The Sabres need a productive offseason if they want to compete in the Atlantic Division next year and break their playoff drought. Every year, NHL teams try to find that one veteran with 5+ years of experience that they can sign to spark their team.
The Sabres tried that tactic with both Sam Lafferty and Beck Malenstyn this year, and it is safe to say it did not go well. Sabres fans are seeing quite a few vets perform at a high level for playoff teams currently.
Two of them are in the Atlantic Division, as Max Pacioretty for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Nate Schmidt of the Florida Panthers have been difference makers for both teams this postseason.
Here are three players the Sabres could use to jumpstart their team for the 2025-2026 season.
Steven Lorentz
Lorentz has been an incredible depth piece for the Maple Leafs this season after signing a one-year, $775,000 deal this past offseason. Lorentz won the Stanley Cup the year before with the Florida Panthers and is now trying to do the same with the Leafs.
Lorentz is a scrappy fourth liner who had the best year of his career with the Leafs, totaling 19 points and a positive plus-minus of +6. Lorentz is a physical body on both the defensive and offensive end. Creating turnovers and turning them into scoring chances and odd-man rushes.
Lorentz would have the opportunity to do the same with the Sabres, as he would primarily be on the third and fourth lines. He can develop the younger players and bring the playoff experience that the Sabres need going forward.
Craig Smith
Smith has been a part of multiple playoff teams over the years, spanning from his cup run with the Nashville Predators to multiple playoff appearances with the Boston Bruins and Dallas Stars.
Smith changed things up as he signed a one-year, one-million-dollar contract with the Chicago Blackhawks this year. Smith was solid with the Blackhawks through 40+ games as he totaled 16 points on their fourth line before being traded to the Detroit Red Wings. Once again, Smith was called upon to try and help a team to a playoff spot. The Red Wings came up just short, and Smith couldn’t continue his success that he had in Chicago, as he totaled two points in 19 games.
I think Smith would have some real success on the Sabres' fourth line playing with some of the younger prospects like Isak Rosen and Tyson Kozak. If Smith was able to put up almost 20 points with two teams that struggled to score last season, he can definitely put up 25 points for one of the best offenses in the league.
Calvin De Haan
De Haan has taken advantage of these veteran deals as he has had playoff runs with the Carolina Hurricanes and Tampa Bay Lightning the last few years. This year, he signed a one-year, $800,000 deal with the Colorado Avalanche in hopes of doing the same.
De Haan played 44 games with the Avs, recording 7 points and over 50 blocked shots. He was then traded to the Rangers at the Trade Deadline, and rarely saw the ice the rest of the season.
De Haan has done well the last couple of years as a reserve/bottom-six defender. I think he can do the same for the Sabres as well. If the Sabres are in playoff contention, De Haan can be a player they can lean on for his experience. If he can work on his plus-minus next season, the Sabres could get a real steal with De Haan.