The Ultimate Offseason Guide for the 2023 Buffalo Sabres
By Sion Fawkes
In 2022, the Buffalo Sabres approached the offseason as a team still in transition. In 2023, they will be looking to punch a ticket into the playoffs.
When current general manager Kevyn Adams took over heading up operations for the Buffalo Sabres, he inherited a barren cupboard. There was hardly any reason to get excited about a team that was then approaching a decade without a single playoff appearance.
But since 2020, Adams has the Sabres trending north, and each season, they got progressively better. Last year, they nearly broke through to make their first playoff appearance in 12 seasons, but they fell just one point out of the final playoff spot.
Despite the disappointment, it gave Buffalo Sabres fans everywhere hope that 2023-24 will yield a different result. But the Blue and Gold still have some work to do. So let’s look at what must be done for the team to not only return to the playoffs for the first time since 2011, but to also continue their quest for long-term success.
Buffalo Sabres 2023 Offseason: The top priorities
- Decide who to re-sign
- Extend key players
- Find a top four defenseman
- Find a veteran goaltender at the right price
As it stands, the Buffalo Sabres have three forwards who were on the roster for most of last season needing to be re-signed in Tyson Jost, Vinnie Hinostroza, and Zemgus Girgensons. Hinostroza isn’t returning while it looks as though Girgensons will test the free agent market and see if he will have a better deal waiting for him.
Jost is a restricted free agent who Adams can easily bring back on a qualifying offer, then sign to a new deal. Kale Clague is also a restricted free agent who could return and become a fixture in Rochester, though he shouldn’t see anywhere near as much time in Buffalo.
Other restricted free agents in the system include Brett Murray, Matej Pekar, and Linus Weissbach, while Sean Malone is an unrestricted free agent. Lukas Rousek is a 10.2(c) player. Of the aforementioned players, it wouldn’t surprise me if Murray, Weissbach, Malone, and Rousek all returned, with Rousek and Murray perhaps getting a longer look to make the main roster in preseason.
Malcolm Subban and Michael Houser are both unrestricted free agents. But given Subban’s performance this past season, you will see the Buffalo Sabres make an effort to bring him back if he doesn’t see a chance to return to the NHL on at least a part-time basis.