Buffalo Sabres’ Plan for the 2026 Offseason

On the latest episode of 32 Thoughts: The Podcast, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported that negotiations still had a noticeable gap before the playoffs began, suggesting the two sides aren’t close yet.

Tuch is coming off another strong season with 66 points (33 goals, 33 assists) and continues to be a reliable top‑six presence. He now has three 60‑plus point seasons, one 70‑point season, and a 59‑point season on his résumé. Around the league, comparables like Adrian Kempe’s eight‑year, $10.625 million average annual value (AAV) extension have fueled speculation about what Tuch’s next deal could look like.

If Buffalo chooses to keep him, a four‑year deal around $9 million per season feels reasonable, paying for his current value while limiting long‑term risk as he enters his 30s. However, there’s also a strong argument for letting him walk to preserve cap flexibility for younger core pieces.

The Sabres will also be focused on locking up Zach Benson, the 21‑year‑old restricted free agent (RFA) who has quickly become a fan favorite and one of the most impactful young two‑way forwards in the league. With comparisons to Brad Marchand, Benson is exactly the type of player teams build around.

He posted career highs this season with 13 goals, 30 assists, and 43 points, then elevated his game in the playoffs with nine points in 13 games. While there aren’t many direct contract comparables, an eight‑year extension around $7 million per season feels like strong value for both sides. The point totals may not jump off the page, but Benson’s impact goes far beyond scoring.

According to Evolving Hockey, he ranked in the 81st percentile in overall play, 67th percentile in offense, and 79th percentile in defense. He’s trending toward becoming one of the NHL’s premier two‑way forwards, and he’s going to be paid accordingly.

Defenseman Bowen Byram is also eligible for an extension on July 1. After signing a two‑year bridge deal last offseason, he delivered a breakout season with career highs in goals (11), assists (31), and points (42) while helping transform Buffalo’s blue line into a legitimate offensive threat.

Kekalainen has already expressed a desire to keep the Sabres’ top four together long‑term, and Byram is a major part of that vision. With limited comparables available, a six‑year deal at around $8 million per season feels like a fair projection for a 24‑year‑old top‑four defenseman entering his prime.

Add True Number-One Center

We saw in the playoffs that the Sabres lacked a true first-line center. They were the second-worst team in the faceoff dot with a faceoff percentage of 45.7%. They were also dead last in the regular season in faceoff percentage at 45.9%.

The team clearly needs a top-line center who can win faceoffs and produce on a night-to-night basis. Sure, acquiring Sam Carrick from the New York Rangers to win faceoffs is helpful, but he’s not Nico Hischier of the New Jersey Devils, who won 55.8% of his draws, or Robert Thomas of the St. Louis Blues, who won 52.5% of his faceoffs.

Hischier has one more year left on his current contract with the Devils. If I were Kekalainen, I would at least make a call to see if he’s available and at what price.

Hischier recorded 66 points this season (28 goals, 38 assists). He brings a strong two-way game at the center position, and that’s an area the Sabres could significantly improve. Hischier would be a clear upgrade.

Thomas, on the other hand, has five more years left on his current contract, and he has been in trade rumors over the past season, including at the 2026 Trade Deadline. Per insiders Darren Dreger and Chris Johnston, the Sabres were heavily involved in talks with the Blues about acquiring Thomas, and they should re-engage in trade talks this summer.

Thomas recorded 64 points this season (25 goals, 39 assists). He has been at or above a point per game in four of the last five seasons, and the only season he fell short, he still produced 0.89 points per game (2022-23).

For both of these players, the Sabres would need to offer a package that neither team could refuse. I’d say a deal for either player could include Radim Mrtka, a 2026 and/or 2027 first-round pick, Jiri Kulich, and possibly Josh Norris if the other team wants a more experienced center included.

Round Out the Roster

In the playoffs, we saw a couple of flaws in the Sabres’ roster. As mentioned above, they lacked a true first-line center. Tage Thompson looked much more comfortable on the wing than he did at center, so shifting him to wing is a real option, though he still gives the Sabres flexibility to play him down the middle if needed.

The goaltending and the depth on the blue line could also use some work, and the team should find a way to move on from Jordan Greenway.

We saw the Sabres acquire Luke Schenn, Logan Stanley, and Tanner Pearson from the Winnipeg Jets, but none of them made much of an impact during the playoff run. With Stanley as a pending RFA, the best move is to trade his rights. As for Schenn and Pearson, the right decision is to let them walk as both are pending UFAs.

Zach Metsa and Michael Kesselring are already upgrades to the bottom pair on the blue line, so the Sabres only need to worry about filling the seventh‑defenseman role.

When it comes to the fourth line, moving on from Greenway makes sense, as he has one year left on his contract at $4 million. They need to find a replacement who can slot in at the left‑wing spot. They could even look toward Josh Dunne, who played on the fourth line while Greenway missed time due to a significant injury this season.

The Sabres have some important decisions to make this offseason and are looking to prove that this season was not a fluke, that they’ll be back next year. Improve the roster, take the next step, and become one of the final four teams remaining next season.