Decisions that will affect next season are right in front of the Buffalo Sabres. They will be looking at staying a playoff contender and not just a one-off fad. During the postseason they suffered from lack of production from their wings during the second round against the Montreal Canadiens.
This offseason they will need to look at gaining more depth to give them more well-rounded contributions on the wing for the 2026-27 season. As a result, they should look at one winger from the Los Angeles Kings.
Kings' Mathieu Joseph is an impending free agent and would add value if signed by the Sabres
The Kings winger will become an NHL UFA if not re-signed before July 1. He is worth a look this offseason. He cleared waivers in March and was then signed by the Kings. He did not see action in many games but his two-way upside can be important for a team like the Sabres.
Adding a player of his caliber would also give the Sabres much-needed depth when it comes to their secondary scoring if he can get back closer to his career high of 13 goals. There were issues for the forwards finding the back of the net and stars themselves were having moments were they went cold during the postseason.
During the Sabres' playoff run, it became evident that the the most seasoned veteran for tournament hockey was the head coach, Lindy Ruff. That needs to change if they want to make a true run at the Stanley Cup.
Joseph is a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Tampa Bay Lightning and has played for three separate teams during the playoffs throughout his career. Having a player with seasoned experience could be vital for the Sabres, who are very young.
The asking price for some free agents may be steep and sometimes the best way to build a roster is by finding players after the splashy signings. The Sabres need to make sure they build depth and have players in place who can help mold the younger core already signed.
Joseph would come add a less expensive option and would also be the type of player that could add more in a seven-game series. Role players such as Joseph could be the difference between the Sabres watching the Stanley Cup Final and playing in it.
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