For the 14th straight season, the Sabres have once again failed to make the playoffs. During this time, the Sabres have gone through multiple GMs, coaches, and rebuilds. The Sabres once again digressed from the year before, but with a solid offensive core, the playoffs could be in their future. The Sabres finished 7th in goals per game, and they are returning most of that core next season.
If the Sabres can make these moves this offseason, they will be in a great spot to compete next year.
Management needs to take risks
The price can’t be too low for the Sabres; if there was a year for them to go and make moves, this is it. They could bolster their offense by adding a 20-goal scorer like Frank Vatrano. I think Jack Quinn and maybe a few others would be on their way to Anaheim.
We mentioned Elias Petterson, and other solid players who the Sabres can trade for, as it is unluckily they will get big free agents to sign in Buffalo. Another solid top 6 defenseman, or another goalie to match with UPL, could go a long way for the Sabres.
The reality is, the Sabres can’t be reserved. Fans are getting impatient, and they want to see results sooner rather than later.
Hire Front Office Staff who want to change the team
If there is one thing Terry Pegula can do this offseason, it's hire front office staff who want to change the team. Not his friends whom he likes, such as hiring Kevyn Adams with no experience in hockey operations.
He has done a good job of that to start, as he hired a new Chief Commercial Officer in Jake Vernon. Vernon spent the last 12 years with the Minnesota Timberwolves of the NBA and the Minnesota Lynx of the WNBA.
Vernon has done a lot to enforce fan experience as a priority with the Timberwolves, and he is the perfect fit to fix the Sabres and their issues with the game day experience.
Hiring needs to be done this way, with no bias involved. I think Adams needs to be relieved of his role and let someone new start fresh.
Draft the best player available, not for position
The Sabres finished with solid odds for the number one pick, and I think they should follow their current method of drafting the best available player wherever they land.
This has been their current method, and it has worked to perfection. Since 2020, these are the players selected in the first round by the Sabres.
Jack Quinn, Owen Power, Isak Rosen, Matt Savoie, Noah Ostlund, Jiri Kulich, Zach Benson, and Konsta Helenius.
Out of these eight players, six played on the main roster this season. They traded Savoie for Ryan McLeod, who was a top player for them this year as well.
The Sabres have drafted well the last five years, and they shouldn’t stray from their current strategy. Whether it's a goalie, defenseman, or a forward, the Sabres need to take the best available player as this future star could help them on a playoff run next year.