Buffalo Sabres: 3 low-tier players Kevyn Adams should re-sign

Player #3: John Hayden

Hayden and Jankowski would make for a cost-effective yet dynamic duo on the fourth line. While Jankowski can set up scoring opportunities either for himself or one of the top scoring lines, Hayden is the sledgehammer that will bring energy to the rest of the lineup.

Last season, he set a career high in games played, with 55. He also saw his highest amount of average ice time at 10:51 since his rookie season, in which he recorded over 11 minutes. But his 104 hits stood out, and it’s why Adams needs to keep him around.

Typically, your ideal fourth liners comprise a player who brings energy, one who can set up a scoring opportunity, and a face-off specialist. Hayden fills the former really well, while Jankowski fulfills the latter two.

One common denominator about all three of the above players is that the Sabres can realistically bring them all back for less than $1 million per year. They are productive in their own right, and cost-effective moves to fill the lower lines.

(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference and Hockey DB)