General manager Jarmo Kekalainen made his first major move in his new role with the Buffalo Sabres when he signed Josh Doan to a seven-year extension. Doan, 23 years old, has had a breakout season with the Sabres, and the contract shows that the team believes this is not a fluke and he will continue to play at a high level.
However, Kekalainen's work isn't done as the trade deadline is right around the corner. One of the things he is doing is evaluating the roster and taking into account which players can be part of the long-term plan.
Part of that calculation, just like with Doan, is discussing extensions with players who could be free agents (either unrestricted or restricted) after this season. When looking at the roster, these are four players that he could be having those discussions with, starting with the obvious.
Alex Tuch
After Josh Doan's extension, Jarmo Kekalainen met with the media and was asked about Alex Tuch and his extension. He made it clear that it is still a priority and hopes to have some answers soon.
While it is a priority, it certainly becomes a challenge with Doan's extension. All indications are that Tuch is looking for a contract close to what Los Angeles Kings' forward Adrian Kempe signed, which had an AAV of $10.65 million.
Of the players on this list, Tuch's extension might be the most crucial ahead of the trade deadline. The reason is that if they believe an extension is unlikely, the next step is determining whether they trade him or keep him for a stretch run as they compete for a playoff spot.
Zach Benson
Zach Benson is set to be a restricted free agent after this season, which, for the Buffalo Sabres, eases the concern a little. The reason being that as long as they extend a qualifying offer, which is almost a guarantee, the Buffalo Sabres have the opportunity to match any offer shet he might sign.
However, as shown with Doan, if the Sabres believe a player can be a key part of the roster, they won't let it get to that under Jarmo Kekalainen. The former first-round pick has been having the best season of his career as he is only one assist short of his career-best in about half the number of games.
At only 20-years-old, Benson still has a ton of great hockey ahead of him, and it wouldn't be all that surprising if he were the next player the team announces agreed to a new deal.
Michael Kesselring
Of the four players on this list, Michael Kesselring is probably the least likely to be given a contract extension at this point. This is not to say that he won't eventually get a new deal, but the Sabres just haven't been able to truly evaluate him through the first part of the season.
In Kesselring's first season with the Buffalo Sabres, he has been dealing with more than his fair share of injuries that have limited him to only 19 games this season. Even when he is on the ice, it looks like he is showing a little bit of rust and not fully back.
Kesselring is set to be a restricted free agent after this season, so the Buffalo Sabres don't necessarily need to rush to get a deal done, especially before the trade deadline.
Peyton Krebs
The final player is Peyton Krebs, who is set to be a restricted free agent after this season. He came over to Buffalo as part of the Jack Eichel trade with the Vegas Golden Knights, and while he may not have developed into the player many expected, he has settled into a role that helps the Buffalo Sabres to be successful.
This season, Krebs has been able to make the most impact as the center on the fourth line. This line has done a great job of forechecking, controlling the puck, and limiting what the other team can do.
Lindy Ruff and the coaching staff have also shown a great deal of confidence in him late in games as he has been on the ice when teams have pulled the goalie to give them the 6-on-5 advantage. He has been able to seal victories with five empty-net goals on the season, which is among the best totals in the NHL.
As is the case for all these players, the two sides need to agree on terms, but the Buffalo Sabres probably see Krebs as a valuable piece of the roster that they would want to extend past this season.