Jack Quinn has become one of the most debated names in the Buffalo Sabres’ roster picture, and that conversation may only get louder if next season goes the right way for him.
The case for keeping him is easy to make. Quinn is still just 24, he went No. 8 overall in 2020, and he just delivered a career-best 51 points in 2025-26, finishing with 20 goals and 31 assists. He’s also under team control through restricted free agency through 2029.
But the pushback is just as familiar. Quinn has been a streaky scorer, and during Buffalo’s recent run in the 2026 NHL Playoffs he went six straight games without a point. On top of that, his defensive numbers have been rough across five seasons in Buffalo.
That mix is what makes him such an interesting possible offer-sheet target. Adam Gretz of Bleacher Report raised that possibility on Tuesday, pointing to the idea that Quinn could be in line for another 50-point season before a rival front office tries to pry him loose next summer.
“The wild card in this is if the Sabres make another blockbuster move over the next year to add another big salary-cap hit onto their roster. Like, say, if they were to acquire a franchise goalie like Connor Hellebuyck," Gretz wrote. "That could change some of the salary-cap math, and could leave Quinn as a vulnerable player."
Gretz also noted: "He set a career high with 20 goals this past season and might still have an even bigger breakout ahead for him."
The cap angle is only part of the equation. Buffalo already has more forwards than spots, with 15 players for 13 openings on the roster as it stands.
And there’s more pressure coming from below. Brodie Ziemer, Prokhor Poltapov and Jake Richard are all pushing for NHL chances over the next year or two, while Ilia Morozov, a 2026 first-round pick, probably isn’t far behind.
The Sabres also have several forwards locked into long-term deals, including Tage Thompson, Zach Benson, Josh Doan, Peyton Krebs and Beck Malenstyn. Josh Norris is signed through 2030 as well, though he may be another trade candidate.
That’s why moving Quinn before he turns into an offer-sheet problem would at least make some sense. Still, it’s hard to ignore the fact that a 24-year-old who just reached the 50-point mark has earned a little more runway.
Quinn isn’t the only 2027 restricted free agent on Buffalo’s radar, either. General manager Jarmo Kekalainen will also have to sort through decisions on Jiri Kulich, Noah Ostlund and newly acquired defenseman Louis Crevier.
Kulich is the biggest unknown in that group. The 22-year-old center has shown flashes of real offensive talent in his first 75 NHL games, but his path got interrupted last season when a blood clot kept him out for most of the year. He said he expects to be back in the fall, but there will still be uncertainty until he gets back into game action.
Ostlund had a quieter stat line, finishing with 27 points in 60 games, but he was one of the more valuable pieces in Buffalo’s long-awaited turnaround season. The team was better when he was on the ice, thanks to his hockey IQ and defensive game, and he looks like a long-term middle-six fit even if he never becomes a point-per-game producer.
Crevier brings a different kind of intrigue. The 6-foot-8, 228-pound defenseman, acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks in the Bowen Byram trade, stands out immediately, but he also moves well for his size. He’s still two years away from UFA eligibility, so if Buffalo likes what it sees early, a longer extension wouldn’t be surprising.
An offer sheet probably isn’t the likely outcome for Kulich, Ostlund or Crevier, though Ostlund could be the exception if he breaks out offensively. Even so, the bigger point is clear: Buffalo has a lot of tough calls coming, and not nearly enough room for everyone to stay.
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