A false report surfaced that former sixth overall selection Filip Zadina was joining the Buffalo Sabres on a player tryout offer. The Czech forward opted to head to Switzerland instead, signing with HC Davos. While it didn’t work out for the Sabres, there are plenty of PTO options still available.
As usually is the case in September, tryouts are offered to unsigned free agents looking to latch on with a team for training camp to prove they can bring something to the table. These are often veterans who, side-by-side with younger talent, have the chance to show that they still have something left in the tank.
Before getting into the options available to the Sabres, the list of recent PTO announcements includes:
- Jakub Vrana, Washington Capitals
- Logan Brown, Tampa Bay Lightning
- Nikolai Knyzhov, Pittsburgh Penguins
- Sammy Blais, Vancouver Canucks
- Steven Lorentz, Toronto Maple Leafs
- Tanner Pearson, Vegas Golden Knights
- Tyler Johnson, Boston Bruins
- Tyson Barrie, Calgary Flames
Forward Nick Cousins and defenseman Robert Bortuzzo signed with the Ottawa Senators and Utah Hockey Club, respectively, removing them from the equation. These were not tryout offers, but full NHL contracts for the upcoming season.
Now that we have an idea of the types of players being offered a PTO, the players left for the Sabres can be broken down into groups.
Former Top-Six Veterans
Available:
- Blake Wheeler
- James van Riemsdyk
- Max Pacioretty
The most popular option for the Sabres would likely be to sign a big-name veteran forward. Three remain in the aftermath of free agency, all with major question marks attached.
Blake Wheeler was supposed to fill the top-line right wing hole for the New York Rangers last season, but injury and sub-par play saw his role diminish. James van Riemsdyk was shuffled into the bottom six for the Boston Bruins despite a clear role available in the top six. He’s still a strong net-front presence on the powerplay but has lost a step in his age.
Max Pacioretty is reportedly garnering interest from the Toronto Maple Leafs to sign a PTO, among other teams. He’s the most interesting talent in this tier, as he’s only a couple of seasons removed from being a bonafide scoring threat. Considering those two seasons consisted of two Achilles tendon tears and a first season back from recovery, Pacioretty may regain some form in 2024-2025.
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Middle-Six Contributors
Available:
- Dominik Kubalik
- Kailer Yamamoto
- Kevin Labanc
The further down the tiers we go, the cringier the names get. Apart from a 30-goal rookie season, Dominik Kubalik has yet to top 20 goals in four seasons. Considering his defensive play can be a detriment to the team, he’s probably not worth the squeeze. A recent report hints at a return to Europe for the forward.
Kailer Yamamoto is one of the best well-rounded players remaining in free agency. His height, at 5’8″, is likely holding him back from being signed already. Kevin Labanc is a right-handed big-shot forward who could carve a role as a bottom-six scorer.
Bottom-Six Depth
Available:
- Adam Erne
- Boris Katchouk
- Cal Clutterbuck
- Chris Tierney
- Kyle Okposo
- Nick Bonino
The Sabres remade their bottom-six forward group in the offseason, eliminating the need to add someone specifically for the role. Given that Peyton Krebs still has not signed his qualifying offer, Buffalo could look to add cheap NHL depth without much commitment.
Adam Erne, Boris Katchouk, and Chris Tierney are fringe NHLers who are career fourth-liners. Tierney’s the most versatile player of the group, given that he can play center or wing.
Cal Clutterbuck fits the physical, uptempo style the Sabres want their fourth line to play. He’s a respected veteran who would demand playing time, making him direct competition for Nicolas Aube-Kubel. Given that the role is redundant, it’s tough to see Clutterbuck agreeing to a PTO in Buffalo.
Nick Bonino left the New York Rangers mid-season last year in a curious move for a player on a top contender. Bonino is known for his solid defensive play as a pivotman, so maybe there’s a role as an extra forward on the Sabres for him.
Then there’s old friend and former Sabres captain Kyle Okposo, who has yet to retire officially. Okposo would be great to have around the team in training camp in some capacity, although his playing days may be behind him. A PTO may not be the right route, as he could join as a guest developmental coach or consult with management.
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Powerplay Specialists
Available:
- Mike Hoffman
- Sam Gagner
It’s no secret that the Sabres have holes to fill on their top powerplay unit. Two powerplay specialists still linger on the free agent market, with Mike Hoffman topping the list. Hoffman’s production has dipped considerably in recent seasons, but his success from the right flank as a left-shot makes him an intriguing option opposite Tage Thompson with the man advantage.
Sam Gagner, a right shot, deserves a lot of credit for finding ways to score in limited powerplay opportunities. He’s been glued to a fourth-line role and in and out of teams’ second powerplay in recent seasons.
Offensive Defensemen
Available:
- Calen Addison
- John Klingberg
- Justin Schultz
If the Sabres want to add a right-shot defenseman on a PTO who brings more offensively than Henri Jokiharju and Connor Clifton, there are three available on the market. Calen Addison is the youngest of the bunch at 24 years old, making him a fit with a young Buffalo squad. He still has top-four development aspirations, although it’s notable that two teams have given up on him already.
John Klingberg is coming off of hip surgery, making a tryout even more necessary for the Swedish defenseman. If he can regain some of his previous form, Klingberg will be a powerplay quarterback for some NHL team.
Speaking of powerplay quarterbacks, Justin Schultz is an aging yet reliable one. The Seattle Kraken used Schultz nearly 50% of the time on the powerplay when in the lineup despite the emergence of Vince Dunn.
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Veteran Defensemen
Available:
- Kevin Shattenkirk
- Marco Scandella
- Mark Giordano
Of the remaining veteran defensemen out there, Kevin Shattenkirk makes the most sense for the Sabres as a right shot. He brings experience on both the powerplay and penalty kill and is reliable at even-strength.
Former Sabres defenseman Marco Scandella has yet to latch on with a team despite establishing himself as a steady third-pair defensive defenseman. Should injury arise, Scandella could be an option.
The oldest player in the NHL last season, Mark Giordano, also has yet to find another NHL home. Giordano hasn’t decided to retire (yet) so his name still deserves mention as a Sabres PTO possibility. His leadership and experience could help the young Sabres defense, and aid Rasmus Dahlin as he steps into a primary leadership role on the team.
