The Buffalo Sabres have not made a lot of splashy moves this offseason. That may work but, as the last few years have taught us, it may not. They currently have the youngest roster in the NHL. Youth may be what gets them to where they want to be later on, but they need a few more veterans to add depth for the immediate future.
They do have Alex Tuch, but he can't be the only seasoned leader the Sabres can rely on. One option could be a veteran who once played at KeyBank Center for Buffalo. Nicholas Baptiste played for the Sabres from 2016 through 2018, and he's bounced around for several teams overseas the last few years.
He most recently played in Europe but, if the Sabres offered him a contract to be a veteran leader on his former team, it may entice him to come back to the U.S. and return to Buffalo.
During his time with the Sabres, the 30-year-old Ottawa native scored 10 points with seven goals and three assists in 47 appearances. This included a game-winning goal in 2018 against the Chicago Blackhawks.
Last season, Tuch displayed his veteran ability by having 113 blocks and 73 hits. It was impressive for a forward and the Sabres will need more of that this season. Jordan Greenway, if healthy, could help provide added muscle.
Baptiste had 28 hits during his time with the Sabres. That kind of physical presence may assist in the Sabres getting more counterattacking opportunities and generating more points.
In the 2023-24 season, Baptiste, while playing for Tappara in Finland, had a great campaign and demonstrated his scoring ability. He scored 27 points in just 50 games and helped lead the team to a title.
During their postseason run, he added six more points. Having a player with any kind of playoff experience at any level or in any league will be vital for a Sabres team learning how to win.
The Sabres need to find someway to finally get through to the postseason. They have a chance and do have strong scorers such as Tuch and Tage Thompson. But that was primarily what they had a season ago. Now adding as much depth as possible will be important for them to get back.
Baptiste has been successful in the AHL and Europe, and could be just enough of a depth piece to help the Sabres get over the hump. More importantly for the front office, he may be a cheap option as they look to gear up for another season.