The Buffalo Sabres took a hit on Thursday when Patrick Kane chose the Chicago Blackhawks, and that leaves them searching for another way to add forward help before the season opens.
That need has only grown more obvious after the Sabres moved on from Alex Tuch this offseason. More than three weeks into NHL free agency, though, the market for notable unrestricted free agent forwards is thin. So if Buffalo wants to make a move, it may have to get creative.
One name that fits the bill is Eeli Tolvanen.
Tolvanen is still sitting in free agency, which is a little surprising given what he brings to the table. He’s 27, he can contribute offensively, and he plays with an edge. That combination could make him a useful fit for Buffalo’s forward group.
He would also give the Sabres some flexibility. Tolvanen has the kind of two-way game that could slot into the top nine and offer another option on the penalty kill.
With the Seattle Kraken this past season, Tolvanen played 78 games and finished with 12 goals, 24 assists, 36 points, and 187 hits. He followed that up from a 2024-25 season in which he set a career high with 23 goals and totaled 35 points. He also logged more than 200 hits in both 2023-24 and 2024-25.
On a short-term deal, Tolvanen looks like the sort of low-risk swing the Sabres could justify. The question now is whether Buffalo decides to make that push.
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Sabres Offseason Verdict Feels Brutal After Long Awaited Breakthrough
After finally snapping a 15-year playoff drought, Buffalo entered the summer with a chance to build real momentum, but the front office has instead spent much of the offseason reshaping the roster around future assets. General manager Jarmo Keklinen has leaned into draft-pick accumulation and contract relief, with moves involving Michael Kesselring, Bowen Byram, Jordan Greenway, Alex Tuch and Devon Levi signaling a clear direction even if it is not the one fans had hoped would follow the breakthrough.
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Rudolph, the fourth overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, enters the week with a strong path toward making the Canadian squad, while Meloche is in the mix for a backup role as he competes with Jack Ivankovic, Lucas Beckman and William Lacelle. For the Sabres, the showcase is more than a summer checkpoint. It is another reminder that their prospects are starting to carry real weight on a stage where roster spots are earned quickly and every decision can ripple into the season ahead. [Read more 🡒]