What should the Buffalo Sabres do with their unrestricted free agents?
There are a few unrestricted free agents that are on the Buffalo Sabres roster. Who should they bring back or let go this offseason?
With the Buffalo Sabres not being in the playoffs, it’s time to start planning for next season. As every team has to do, they have to decide whether or not to bring back their unrestricted free agents. In this article, we’re going to discuss a few of Buffalo’s unrestricted free agents and if they should stay or they should go.
One hot topic is goaltender. At 40, Craig Anderson continued to play well although injuries took their toll on him more than once this season. Meanwhile, Dustin Tokarski saw his ups and downs, but he finished the season strong. However, Tokarski has been nothing more than a stopgap throughout his NHL career.
Vinnie Hinostroza provided value and even showed flashes of brilliance multiple times this season. Yet, he also saw multiple dry spells in 2021-22. Hinostroza also dealt with injuries. Cody Eakin drastically performed under expectations, but his knack for winning face-offs gave him a solid niche with the Sabres.
John Hayden is the most interesting of the notable UFAs. He doesn’t get much ice time and he rarely makes an impact on offense. But it is hard to deny his grit-and-grind mentality. That alone may warrant the Sabres to keep him around.
Finally, Colin Miller is the wildcard. He only played in about half the games this season, but he displayed some two-way ability when given the chance with Buffalo. Will the Sabres look for someone better to replace him with?
So what should the Sabres do with their unrestricted free agents? Keep reading to find out who should stay and who should go.
Vinnie Hinostroza, Craig Anderson, John Hayden
Vinnie Hinostroza
When Vinnie Hinostroza signed with the Sabres, it seemed like fans didn’t care for the signing but after this season, those same fans might’ve changed their minds. If I’m Kevyn Adams, I would definitely bring back Hinostroza. He was very solid this season and would make a good second or third liner next season.
Craig Anderson
This one was tough but it’s definitely possible Craig Anderson comes back to Buffalo next season. Even though he got injured a couple of times last year and with his age, he would be a good last resort signing for Buffalo.
He would also be a good mentor as well as a backup option for Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. There are better options on the market for Buffalo but it wouldn’t be surprising to see Anderson on the team next year.
John Hayden
The last player is John Hayden. Even though Hayden didn’t produce a lot when it comes to points, he’s exactly the kind of player Buffalo needs. He can be physical and give the team a energy boosts. Even though he’s not a top six guy, he would be perfect to have as a depth piece.
Cody Eakin, Colin Miller, Dustin Tokarski
Cody Eakin
Cody Eakin will be on his way out of the door this offseason. Most Sabres fans like to criticize Eakin because of the lack of success he has when it comes to his offensive play but in reality, he’s really good at winning face-offs which is mainly why he’s on the team. Unless general manager Kevyn Adams has other plans, I could see Eakin not being on the Sabres next season.
Colin Miller
Although it’s possible he comes back to Buffalo next year, it’s likely Colin Miller will be signing elsewhere. It won’t be surprising if the Sabres bring Miller back because they do need help on the blue line but it seems likely that he will be on a different team next season.
Dustin Tokarski
Dustin Tokarski could be the odd man out here and that’s why I have him not resigning. It’s possible the Sabres resign him but as mentioned earlier for Anderson, there’s other options out there.
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Tokarski was serviceable when called upon, and he had a few unforgettable moments. But he was far too inconsistent to warrant anything higher than a high-end AHL role.