Buffalo Sabres Should NOT Re-Sign These Three Players

Yesterday, I talked about three players the Buffalo Sabres should re-sign in this offseason.

Today, I’ll go the opposite way.

I’ve picked out three Buffalo Sabres players who are set to become free agents this season whom I think the team should let walk.

Whether they didn’t perform up to par this season or could just simply be replaced by another player, these are the guys I think the Buffalo Sabres need to let go of.

1. Zemgus Girgensons

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This one will probably get some slack from fans & readers, but I stand by it: the Buffalo Sabres should not re-sign Zemgus Girgensons in the offseason.

When the team draft Girgensons way back when, he seemed poised to really be a solid player for the team. But up to this point, I haven’t seen anything that impressive.

This season was especially rough for Girgensons, who registered just 18 poins (7-11) in 71 games. He ended up 11th on the team in scoring, behind guys like Matt Moulson, Brian Gionta and even a couple defensemen.

That’s a 12-point drop from the 2014-15 season, when Girgensons notched 30 points (15-15) in 61 games. This season, though he played 10 more games, he registered 12 fewer points. He still had a fair amount of shots – 110 this season, to 115 in each of the prior two seasons – but wasn’t hitting the net as much.

If I had to pick a word for this Buffalo Sabres forward, I’d say “lackluster.”

And here’s the thing. Maybe Girgensons’ performance this season is partly a reflection of the fact that the Buffalo Sabres have other “big-name” or “star” players now. Jack Eichel, Evander Kane, Ryan O’Reilly, etc. It’s hard for me to make an argument about Girgensons standing out when you’ve got some really great other players on the team.

He earned $833,000 this season with a $25,00 bonus and will be an RFA on July 1.

2. Carlo Colaiacovo

Just one defenseman on this list and that’s Carlo Colaiacovo.

Nothing personal, but I just can’t find a spot for him on the Buffalo Sabres next season.

He was often the odd man out this season, scratched in favor of guys like Mark Pysyk or Mike Weber. Where does Colaiacovo fit into next season?

He had some good games, and some bad ones, like any player.

But I think this move is more of a “I’m sorry, but we just don’t have a spot for you anymore” move than anything else.

Colaicovo earned $900,000 this season and becomes a UFA July 1.

3. David Legwand

Finally, David Legwand. This is one I played around with in my head.

Do the Buffalo Sabres re-sign him? Sure, he had some good points. But in the end… I decided against it.

He scrounded up 14 points in 79 games, including five goals and nine assists – good for 14th on the team.

But he didn’t play a whole lot, averaging just 9:42 a game.

The only players who averaged less time on ice than Legwand? Catenacci, Schaller and Varone – all of whom played fewer than 20 games.

Sorry David, but… you’ve gotta go. Again, it’s one of those things where I can’t find a great place for him next season.

He earned $3.5 million this season (!) and becomes a UFA on July 1.

Next: Buffalo Sabres Season Review: Month-by-Month

Which players would you have the Buffalo Sabres NOT re-sign over the summer?