Buffalo has over $5 million in available cap space going into the season
The Buffalo Sabres have yet to do anything consequential to replace the offense lost from the departures of winger Alex Tuch and defenseman Bowen Byram this summer, and one week before the opening of training camp, the subtraction of more than 40 goals from their roster last season should be the main area of concern for GM Jarmo Kekalainen.
NHL clubs have been unusually stingy in inviting veteran free agents to their roster on professional tryouts or signing available free agents to short-term deals. At this point, former Sabre Tyson Jost (Nashville), former Buffalo first round pick Alex Nylander (Calgary), former Sabre draftee Cal Petersen (Washington), goalie Chris Driedger (Vancouver) have been the only players brought in on PTO’s.
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Buffalo has a number of options still available on the open market, including winger Chris Krieder, whose contract was terminated with the Anaheim Ducks earlier this week. Other still-productive forwards like Cup winner Vladimir Tarasenko and Michael Bunting are out there, as is a wildcard like the oft-injured Patrik Laine.
The Sabres currently have over $5 million in available cap space and only 43 pro contracts (the limit is 50), which means they have no excuses not to take a chance on someone. The club seems to be completely relying on a trio of youngsters in Konsta Helenius, Noah Ostlund, and Jiri Kulich, to make up for the offense that went out the door, but Kekalainen has to realize that everything went right for the club last season.
If Buffalo does consummate a deal with Winnipeg for goalie Connor Hellebuyck, it is almost certain that one of those youngsters, as well as a veteran like Ryan McLeod or Jack Quinn could be in the deal. If more scoring is headed out the door in a Hellebuyck trade, Kekalainen would almost certainly need to bolster his forward group, with the likes of Conor Sheary, Tyson Kozak, and Justin Danforth next in line.
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