What will become of the

Buffalo Sabres?

By: Michael A. Chase Jr.

4/1/2020

         For the Buffalo Sabres hockey club they were on their way to yet another disappointing year. As the Sabres owned a 30-31-8 record before the suspension of the NHL season due to strenuous circumstances. The Sabres were on the outside of playoff contention and were losers of 7 of their last 10. Losing ground fast during a time where the race for the wild card was tightening up. With uncertainty if the 2020 NHL season will resume this year, we can start to discuss the offseason earlier than normal. For the Sabres they have a laundry list of free agents to tend to this coming offseason. This piece will look to highlight and analyze offseason decisions that await the Buffalo Sabres front office. Specifically focusing on the assortment of free agents that they must make decisions on.

            The Buffalo Sabres have a bevy of free agents they must manage, 15 in total. The Sabres have 7 unrestricted free agents and 8 restricted free agents to deal with this offseason. Beginning with the unrestricted free agents these include:

§  Defenseman Matt Hunwick

§  Center/Winger Vladimir Sobotka

§  Winger Wayne Simmonds

§  Winger Michael Frolik

§  Winger Jimmy Vesey

§  Center/Winger Zemgus Girgensons

§  Center/Winger Johan Larsson

Wayne Simmonds and Michael Frolik being 31 and 32 respectively are veterans that if both sign short term deals worth 3.5 million per or less are good bargains. Plus, they are solid locker room presences for a team that will boast a youthful lineup. The Sabres though could opt to go with cheaper prospect options or even bring on different veterans to fill these spots. As for Hunwick this 34-year-old defenseman with injury history likely will not be brought back. Opening a spot up for one of their young defenseman prospects, while moving on from an often-hurt commodity.

    The forward quartet of Sobotka, Girgensons, Larsson, and Vesey could all go either way on whether they’re retained. For the 26-year-old Girgensons, this season marked the former 1st round picks 7th year with the club. Posting 19 points, 12 of them goals this season, which is the second highest goals total of his career. He is not the point producer they hoped but he has been a solid defensive forward and penalty killer for Buffalo.  He would seem to have a good chance to return because he will not demand much money. Though Buffalo could look to acquire a more offensively productive forward. In the cases of Sobotka and Larsson these two are similar players in many ways. Both are good bottom six forwards who are great in the faceoff circle, both winning 48% of faceoffs or better each of the last 5 seasons. They both also provide limited offense with Sobotka in two years as a Sabres putting up 16 points. While Larsson this year was having a career season, albeit with just 18 points in 62 games. With all 3 of these players not providing much secondary scoring to the club. Buffalo who is starved for consistent bottom six-point producers may look elsewhere to rebuild their depth, to better compete with the league elites.

The final forward to mention Jimmy Vesey has also failed in solving Buffalo’s depth scoring needs. Posting only 9 goals and 20 points in 64 games this season, on pace for his fewest goals and points allotted of his career. Vesey has never been a 20+ goal scorer, but the fact he was not even going match the career high 17 goals he had posted his last two seasons in New York is disappointing. Buffalo must choose if they want to retain Vesey, and for how much if he wants a raise in salary. Vesey like all the other unrestricted free agents leave a lot to be desired in terms of production. Leaving Buffalo with the possibility of having to rebuild their entire bottom six.

The restricted free agents for Buffalo are a very intriguing group. A group that presents Buffalo with some big decisions that could really affect their core. The players include:

§  Winger/Center Sam Reinhart

§  Winger Dominik Kahun

§  Winger Victor Olofsson

§  Center/Winger Curtis Lazar

§  Defenseman Brandon Montour

§  Defenseman Lawrence Pilut

§  Goalie Linus Ullmark

§  Center/Winger Tage Thompson

This group presents the Sabres with several players to make determinations on if they are part of their future. Sam Reinhart, Brandon Montour, and Victor Oloffson are 3 players most likely to be retained of this group. In Reinhart’s case he was having another good year posting a 3rd straight 20+ goal and 50+ point campaign. The numbers saying, he is worth keeping a part of their top-six group. The issue that may arise is how much of a raise in salary he may demand in a new deal. Reinhart was making 3.65 million dollars this season and if he wants to up that salary to say 6 million per based on his recent run of production it’s reasonable. The Sabres project to have decent cap space, but with so many needs to address how much Reinhart eats into this cap space will determine how they go about other transactions. Defenseman Brandon Montour at 25 years old will also be seeking a new deal. But after posting just 18 points in 54 games and 28 in 74 games since his trade from Anaheim to the Sabres this will be difficult. After making 3.3875 million dollars this past year, and with Buffalo already paying 3 of their defenseman next season a combined 12 million+ a salary bump may not be significant for Montour. If Montour and the Sabres can reach a new deal without a major overpay he should remain part of their core.

Rookie winger Victor Oloffson in his first full year at the NHL level was posting an impressive 20 goal and 42-point season for the Sabres. He had become a major power play specialist scoring 11 of his 20 goals on the man advantage. The problem is only 9 even strength goals despite his scoring ability. He of this group will likely be the easiest to retain as he was finishing the last year of his entry level contract. It is now up to the Sabres to generate the amount and term they see fit for Olofsson. Retaining him, while not overpaying the young winger for one productive season. The other skaters that are restricted free agents in forwards Dominik Kahun, Tage Thompson, Curtis Lazar, and defenseman Lawrence Pilut are all coming off entry level contracts as well. Which means none will likely see a huge raise in salary based on the fact none are top players for the club. It will be interesting to see how the Sabres go about picking and choosing which depth players to keep.

Finally, Backup Goalie Linus Ullmark is a case of a 26-year-old goaltender who stuck in between. He is a goalie that is caught in the characterization of can he be an eventual starter or is he just a serviceable backup? Plus, whatever money he wants this offseason it must be reasonable with the club already having committed almost 3 million per to Carter Hutton. He may come back again as the backup, but Buffalo may look elsewhere. Seeing if one of their goalie prospects is ready or find a veteran option. Thus, the future is unclear for Ullmark in Buffalo.

            While it may not seem like a lot of tough decisions need to be made on this group of free agents, Buffalo knows these are key decision to building a quality roster. The teams around the league who consistently compete for championships do not just have high end players. They have quality depth players who contribute to a winning cause. That is why making smart and cap friendly decisions on all these free agents will help shape a roster Buffalo hopes will compete for a playoff spot. With key contributors like Reinhart and Montour up for raises, to depth players like Larsson, Olofsson, and Vesey needing to be decided on. The Sabres front office has work ahead to put Buffalo in a position this offseason to further improve their club.