Buffalo Sabres Free Agent Frenzy: Five Defensemen To Target

What should the Buffalo Sabres do in free agency?

The NHL’s free agency period begins in less than a month, and there’s little doubt that Buffalo Sabres general manager Tim Murray will be a busy man – especially if last summer is any indication.

Murray isn’t afraid to take a risk, and it can pay off big time for the Buffalo Sabres if he pulls the trigger on the right player.

Each Friday in June, we’ll look at some of the players that the Buffalo Sabres could target when the free agency period opens.

Heading into July 1, here’s the situation for the Buffalo Sabres in terms of defensemen, the topic of our first Free Agent Frenzy post:

Currently Locked Up

1. Zach Bogosian (cap hit $5.143 million next season)
2. Josh Gorges ($3.9 million)
3. Cody Franson ($3.325 million)
4. Mark Pysyk ($1.125 million)
5. Brady Austin ($635,000)
6. Brendan Guhle ($667,000)
7. Brycen Martin (635,000)
8. Michael Sdao ($650,000)

Pending RFAs

1. Rasmus Ristolainen
2. Jake McCabe
3. Casey Nelson

Pending UFAs

1. Carlo Colaiacovo
2. Bobby Sanguinetti
3. Matt Donovan (UFA IV)
4. Chad Ruhwedel (UFA IV)

If the Buffalo Sabres are able to re-sign both Ristolainen and McCabe, and perhaps send Nelson to the AHL, they’ll have six NHL defensemen, with Austin, Guhle, Martin & Sdao all at the AHL level. (And assuming all the UFAs are not re-signed, or aren’t coming to the NHL.)

That certainly leaves some room for the Buffalo Sabres to sign a few free agent blueliners, but who could they go for?