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Buffalo Sabres: 3 reasons bargain shopping is the way to go – 2022

By Sion Fawkes

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - APRIL 21: Jeff Skinner #53 of the Buffalo Sabres celebrates his goal with teammates Victor Olofsson #71 and Tage Thompson #72 during the third period against the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center on April 21, 2022 in Newark, New Jersey. The Buffalo Sabres defeated the New Jersey Devils 5-2. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - APRIL 21: Jeff Skinner #53 of the Buffalo Sabres celebrates his goal with teammates Victor Olofsson #71 and Tage Thompson #72 during the third period against the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center on April 21, 2022 in Newark, New Jersey. The Buffalo Sabres defeated the New Jersey Devils 5-2. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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Buffalo Sabres
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 01: Alex Tuch #89 of the Buffalo Sabres and Reilly Smith #19 of the Vegas Golden Knights go after the puck in the first period of their game at T-Mobile Arena on February 1, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

Franchise stability

By signing players to fill specific niches or roles while keeping the team’s core intact and receiving the bulk of ice time, the Buffalo Sabres will finally get something they have not had in years: Franchise stability. 

Signing a big name onto the defensive pairings or into the net could disrupt this stability. If the Sabres didn’t end up meshing so well as a team in March and April, then things could be slightly different. But given how well they played, it shows that this team developed well, which could ultimately create a stable system not just now, but twenty years from today.

This is because the young talent proved they can play major roles for the team. So at this point, you sign bargain players to niche roles while building the core and major contributors through the NHL Draft and the occasional trade for high-end prospects.

By staying away from signing major free agents, this franchise stability is not disrupted because the Sabres would be continually signing homegrown talent ready to fill roles of departing players who either exited or are about to exit their prime. And this type of system is one the team already has in play.

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