The Buffalo Sabres were reportedly interested in bringing Buffalo native Patrick Kane back home to fill some of the offensive gap left by the departure of winger Alex Tuch, but more than three weeks into free agency, the three-time Cup winner opted to return to the Chicago Blackhawks on a two-year deal for $16 million ($8 million AAV). 

Early on in free agency, the possibility of the 2007 top overall pick playing for the Sabres seemed to be high, but the Blackhawks became highly motivated after Kane hit the open market and star center Connor Bedard suffered a shoulder injury that will keep him out of the start of next season. The Hawks had over $25 million in cap space prior to signing Bedard to a five-year, $75 million deal, and could pay more to the 37-year-old than Buffalo, who currently has just over $5 million in cap space remaining. 

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With Kane off the market, Buffalo currently are depending on internal growth from youngsters such as Konsta Helenius, Noah Ostlund, Jiri Kulich, Jack Quinn, and Zach Benson to make up for the gap created by Tuch, but that is not something that is a certainty. All the young Sabres forwards are promising, but relying solely on them to make up the difference is a risky proposition. 

GM Jarmo Kekalainen may go another way, and make a dramatic improvement between the pipes by acquiring goalie Connor Hellebuyck from Winnipeg, but if the deal includes one of those youngsters, it would subtract from last year’s production even more.  

There are still a number of free agent forwards who Kekalainen could bring in, such as Vladimir Tarasenko, Eeli Tolvanen, James van Riemsdyk, and Patrik Laine, and it is possible that the Sabres are waiting for their price to lower to get a better deal, but at this point, Buffalo seems to have missed out on their best options to make up for the loss of Tuch. 

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