5 mistakes the Buffalo Sabres and Kevyn Adams must avoid this offseason

Re-signing all unrestricted free agents not named Zemgus Girgensons

There are a few restricted free agents who should return to Buffalo with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen leading the pack and more on him later. But Adams needs to admit his mistakes and let most of those pending unrestricted free agents walk. 

Victor Olofsson and Eric Comrie are a pair of obvious names that shouldn’t return to the Queen City, while Eric Robinson and Tyson Jost are fringe NHLers who also no longer need to be in the system. This time last season, you could argue even someone like Zemgus Girgensons didn’t need to be there despite meshing well with Peyton Krebs and then-Sabre Kyle Okposo. 

But the hard-hitting Girgensons needs to stick around at least until Adams finds a better replacement. He may have logged a career-low in average total ice time, but the high-energy Girgensons gave Buffalo an edge that they will need going into 2024-25. 

No, providing a hard-hitting presence isn’t the only thing Girgensons is good at since he’s at least somewhat reliable in winning faceoffs, and is more than dependable in a defensive-forward role. Unless Adams signs a couple similar players or a few, there is no reason Girgensons shouldn’t return on yet another one-year deal unless he expresses little interest in coming back.