How we’d fix the Buffalo Sabres

The Buffalo Sabres finally can move in a new direction, with Jarmo Kekalainen taking the GM reins from Kevyn Adams. Now comes an evaluation period during which Kekalainen must decide what to do with a team that hasn’t made the playoffs since 2010-11. 

Roundtable: How would you fix the Sabres roster? Which key players would you keep or move?

MATT LARKIN: New GM means new runway, to a certain degree, and I also believe some turnover could be a good thing for a core that has gotten too accustomed to losing. I’d sell high on pending UFA Alex Tuch by the Trade Deadline. I’d also search for change-of-scenery hockey trades involving the underachieving Owen Power and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and consider moving Bowen Byram, who isn’t committed to a long-term deal. But I’d hold onto Rasmus Dahlin and Tage Thompson hoping they can still be cornerstones pushing the franchise back toward the postseason.

ANTHONY TRUDEAU: How much time do we have? Tuch has done a job for Buffalo despite the circumstances but is ultimately more valuable as a trade piece given that Josh Doan has already shown so much promise as his eventual replacement. Next, start taking calls on Byram and UPL. Their obvious talent hasn’t equaled production, and they aren’t gaining any additional value as their respective careers continue to stagnate. Finally, reinvest some of that new cap space in veteran contracts. The Sabres need some outside influences, and Jason Zucker has shown in a short time how beneficial an experienced voice can be to an ostensibly defeated locker room. Frank Vatrano stands out as a sparkplug who has run his course in his current digs.

SCOTT MAXWELL: The first thing that can be done to improve the Sabres’ roster is fire Lindy Ruff, or at least move him elsewhere in the Sabres’ organization as an advisor. He hasn’t been the biggest problem in Buffalo, but hiring him wasn’t the solution either. With needle-moving coaches like Pete DeBoer (assuming he’d take the job) on the market, the Sabres can do better. Then, I’d try my best to sign Zach Benson and Doan to extensions, if they’ll even negotiate at this point of the season. Both players are adding dollars to their contracts with every day that passes and proving to be important pieces for the future, so lock them up while they’re still cheap! Then, I’d definitely start fielding offers on Byram (who just hasn’t been a fit in Buffalo), Jack Quinn (he’s 24, there’s not a lot of room left to grow at this point) and UPL (who is showing more and more that his 2023-24 season was a one-off, and the crease is getting crowded with the three-man rotation, not to mention Devon Levi in the minors). I’d maybe consider trading Power too, but I feel like his value is too low and the ceiling is still too high on him. Moving Power right now feels like another O’Reilly/Eichel/Reinhart blowback in the making. I’d also look at extending Tuch over trading him. Sure, if the offer is too good to refuse, make the trade, but right now, Tuch wants to play in Buffalo, and there aren’t a lot of players that feel the same. Hold the ones that love you close. Finally, I’d look to find solid additions to the lineup where you can, particularly long-term options. The results aren’t there, but the underlying numbers indicate the Sabres are playing like a playoff team, so it’s not far-fetched to push this season if you can round out the lineup without sacrificing the future. You’d have to write an entire essay to fully figure out how to fix the Sabres, but that’s where I’d start.

MIKE GOULD: By and large, I think the Sabres already have the pieces they need to contend. I think what they need to work hard to address is their rotten team culture, which has done far more damage to the development of their young players than any other factor. Matt’s right, they need to trade Tuch, and if the right offer comes their way for Byram, they should take it. But if I were Kekalainen, I’d be looking to find a way to make a significant addition to their forward group, as well as to clear out the logjam in goal. They’ll eventually need to find a way to get Devon Levi into the NHL, and as it stands, they have Luukkonen, Colten Ellis, and Alex Lyon ahead of him. They also need to make room for Noah Ostlund and Isak Rosen to be full-time presences in their lineup. They’re close, but it’ll take a bit of work.

PAUL PIDUTTI: I thought someone might suggest going scorched Earth (again) and starting all over. But there’s enough talent to be a playoff team, particularly given the weird Eastern Conference transition that features many flawed teams no better than the Sabres. I don’t see this core winning a Cup, but right now having a team that can make the playoffs a few times feels like Buffalo’s Cup. I’d bring in a new coach who would be a welcome boost to a long-frustrated group. I’m a lot higher on Power than most and he is making meaningful steps toward being a legit top-pair defenseman. He’s still only 22 and even Victor Hedman was 23 before his first big season or Norris Trophy votes. I still drool at the thought of a fully developed Power and Dahlin anchoring this team. Dahlin, Thompson, Power, Doan, Josh Norris, and a duo of UPL/Levi in goal are who I’d run with. Anyone else can be dealt. Given his rumored contract ask, I’d sell Tuch. In terms of adds, I think pursuing undervalued veteran scoring this summer, where good teams are cap crunched, is a route to take — look for the next Tuch (or two) essentially. I’ve long liked the Sabres as a playoff team more than most and perhaps a new coach bump and some positive regression ends the playoff streak soon.

STEVEN ELLIS: I’ll keep it simple: make the Goathead jerseys their full-time look. Or, hell, bring back the Buffaslug. The last time they were competitive, that’s what they wore.

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