Are the Buffalo Sabres done making moves this summer?
GM Kevyn Adams checked off most of the items on his summer shopping list at the NHL Draft in Las Vegas and in July, trading with Edmonton for center Ryan McLeod, acquiring forward Beck Malenstyn from Washington, and signing forwards Jason Zucker, Sam Lafferty, and Nicolas Aube-Kubel in free agency, but the move most anticipated after the buyout of winger Jeff Skinner last month was acquiring a top-six scorer to replace him.
The Sabres after all their transactions have $14.65 million in available cap space (according to Puckpedia), a deep pool of prospects (even after dealing 2022 first-rounder Matthew Savoie to Edmonton), and significant draft capital, which puts them in an excellent position to make another move if rumored trade chips such as Nikolai Ehlers or Trevor Zegras become available.
If that does not occur, the likely plan for the Sabres is to give one of two youngsters the first crack at the top-six spot, and if that fails rely on a veteran to plug the hole. Zach Benson surprisingly stayed in Buffalo as an 18-year-old rookie because of his energy, tenacity, and two-way ability, but he had long stretches where he did not score. In training camp last September, he played on the top line with Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch, which may be where he gets a look this time around.
Jiri Kulich scored 27 goals in Rochester last season but had a lengthy drought after the World Junior. Amerks assistant coach Vaclav Prospal believes that the 20-year-old will be a center in the NHL, but that he can play on the wing and that could be where he gets a chance to make his mark next season.
The fallback could be Zucker, who played a top-six role with Pittsburgh alongside Evgeni Malkin and scored 27 goals two years ago, but in five of the last six seasons has not scored in double digits.
