1.55MM)*
D Jack Rathbone (two years, $1.6MM)

*-denotes two-way contract
^-denotes re-signing

The Sabres didn’t make any significant moves in the UFA market this summer, and it’s reasonable to believe that their long history of missing the postseason played a role in their quiet free agency period. Even when Buffalo was a playoff team, it was never a top choice for many reasons largely beyond their control. However, given their record over the past 14 years, no top free agent is likely to choose Buffalo over numerous other offers, which is reflected in their efforts this year in the market.

No disrespect to the signed players, but the Sabres’ list of UFAs is underwhelming and raises questions about whether the Sabres truly believe they’ve finished rebuilding. Danforth was their most significant signing; he’s a high-energy player and hard to contain on the forecheck, but he isn’t considered an impact player and can best be described as a bottom-six option. Danforth’s speed will be an asset, and he might be the only player on the list of UFAs the Sabres signed who will make an NHL impact this season.

Lyon could have an impact in the NHL depending on how the Sabres’ goaltending develops early on. He was slightly above average over the last two seasons with Detroit and is definitely a capable NHL goalie and a decent backup option. It’s likely he’ll fill that role over the next two seasons with the Sabres, and at 32 years old, that’s probably his NHL ceiling.

RFA Re-Signings

D Bowen Byram (two years, $12.5MM)
D Ryan Johnson (three years, $2.325MM)*
C Tyson Kozak (three years, $2.325MM)*
G Devon Levi (two years, $1.625MM)
C Ryan McLeod (four years, $20MM)
D Conor Timmins (two years, $4.4MM)
RW Jack Quinn (two years, $6.75MM)

*-denotes two-way contract

The Sabres made several short-term signings this summer, with one medium-term deal given to McLeod, who had a career year last season with 20 goals and 33 assists in 79 games. It was McLeod’s first year with Buffalo, and he translated his previously efficient production into tangible results, earning him a four-year extension. McLeod remains one of the fastest players in the NHL and is strong on both sides of the puck, serving as a penalty killer and a two-way center. His offensive skills are also very evident as he continues to be a good puck distributor and a solid transition player. The deal takes McLeod into his late twenties and offers him some security as he continues to develop his game.

The Sabres postponed a significant decision by signing Byram to a two-year deal. They might still choose to sign the defenseman to a long-term contract, but they could also decide to move him before this deal expires. Byram is a talented player who skates well, handles the puck, and sets up scoring opportunities for his teammates. He exemplifies the typical offensive defenseman. However, despite these skills, he hasn’t consistently produced strong results on the ice in recent years, having difficulty controlling play for both Buffalo and his former team, Colorado. His advanced analytics don’t reflect his perceived impact, highlighting a discrepancy between his skill and results. Byram continues to rack up points and likely will attract interest if he becomes available via trade. Still, the Sabres may not receive the offers they anticipate, and they may also be cautious about the long-term cost.

The Sabres chose a short-term deal with forward Quinn, signing him to a two-year bridge contract for a player who is clearly talented but has experienced injuries. Quinn had a productive final season in the OHL with the Ottawa 67s; however, his junior career was interrupted by the pandemic, which may have impacted his development along with those injuries. Quinn is a highly creative player capable of generating offense from nearly anywhere on the ice. His stats from last season seem solid at first glance, but a closer look shows he struggled to control play and also had issues with turnovers.

Departures

D Jacob Bernard-Docker (signed with Detroit, one year $875K)
D Connor Clifton (traded to Pittsburgh)
F Mason Jobst (remains unsigned)
F Sam Lafferty (traded to Chicago)
F JJ Peterka (traded to Utah)
G James Reimer (remains unsigned)

*-denotes two-way contract

The Sabres lost several players from their roster, most of whom were at the bottom of their lineup. However, Peterka was at the top of the lineup and was one of the better young players in the NHL last season, recording 21 goals and 37 assists in 77 games. Some might wonder why Buffalo would trade an offensive young player, but Elliotte Friedman reported in the summer that Peterka was unhappy in Buffalo, which probably prompted the move. Despite his talent, Peterka has his flaws. He mainly scores on the rush and needs to improve his overall offensive game, despite his high skill. His defensive efforts in Buffalo left much to be desired, and it will be interesting to see if he can elevate his play in Utah.

Clifton and Lafferty were both salary dumps for Buffalo, with Lafferty moving to Chicago and Clifton heading to Pittsburgh, along with a draft pick to facilitate the deal. Clifton is an eight-year NHL veteran who has never been an analytics favourite but plays a brutal and honest game. Although considered a defensive defenseman, Clifton did have some skill with the puck, even if it didn’t always show on the scoresheet. He faced some very tough assignments last year, which likely affected his metrics and probably contributed to his trade to the Penguins.

Lafferty was never a good fit in Buffalo and was sent back to Chicago. His speed and forechecking ability were expected to boost the Sabres’ bottom six, but his overall play left a lot to be desired, so he was moved on. Lafferty has always felt like he had more to offer an NHL team, which is maybe why Buffalo signed him to his current contract. Once they realized their situation, the Sabres opted to cut ties and move on to other players.

Salary Cap Outlook

The Sabres are in a surprisingly poor position regarding the salary cap, considering they have built a roster that is average at best and among the bottom 10 in the league at worst. The Sabres currently have only $2.45MM available under the salary cap, which is projected to be $9.57MM at the NHL Trade Deadline (as per PuckPedia). Their long-term cap situation isn’t dire, as they have 18 players signed for 2026-27 and nearly $22MM in available cap space. However, they will need to address forward Alex Tuch’s next contract and Kesselring’s new deal. Tuch is expected to earn just over $8.5MM annually on a seven-year deal, while Kesselring is projected to sign a three-year extension at $4.27MM per season (as per AFP Analytics). Combined, that would total $12.77MM annually, leaving Buffalo with less than $10MM to sign three more players, which opens the possibility of adding one impact player.

Key Questions

Can they finally make the playoffs?

It’s fair to say that when it comes to making the playoffs, the Sabres are long overdue. They have been in a constant state of rebuilding for the last 14 years, and while they came close to making the playoffs a few years back, they have mostly stayed at the bottom of the Eastern Conference. The team has some talented young players signed long-term, and eventually you have to believe they will make the postseason. However, considering the competition in the Atlantic Division, this doesn’t seem like the year they will end the streak.

Will they trade Owen Power?

Much of the trade chatter regarding Power has been precisely that, chatter. That being said, nothing feels more Buffalo than the idea of trading Power and then using the financial savings to lock up Byram long-term. That’s not to say that Byram is a terrible option, but to keep him as a mainstay over Power would be a disastrous decision. No one is saying that they will, but given the track record of the Sabres, I wouldn’t call it impossible either. Neither is trading Power, and while it would be a mistake to move the former first overall pick, you have to think that nothing is off the table in Buffalo.

Can Josh Norris stay healthy?

Norris is a terrific player when he’s healthy enough to play. However, so far in his career, that hasn’t been the case. Buffalo took a lot of risk when they acquired him from Ottawa at last year’s NHL Trade Deadline, giving up Dylan Cozens and a second-round pick in the process. They also received Bernard-Docker in the trade, but saying the results favour Ottawa is an understatement. The Sabres need Norris to be healthy and productive if they want to compete for a playoff spot, and so far, things don’t look promising.

Photo by Jeff Curry-Imagn Images