The Buffalo Sabres are going to have a shot at a solid prospect with the ninth-overall pick in the NHL entry draft this summer. But unlike other years, the draft isn't the be-all and end-all for this Sabres team. There are two other areas that, as we'll explore below, are much more important for Buffalo to address in this off-season.
Don't get it twisted -- we're not suggesting the Sabres shouldn't put time and effort into the ninth-overall pick in this year's draft. While Buffalo isn't likely to get a needle-moving player with that pick, it's on the Sabres' scouts to do their job and find a jewel that can be a key component of the organization for many years to come.
However, given where Buffalo is in its competitive trajectory, the Sabres' biggest challenge this summer will be in trades and free agency. We've already explained why Buffalo shouldn't be focused on preparing offer sheets to the league's restricted free agents, mainly because they're almost always going to be matched by the team the RFA plays for.
To wit: the St. Louis Blues' offer sheet to two Edmonton Oilers players was an anomaly, as the Oilers were tight to the salary cap ceiling and the players they targeted (defenseman Philip Broberg and winger Dylan Holloway) weren't crucial pieces of the Oilers. But for most other notable RFAs this off-season, that isn't the case. Teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs will keep up-and-coming star winger Matthew Knies, and the New York Rangers will likely keep defenseman K'Andre Miller. So Sabres fans should forget about offer sheets as a mechanism to help the team right away.
It's the same story for the draft. We'd even suggest the Sabres should look into trading the No. 9 pick this year if it's part of a trade that can bring them back a veteran NHLer in return. Buffalo has plenty of young players, and while it will be beneficial for the organization if they add another prospect with their top pick, the truth is the Sabres desperately need players who can help them now, not down the road. And Buffalo GM Kevyn Adams should be shaking the trees of every other team in the league to see if there's a veteran available who can help the team achieve that goal.
There are candidates out there who definitely could be available on the trade front. A veteran we've mentioned recently -- Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen -- would be a solid addition, and someone who is very familiar with the Sabres organization from his first stint with the team. Then there are unrestricted free agents like Dallas Stars center Mikael Granlund or Calgary Flames pivot Nazem Kadri; both of those players would bring the experience and offensive results the Sabres are looking for.
In addition, on the free-agent market, the Sabres could take a run at Vancouver Canucks winger Brock Boeser. There will be plenty of competition for Boeser's services, but Buffalo has $23.2-million in salary cap space, so they should be able to at least match any other offer for Boeser.
You can't make a good argument that the Sabres should be sitting on their hands and hoping for internal improvement to get them into the Stanley Cup playoffs in 2025-26. You just can't do that, not in an NHL where teams are constantly seeking ways to improve.
The Sabres' Atlantic Division rivals will certainly be doing that. The first-place-in-the-division Leafs are under incredible pressure to get better; the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning are virtually playoff locks next year; the Ottawa Senators aren't taking a step back, and the Boston Bruins are probably taking a step forward. And the Detroit Red Wings and Montreal Canadiens are both likely to be in the playoff hunt right through the end of the regular season.
You can understand, then, the challenge Adams and his management team are facing. Another year without playoff hockey in Buffalo would certainly result in another house-cleaning in the office. It also could lead to Sabres stars like defenseman Rasmus Dahlin asking to be traded. The stakes couldn't be higher for Buffalo, and that's why Adams has to make a big splash in trades and free agency.
So yes, you can tell yourself the Sabres would do well to hold onto the ninth-overall pick. But there are far bigger fish to fry in Buffalo , and the goal of Sabres management has to be to do whatever it takes to bring in proven performers and game-ready NHLers to get Buffalo into the playoffs this year. It's truly a playoff-or-bust situation in Western New York, and it's why the Sabres are one of the key teams to keep an eye on this off-season.
The Sabres' Atlantic Division rivals will certainly be doing that. The first-place-in-the-division Leafs are under incredible pressure to get better; the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning are virtually playoff locks next year; the Ottawa Senators aren't taking a step back, and the Boston Bruins are probably taking a step forward. And the Detroit Red Wings and Montreal Canadiens are both likely to be in the playoff hunt right through the end of the regular season.
You can understand, then, the challenge Adams and his management team are facing. Another year without playoff hockey in Buffalo would certainly result in another house-cleaning in the office. It also could lead to Sabres stars like defenseman Rasmus Dahlin asking to be traded. The stakes couldn't be higher for Buffalo, and that's why Adams has to make a big splash in trades and free agency.
So yes, you can tell yourself the Sabres would do well to hold onto the ninth-overall pick. But there are far bigger fish to fry in Buffalo , and the goal of Sabres management has to be to do whatever it takes to bring in proven performers and game-ready NHLers to get Buffalo into the playoffs this year. It's truly a playoff-or-bust situation in Western New York, and it's why the Sabres are one of the key teams to keep an eye on this off-season.
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