The Buffalo Sabres are in the stretch run of the regular season and have only 11 games left, with their next game on Wednesday night against the Boston Bruins. However, unlike the last 14 seasons, the Sabres are expected to hopefully have many more after that as they are almost certain to reach the playoffs this season.
While the team is focused on keeping their season going as long as possible, some players currently on the team could be looking at their final games in Western New York. The biggest name is certainly Alex Tuch, and to some, he may be surprisingly left off this list.
The reason is that I believe the Sabres will find a way to secure a deal with Tuch that keeps him in Buffalo beyond this season. However, for other players on the team, they may not be so lucky, and these are five players who could be playing for a new team next season.
*All contract figured courtesy of Puckpedia
Logan Stanley
The Buffalo Sabres traded for Logan Stanley, along with Luke Schenn, at the trade deadline to help solidify the blueline. He certainly has done that, alongside Zach Metsa, as the team's third pair and has been averaging about 15 minutes per game in the seven games he has played with the Sabres.
Stanley should remain in the lineup through the remainder of the season but at 27 years old, he can probably find a bigger contract elsewhere around the league. The Sabres' decision for this spot likely comes down to either Stanley or Michael Kesselring.
While Kesselring hasn't looked great in his first season in Buffalo, he probably has the higher ceiling of the two players. More importantly, he is set to be a restricted free agent that only requires a qualifying offer of $1.4 million.
With the Sabres likely in a crunch when it comes to the salary cap, Kesselring is probably the more cost-effective player to retain between him and Stanley.
Luke Schenn/Tanner Pearson
The next two players I grouped together because they were both traded for at the trade deadline and were acquired to serve essentially the same role. That was to give the Sabres some veteran depth on the blueline, in the case of Schenn, and for the forwards, in the case of Pearson.
Neither player probably sees much ice time this season, unless there is some kind of injury on the roster, as they have combined to play only three games for the Sabres so far this season. Both players are getting towards the end of their careers as Schenn is 36 years old and Pearson is 33.
It wouldn't be surprising to see either player retire after this season, but if they don't, they would be looking at one-year deals with a Stanley Cup contender. A return to Buffalo might not be out of the question, but the Sabres have such a deep roster that it is hard to find a spot for them to fit.
Josh Dunne
The Buffalo Sabres signed Josh Dunne as a free agent prior to the 2024-25 season, and after only two games last season, he played 31 games for Buffalo this year. However, he hasn't played in a game since March 5th and seemingly has fallen out of the lineup.
Dunne has primarily played on the fourth line and had some good moments for the Sabres, but with Sam Carrick under contract for another season, it doesn't make sense for the Sabres to bring back Dunne.
Beck Malenstyn
The next player is certainly a tough one to put on here because Beck Malenstyn has become a fan favorite, with his highlight reel goals and bone-crushing hits. He only has six goals on the season, but that is tied for his career-high, and he currently leads the Sabres in hits with 244.
Similar to Logan Stanley, the Sabres essentially are going to have to decide between keeping Malenstyn and Peyton Krebs. When considering the fact that Krebs is a restricted free agent and has had a career-season with 33 points after splitting time between the top line and the fourth line, the Sabres probably make Krebs the priority in terms of re-signing.
It wouldn't be surprising if the Sabres realize they can't afford Krebs and decide to trade him, that they bring back Malenstyn. He certainly has been a great fit on this team and would benefit from a full season next to Sam Carrick. At this point, though, Krebs is probably the target, and it is hard to envision him leaving this summer.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen(or Alex Lyon)
The Buffalo Sabres are going to have to move a goalie this summer, and they can't continue with the three-goalie rotation, no matter how well it worked this season. Among the three, Colten Ellis is probably the one who is the safest on the roster because he has a very low cap hit at $775k and is set to be a restricted free agent after the 2026-27 season.
The Sabres should feel confident with Ellis as their backup going into next season. This means that the decision at the position will come down to Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Alex Lyon, two goalies who have been playing as well as anyone this season.
For Jarmo Kekalainen, both players have their pros and cons in terms of trading them this summer. For Lyon, he has a very low cap hit, is under contract for only one more season, and could bring back a really good return after the season he has had. There is a strong argument to be made that Lyon has been the better player between him and Luukkonen.
As for Luukkonen, he is younger and provides the Sabres more of a long-term option at the position. However, he has a much bigger cap hit at $4.75 million, and if the Sabres need cap room, then they may look to move Luukkonen.
It is hard to determine at this point of the season what direction the Sabres might go, but one of these two players' time is probably coming to an end with the Buffalo Sabres.