Logan Stanley has set himself up to land a nice raise this off-season, whether he stays with the Sabres or signs elsewhere.
The Buffalo Sabres have multiple pending unrestricted free agents (UFAs) heading into the summer. One of them is defenseman Logan Stanley.
The Sabres acquired Stanley along with Luke Schenn from the Winnipeg Jets ahead of the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline to add to their defensive depth. Stanley ended up playing in 17 regular-season games for the Sabres following the trade, where he had five assists, 14 hits, and 29 penalty minutes. He also suited up for eight playoff games for the Sabres, where he had zero points and 19 penalty minutes.
While Stanley had a pretty quiet finish to the season with the Sabres, it is still quite likely that he is going to land a notable raise this off-season with his next deal. That remains the case if he ends up re-signing with the Sabres or testing free agency.
Stanley is coming off a career year, as he posted new career highs with nine goals, 17 assists, and 26 points. This increase in offensive production, even if it was primarily with the Jets, should help Stanley's value if he tests free agency. This is especially so when noting that he is one of the top left-shot defensemen who can hit the market on July 1.
Teams are also always willing to pay big hard-nosed defenseman, and the 6-foot-7 Stanley fits that description. With this, he has the potential to generate a ton of interest this summer if he tests free agency. With the Sabres having more important players to re-sign, it seems more likely than not that Stanley won't be back in Buffalo next season.