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Buffalo Sabres Free Agency: Staying far away from Ryan Strome

By Sion Fawkes |
TAMPA, FLORIDA - JUNE 05: Victor Hedman #77 of the Tampa Bay Lightning battles for the puck against Ryan Strome #16 of the New York Rangers during the first period in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amalie Arena on June 05, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - JUNE 05: Victor Hedman #77 of the Tampa Bay Lightning battles for the puck against Ryan Strome #16 of the New York Rangers during the first period in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amalie Arena on June 05, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

The Buffalo Sabres will be opening up free agency with the rest of the NHL on Wednesday, July 13th. Ryan Strome may be one potential target. 

Ryan Strome is a player who could immediately become a potential second line center for the Buffalo Sabres if the team were to sign him in free agency. And while I like Strome and his recent production output (54 points in 74 games), I also have my reservations about the 29-year-old.

For one, signing Strome would cost the Sabres millions in cap space. He played on an AAV of $4.5 million ($5 million base salary) over the last two seasons. And given his production in 2021-22, you can expect that number to increase substantially as he will most likely demand a more lucrative and long-term deal.

Why the Buffalo Sabres should stay away from Ryan Strome

If there is any free agent that Kevyn Adams should invest $5 million and more into, it would be a defenseman on the second pairing. As a center, Strome does not fit that mold. Plus, the Sabres also have young centers in Dylan Cozens and Casey Mittelstadt, both of whom I believe they want to see more of in 2022-23 before they were to add anyone else to the lineup at the position.

Further, if the Sabres are looking to save money to retain their own talent like Tage Thompson, for example, signing a 29-year-old free agent like Strome for at least $6 million per year does not make sense logistically. If the Sabres were closer to contention and Strome acted as the final puzzle piece, then this would be a no-brainer.

Yet since the Sabres want to retain their young core of players long-term, Strome will just cost way too much money. Especially if general manager Kevyn Adams wants to invest a heftier sum into a defenseman who can help not just Owen Power, but the young defensive rotation as a whole.

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Expect the $5 to $6 million price tag to go toward what will most likely be an RHD as opposed to a forward. Regardless of how much talent Strome possesses. Strome will be a productive player with whoever he signs with. It just will not, nor should it be, in Buffalo.

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