There are a number of big events awaiting the Buffalo Sabres this summer. With the NHL Draft right around the corner, and then a quick turnaround toward the free-agent frenzy, these next few weeks are going to get a bit crazy.
That said, there are a few things that have to happen in order for this summer to be successful. We all saw just how fantastic the most recent campaign was, with a streak-breaking 50-win season that allowed fans to enjoy playoff hockey for the first time in 15 years.
Here is how the Sabres can carry over this momentum, and hit the ground running in September.
Somehow, someway, retain Alex Tuch
Now, this is going to sound like a long shot considering the recent reports of Alex Tuch testing the waters of free agency, but the Sabres need him to come back. There are not too many free agents from other teams that can replace a talent like that, and his no-show in the second-round playoff series against the Montreal Canadiens can be easily forgotten.
But, there is a bit of a dilemma here, as Sabres general manager Jarmo Kekäläinen has to be smart about how much money to shell out for Tuch to stay with the franchise. A hometown deal can and should be arranged for the Syracuse native, but there are a lot of teams around the NHL that are vying for No. 89's consistency in the offensive game. Tuch might want the top dollar, as he should, and this franchise might let him walk because of it.
Finding a smart way to avoid that outcome would be a great start to the offseason.
Don't buy into NHL free agency
This is a weaker free-agent class, and it might be best to stay clear of signing anyone on July 1. With the aforementioned Tuch up for a deal, Zach Benson coming out of his entry-level contract, and Bowen Byram up for a new contract after next season, using the money internally might be the best option.
The Sabres just shocked the world this past season, and the idea of them running it back and having the same result is definitely not impossible. But, if they decide to go all-in on mediocre talent via free agency, this could send this franchise directly back into another long and dreadful playoff drought.
Best player available mindset in the 2026 NHL Draft
In two weeks, the Sabres are going to call four names to become the next players in their long list of players to wear the charging bison. That might not seem like a lot to work with, having four picks in a seven-round draft, but it can still be effective.
With the 27th overall selection in the first round, this upcoming class is a very deep one, and a diamond in the rough can be found that late. Some mock drafts have shown the Sabres taking the towering powerhouse center, Brooks Rogowski, with that pick.
In terms of organizational need versus getting the best possible player in the first, fourth, fifth and sixth rounds, the Sabres have to get the top name on the board that can fit into their scheme. Rogowski is an example of a great fit, with Tage Thompson being a strong potential mentor for the 6-foot-7 centerman.
From there, it comes down to finding value in the later rounds of the draft, which is taking place at the KeyBank Center in downtown Buffalo.
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