The Buffalo Sabres still have work to do if they want to add real punch to their roster, and the remaining free-agent market still offers a few names that fit the bill. After a run of smaller, depth-oriented moves, Buffalo has yet to land the kind of impact addition that would change the look of its forward group. If the Sabres want more scoring help up front, especially on the power play, there are still options sitting there.
One of the cleaner fits is Eeli Tolvanen. Buffalo already skates well and can finish at five-on-five, but the power play remains a clear area of need.
Tolvanen brings a blend of physical play and scoring touch that could help on that front. He has shown he can be a useful third-line winger who chips in offensively, and last season with the Seattle Kraken he scored 5 power play goals and finished with 14 power play points in 78 games.
With Alex Tuch being traded to the Washington Capitals, the Sabres need someone who can help replace that production, and Tolvanen could fill a spot on either the first or second power-play unit. He also looks like the kind of addition that would not require a major financial commitment.
If Buffalo wants to swing a little bigger, Anthony Mantha is the more expensive option. He is coming off a career year across the board, posting 33 goals, 31 assists, 64 points and 13 power play points.
That kind of production would give the Sabres an immediate scoring boost. He played last season on a one-year, $4.5-million deal with the Penguins, so a raise is coming, and Buffalo has around $11-million in cap space to work with.
A one-year deal in the $6-million range would be a reasonable way to use him as a scoring bridge while the organization waits for its prospects to develop.
Then there is Patrik Laine, the wild card of the group. He is a former 40-goal scorer, and despite the injuries that have limited him to only 75 games over the last three seasons, the talent is still there.
Laine has always been dangerous on the power play, and if he stays healthy he could still be a 20-30 goal player for Buffalo. The appeal is obvious: the Sabres could get him for cheap, and if it works, they get a major scoring boost.
If it doesn’t, they would have spent $1-million or less on a “prove it” deal before moving on.
For Buffalo, the appeal of all three names is the same: low risk, real upside. The Sabres need proven scoring, and they can’t count entirely on Jiri Kulich after his medical issues, Noah Ostlund after a decent first NHL season, or Konsta Helenius after his strong playoffs and international stints. If they want to avoid a rough stretch, adding one of these free agents would make plenty of sense.
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Sabres Breakthrough Is Already Being Doubted For One Big Reason
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Buffalo still has a path to pushing back against that skepticism, and it starts with the next wave of young players taking on more responsibility. Konsta Helenius, Jiri Kulich, Noah Ostlund, Zach Benson and Josh Doan are all expected to be leaned on more heavily, while the blue line has its own chance to absorb the loss of Byram with Olen Zellweger stepping into that conversation. The Sabres may not need every young piece to hit at once, but they do need enough of them to keep the momentum from last season from slipping away before it really takes hold. [Read more 🡒]
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The Connor Hellebuyck pursuit has been one of the more intriguing Sabres storylines of the summer, but the path to a deal has not exactly gotten clearer. Martin Biron, who knows the Buffalo goaltending scene as well as anyone from his years in the crease and now on MSG broadcasts, recently noted that Winnipeg could be in a tough spot as trade discussions continue to hover around the Jets goalie and Buffalos search for stability in net.
The snag, as it has been framed, is the kind of draft-pick tug of war that can stall a big move even when both sides have interest. Buffalo and Winnipeg were reportedly close before the draft, but the ask from the Jets has been higher than the Sabres have been willing to meet, leaving the situation unresolved for now. With Hellebuycks recent performance, his long contract, and Buffalos own goaltending picture all part of the equation, this is one of those talks that can still break either way, but not without a lot more patience. [Read more 🡒]