The Buffalo Sabres spent the offseason making a clear kind of bet: give up proven talent now if it means avoiding long-term pain later. That approach pushed Alex Tuch and Bowen Byram out of the picture, and both former Sabres are already drawing unwanted attention for the deals they landed elsewhere.
Lyle Richardson of Bleacher Report included both players on a list of NHL names he expects to carry “nightmare contracts” by 2030. Tuch, who went to the Washington Capitals in a sign-and-trade, landed an eight-year, $84 million contract with a $10.5 million AAV. Byram, after being dealt to the Chicago Blackhawks, signed a six-year, $75 million extension with a $12.5 million AAV.
Richardson’s concern with Tuch is straightforward: “Tuch doesn't have many quality seasons left at this stage of his career,” Richardson wrote. “He also has an injury history that hampered his production, and he could struggle with his new teammates. By 2030, he will likely be in decline, making his contract a long-term drain on the Capitals' cap payroll that could've been invested elsewhere.”
Byram drew a similar warning. “If Byram can't establish himself as a true No. 1 defenseman, it would be expensively disastrous for the Blackhawks by 2030,” Richardson added. “Having top-pairing money tied up in a second-pairing blueliner could leave them with insufficient cap space by 2030 to properly address that issue should the right players become available.”
For Buffalo, though, the short-term sacrifice has created a much cleaner financial setup. The Sabres are sitting on $5.1 million in cap space before the new season, and that figure rises to $36.7 million for 2027-28, according to PuckPedia. That is a very different picture from the one they were staring at when the summer opened.
The challenge now is replacing what Tuch and Byram brought without making a splashy move to do it. Jarmo Kekalainen has not made a blockbuster addition this offseason, even with rumors still floating around Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck and the Sabres among the teams linked to Patrick Kane before he chose a return to the Blackhawks.
So Buffalo is leaning into internal growth. The forward group includes a promising collection of U-25 players in Zach Benson, Josh Doan, Jack Quinn, Noah Ostlund, Jiri Kulich and Konsta Helenius, with veterans Tage Thompson, Josh Norris, Ryan McLeod, Jason Zucker and Peyton Krebs also in the mix for top-nine roles as camp approaches.
That gives the Sabres depth, but depth and star power are not the same thing. Replacing a player like Tuch, who brought real two-way value, is not as simple as spreading the minutes around. Unless Benson and Doan make major jumps this season, Buffalo still looks short of the kind of elite forward talent that defines the NHL’s top Stanley Cup contenders.
On defense, the Sabres are turning to Olen Zellweger and Louis Crevier, along with Conor Timmins, to help fill the hole left by Byram. Zellweger is expected to log a significant share of time on the second pair with Owen Power, while Lindy Ruff could also use Timmins and Crevier in more defensive looks, especially when Buffalo is trying to protect a lead in the third period.
That leaves the Sabres with a roster that has plenty of moving parts and a real sense of uncertainty around it. If the start is slow, Kekalainen may have to act early to keep Buffalo in the Eastern Conference race. Falling back out of the playoffs after just one appearance following a 14-year drought would sting.
But the upside is there too, at least if the younger core takes a step. If that happens, the Sabres could stay in the mix even after losing Tuch and Byram.
In Other News...
Sabres Goalie Question Could Spark One More Summer Move
The Sabres are still sorting out their goaltending picture, and with the season approaching, the conversation has started to drift beyond the options already in the room. One name that has surfaced in trade chatter is Jordan Binnington of the St. Louis Blues, a veteran starter whose profile makes him an easy fit for any team looking for a more established answer in net.
What makes the idea complicated for Buffalo is the contract side of the equation, since any move for a goalie like Binnington would not just be about the immediate upgrade. The Sabres would have to weigh whether a short-term swing is worth it if they cannot see a clear path to keeping him around, which is why this feels like the kind of summer question that could linger until the market finally gives them a real answer. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres Blue Line Has A New Reason To Command Attention
The Sabres blue line is starting to look like more than just a depth chart, it is becoming a timeline of careers still moving upward. Rasmus Dahlin is closing in on major benchmarks that would place him among the franchises most accomplished modern defensemen, while Mattias Samuelsson continues to build toward his own milestones after establishing himself as a regular part of Buffalos back end. Behind them, the numbers for Olen Zellweger and Conor Timmins show two younger defensemen still finding their place in the league, with both edging toward the 200-game mark.
Zellwegers arrival gives Buffalo another reason to pay close attention to the group, especially with the expectation that he steps into the spot left behind by Bowen Byram. For the Sabres, that makes this more than a collection of individual stat-watch items. It is a look at a defense that could soon be defined by where its players are headed next, with the 2026-27 season offering a possible checkpoint for several personal milestones all at once. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres Prospect Debate Just Put Buffalos Future Core In Focus
A fresh prospect ranking has put the Sabres young talent back under the microscope, and it starts with Zach Benson, whose place in the organization sparked some disagreement. The discussion around Buffalos next wave does not stop there, either, with Konsta Helenius, Jiri Kulich, Radim Mrtka, Noah Ostlund and Daxon Rudolph all part of a group that gives the front office a much deeper pool to evaluate than in past years.
What makes the debate more interesting is how it lines up with Buffalos broader direction. After a recent playoff appearance, the Sabres suddenly have reason to believe their future core can be built from within, and the organization is also heading toward some much-needed salary-cap flexibility under general manager Jarmo Kekalainen. The rankings may not settle the argument over who belongs at the top of the prospect list, but they do underline how many options Buffalo is already weighing as the next phase takes shape. [Read more 🡒]