Sabres Face Crucial Cap Decisions as Trade Deadline Looms
With the NHL Trade Deadline fast approaching, the Buffalo Sabres find themselves at a crossroads - one that could define not only the rest of this season but the trajectory of their rebuild. The team is still in the playoff hunt, clinging to postseason hopes and trying to snap a drought that's stretched far too long.
But for general manager Jarmo Kekalainen, the decisions ahead go beyond just on-ice performance. This is about roster construction, long-term planning, and the delicate dance of cap management.
At the heart of it all: how to keep cornerstone players like Zach Benson and Alex Tuch in the fold while maintaining flexibility to build around them. Both are due for significant raises, and with the Sabres projected to have around $14 million in cap space next season, things are going to get tight - fast.
Tuch is expected to command north of $10 million AAV on his next deal. Benson, still early in his career but already showing top-six upside, could be looking at something closer to $6 million. That math doesn’t work unless something gives.
And that “something” might just be Josh Norris.
Norris’ Future in Buffalo: A Cap Crunch Casualty?
Norris came over from the Ottawa Senators at last year’s trade deadline, and when he’s been on the ice, he’s been productive - 17 points in 19 games is nothing to scoff at. But that’s also part of the issue.
He’s only played in 19 games this season, after managing just three appearances for Buffalo following the trade last year. Injuries have been a recurring theme, and availability is becoming a real concern.
Norris carries a $7.95 million cap hit and is signed for four more seasons beyond this one. That kind of term and dollar figure is tough to move, especially for a player with durability questions. But if Kekalainen can find a trade partner willing to take on that contract, it could open up exactly the kind of breathing room the Sabres need to lock in their core and stay active in free agency.
There’s also a timing element here. After this season, Norris’ contract kicks into a modified no-trade clause, which means any future deal would require his approval. If the Sabres are going to move him, the window to do it cleanly is now.
A Defining Deadline for Kekalainen
This is Kekalainen’s first trade deadline at the helm in Buffalo, and it’s shaping up to be a pivotal one. On one hand, the Sabres are still in the mix for a playoff spot, and dealing away a productive top-six center could hurt in the short term. On the other, this team has to think long-term - and locking up Benson and Tuch is a priority that could outweigh the immediate loss.
The decision isn’t just about Norris. It’s about what kind of team the Sabres want to be - and how quickly they want to get there. Moving Norris would give Buffalo the flexibility to keep its young core intact, add in free agency, and perhaps even make another move before the deadline.
Of course, none of this is simple. Norris is expected to return from injury after the Olympic break, and if he comes back strong, his value could rise. But the injury history is real, and Kekalainen will have to weigh the risk of holding onto a player who may not be reliably available against the reward of freeing up critical cap space.
The Sabres have options. What they don’t have is time.
The deadline is coming, and with it, a chance to reshape the roster and set the tone for the next phase of this franchise. Whether that includes Josh Norris remains to be seen - but the clock is ticking.