The Sabres need more production in their bottom six, so this Bruins forward should grab their attention.
The Sabres need more production in their bottom six, so this Bruins forward should grab their attention.
The Buffalo Sabres' bottom six will be pretty different next season. Zemgus Girgensons, Victor Olofsson, Eric Robinson, and Tyson Jost all have expired deals, and it is far more likely than not that they won't be back in 2024-25. Thus, the Sabres will likely look to add to their forward depth this summer.
With the Sabres looking to break their 13-year playoff drought, they should look for bottom-six forwards who provide solid secondary production. James van Riemsdyk is an intriguing free agent from the Boston Bruins worth targeting because of this.
van Riemsdyk, 35, showed this season with the Bruins that he is still a decent third-line option who can chip in some depth offensive production. In 71 regular-season games with the Original Six club on the year, he had 11 goals, 38 points, and a plus-7 rating. He followed that up with five points in 11 playoff games.
When looking at the Sabres' lineup, he would have the potential to be a fit on either their third line or their fourth line. In addition, he would give them another weapon for their power play, as he is effective as a net-front presence.
On a cheap one-year deal, van Riemsdyk is the kind of veteran that the Sabres shouldn't be against taking a flier on. Let's see if they target him this summer from here.
Recent Sabres News
Sabres Reportedly Eyeing Intriguing Wild Goalie
Maple Leafs Making Big Push for Ex-Sabres Star