Cup winner was claimed by Vegas from Buffalo in 2017 expansion draft
The Buffalo Sabres face a season where accountability will be stressed under head coach Lindy Ruff and areas of need will have to be addressed by GM Kevyn Adams for the club to snap their 13-year playoff drought. We have been taking a look at players who could be potential trade targets this summer over the last few weeks in advance of a year that has to be considered playoffs or bust, but now we will take a look at who the Sabres could potentially be pursuing when the free agent market opens up on July 1.
Buffalo is not likely to pursue big-ticket players like Jake Guentzel or Elias Lindholm, as they will be pursuing long-term big-money contracts, but they will be looking for role players with size and two-way ability that can be signed for a lesser term and cap hit.
William Carrier – Left Wing (Vegas Golden Knights)
Stats: 8 points (6 G, 2 A) in 39 games, 1 points (1 G, 0 A) in 7 playoff games
2023-24 Salary - $1.4 Million
The Sabres are undoubtedly looking for bigger, tougher and more versatile forwards to play roles in their bottom six, and former Sabre Carrier could be a solid economical fourth-line addition.
The winger was originally drafted by St. Louis in 2013 and traded to Buffalo the following year when the Sabres traded Ryan Miller and Steve Ott to the Blues. After two full seasons in Rochester, Carrier split time between the Amerks and the NHL, scoring five goals in 41 games. In 2017, he was claimed by the Vegas Golden Knights in the expansion draft.
In their inaugural year, the Montreal native was a part-time player in the regular season and playoffs, but in the past six years, he has been a staple in the postseason when size and physicality become more important. After a two-year bridge deal, the 29-year-old signed a four-year, $5.6 million contract in 2020. Carrier’s career-best campaign was in the Golden Knights Cup-winning year when he scored 16 goals in 56 games and six points in 18 playoff games.
At 6’2”, 218 lb. and 81 playoff games on his resume, Carrier would give the Sabres some much-needed size along the wall and necessary experience if they are to battle for the postseason in 2024-25.
