3 Remaining Free Agent Targets for the Sabres

The idea that the Sabres could have a very large third line featuring Bastian and Jordan Greenway is legitimately exciting. While their current playoff hopes are not looking good with the “run it back” mentality of their general manager, having a strong and physical third line with the potential to put pucks in the back of the net is exactly what they would need IF they found themselves in a playoff position next April. Bastian is coming off a contract that previously saw him paid $1.35 million per season, and he would easily be worth that, and even a little more, to get him to come to Buffalo.

Jack Roslovic, RW

Jack Roslovic is the only potential top-six player left available in the free agent pool, and even so, is more of a middle-six winger. On the Sabres, he could easily be considered a second-line player, and he possesses a solid two-way ability to complement his offensive talents. As a two-time 20-goal scorer, he knows how to put the puck in the net, and he has never needed a super-talented center to be his setup man. He is more than capable of driving and finishing a play himself, and that is the kind of player the Sabres could really use.

Roslovic is fresh off of a solid playoff run with the Carolina Hurricanes, and he has multiple other playoff appearances, so he knows exactly what it takes to get there, and what it takes to win once he is there. Playoff knowledge and experience are invaluable to a young and naive team like the Sabres, and adding Roslovic’s talent and perspective would do wonders for the on- and off-ice product. Getting him in a Sabres uniform might cost them upwards of $4 million (possibly even slightly higher), but they have the cap space to make it work.

Which Player Is the Best Choice?

All three players have merit to them, for sure. Vrana is the best natural scorer of the bunch, Bastian is the most physical, and Roslovic is the most well-rounded. Each of them fills some sort of hole that is present in the forward group, and truth be told, they could afford to bring all three of them in. Unfortunately, with how the roster is currently shaped, the likelihood of more than one of them being signed is not very high.

With that being said, the best choice of the three is going to be Roslovic. He fills the role that they need the most help with right now, and they cannot afford to bet on the likes of Jack Quinn hopefully living up to his potential after another down season, or Zach Benson suddenly making a huge jump into the top six. Having the flexibility and stability of a player that can eat second-line minutes and be a good veteran presence is something head coach Lindy Ruff sorely needs. Will adding him be enough to get them over the hump and into the playoffs? Not likely, but it would at least be a good swing attempt at something compared to the lackluster moves done to this point by general manager Kevyn Adams.a