Coming off a strong March and April, the Buffalo Sabres are heading into the 2022 offseason with more momentum than they have had in over a decade
The Buffalo Sabres may be on the verge of contention, and the days of tearing the roster down and rebuilding it are over. But, the rebuilding phase isn’t necessarily finished until the team takes the next step and makes the playoffs.
The Sabres are closer than they’ve been in a decade. But they are still further away than those who punched a ticket into the dance this season. Obviously, there are still holes on the roster or else the team would have ended the drought this season.
They have no goaltenders under contract. And their perceived goalie of the future, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, has done nothing to convince most of the Sabres faithful that he is the guy. However, one solid offseason worth of signings, re-signings, draft picks, and a potential trade may speak wonders for the Sabres.
Below, you will find the four most pressing priorities. These priorities are listed in no particular order, but they are all important to the team’s success in 2022-23.
Buffalo Sabres offseason priorities: Sign a defenseman
The Buffalo Sabres have four primary defensemen in the rotation in Rasmus Dahlin, Mattias Samuelsson, Owen Power, and Henri Jokiharju. They also have another duo in Casey Fitzgerald, who performed well in Rochester, and restricted free agent Jacob Bryson, who can further fit in the rotation.
But, the Sabres will have no help from a proven veteran. Colin Miller and Mark Pysyk are serviceable, but for a team figuring to contend, they need someone who has been a staple in the NHL. Neither Miller nor Pysyk fill that void.
The Sabres need a player with repeated experience in the NHL playoffs, preferably in their mid-thirties that will be comfortable mentoring a bunch of twenty somethings. Kris Letang would be perfect, but he will also be pricey.
Regardless, if Kevyn Adams signs a defenseman even half as good or valuable as Letang, it will go a long way for the Sabres and their defensive rotation. They will most likely team with Owen Power on the second pairing.