The Buffalo Sabres may be tight against the cap right now, but the long view looks a lot cleaner.
With the NHL’s salary cap projected to jump to $113.5 million for the 2027 offseason, Buffalo is sitting on an estimated $36.7 million in space, according to PuckPedia. That’s a far cry from the present, where the Sabres have only $5.1 million available with less than two months left before Opening Night.
Jarmo Kekalainen has already opened up some room by making two major moves. Bowen Byram and Jordan Greenway went to the Chicago Blackhawks, and Alex Tuch was dealt to the Washington Capitals in a sign-and-trade rather than being paid his $10.5 million AAV asking price.
Even after that churn, the immediate cap picture remains modest. But the 2027 outlook gives Buffalo real flexibility.
A big reason for that is the Jeff Skinner buyout hit. The dead-cap charge drops from $6.4 million to $2.4 million next summer and stays there through 2030. That alone helps change the shape of the roster math.
And that matters, because Buffalo is going to have choices to make. The Sabres will need to sort through a group of internal free agents, and some of them may not be back at all. Still, even after a few re-signings, the organization should be in position to make a meaningful move next offseason, whether that comes in free agency or through a trade.
The cap space also gives Kekalainen another path: targeting players with term at the 2027 NHL trade deadline if the Sabres are in the middle of another strong playoff push.
The upcoming free-agent class is led by a group of unrestricted names that includes Jason Zucker, Sam Carrick, Justin Danforth, Conor Sheary, Conor Timmins, Zach Metsa, Dennis Gilbert and Alex Lyon.
It would not be a surprise if Buffalo lets that whole group walk.
Zucker, 34, already looks like a trade candidate because the Sabres have too many forwards and a wave of younger players pushing for larger roles in 2026-27. He’s been effective since arriving in 2024, but the numbers game may squeeze him out.
Carrick gave Buffalo a clear lift on the fourth line after coming over from the New York Rangers at last season’s deadline, especially at the dot. Danforth faces the same kind of roster squeeze.
The blue line is crowded too, and Buffalo may only have one full-time opening there heading into the 2027-28 season. The team is also hopeful that 2026 first-round pick Daxon Rudolph will be ready to make the NHL jump next year, which could leave little room for Timmins, Metsa or Gilbert. One of them could still be brought back for the No. 7 reserve role.
Lyon looks like the likeliest player from that UFA group to return. He was Buffalo’s most valuable player during the early stages of last season and offers the kind of steady veteran presence that can handle about 25 strong starts in a three-goalie setup. That said, the Sabres could go another direction if Colten Ellis develops into a reliable No. 2 option.
Ellis is listed among the restricted free agents, along with Jack Quinn, Noah Ostlund, Jiri Kulich and Louis Crevier. There’s a wrinkle with Ellis, though: if he doesn’t play at least 12 NHL games in 2026-27, he can reach UFA status. That makes it especially important for Buffalo to get him a fair share of starts, which likely would have been the plan anyway.
The rest of the RFA group is expected to stay in Buffalo, though Quinn could become a trade possibility depending on what he wants on his next contract. He put up a career-high 51 points, with 20 goals and 31 assists, in 82 games last season, but his defensive issues remain part of the conversation.
Ostlund has shown promise at the NHL level but has durability concerns. Kulich, meanwhile, missed most of 2025-26 because of a blood clot and will be trying to establish himself as a long-term piece.
Crevier, who came to Buffalo in the blockbuster Byram trade with the Blackhawks, brought plenty of upside with his 6-foot-8 frame in Chicago. He should at least settle in as a third-pair fixture for the Sabres.
All of it points to the same place: Buffalo may be operating with a limited wallet right now, but the 2027 offseason could give the Sabres the chance to chase the one thing they still need most - one more bona fide stud forward.
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There is also a natural Buffalo connection in the background: McKee has been mentored by Lindy Ruff, giving him a link to the current coaching tree and the franchises past. If Ruff eventually decides to step aside, McKee is the sort of name that could start surfacing in the conversation, especially with his reputation for working with young players and his familiarity with what it takes to coach in Buffalo. [Read more 🡒]
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For Buffalo, the bigger takeaway is what the contract says about Bensons standing in the organization. Jarmo Keklinen has already described him as a core player after Bensons strong showing last season and in the playoffs, which helps explain why the Sabres moved to lock him in so early. The car choice may be the regret for now, but the teams bigger bet is that Bensons value will look a lot better over the life of that deal. [Read more 🡒]