One good, one bad, one questionable Sabres acquisition in the 2024 offseason

While the Buffalo Sabres could still sneak in another signing, trade, or two, let’s assume they’re finished making acquisitions for the time being. Since we’re making such an assumption, let’s talk about three moves that were either really good, really bad, or could go either way. 

A couple of months back, I ranked the Blue and Gold’s offseason moves based on what I felt at the time. But for the purposes of this piece, I’m talking solely about acquisitions instead of moves themselves. So, which one do I believe the Sabres will benefit from the most, and which am I still not the biggest fan of?

Good Move: Trading for Ryan McLeod

While the Sabres weren’t getting a top-six winger here, a bottom-six center who will help a team that has struggled to maintain puck possession was an under-the-radar, but key issue for the Blue and Gold this past offseason. Ryan McLeod’s ability to win faceoffs and keep up with the game’s fastest skaters will benefit the Sabres more than any other newcomer. 

That said, Casey Mittelstadt will have a lot to do with whether this was a good move one or two seasons from today. Buffalo traded Mittelstadt late last season if you need a refresher, and McLeod will likely take his spot in the lineup. Should McLeod continue to win faceoffs, maintain a gritty presence, and produce, he will be an upgrade over the departed Mittelstadt, and this move will look even better. 

Bad Move: Thinking Jason Zucker is a top-six scorer

You know how often I griped about this one, starting with the day the Sabres signed Jason Zucker. While Zucker can threaten 25 to 30 goals if he’s a good fit in Buffalo, signing him to just a one-year deal indicates that he’s a stopgap and, for some strange reason, general manager Kevyn Adams is looking for a quick successor to who could be a stopgap. 

To be honest, had the Sabres signed a player who scored 14 goals last season but was a little younger, I may have been okay with this signing. Unfortunately, Zucker could be moving past his prime, and it looks like nobody has intended for him to be a long-term fit in the City of Good Neighbors.  

Questionable Move: Signing James Reimer

I literally called this one questionable when the Sabres signed James Reimer one day after they brought in Jason Zucker. But when I say ‘questionable’ these days, I don’t want to put it into a negative context, as this one might be a sneaky good move in hindsight. By hindsight, I mean June/July 2025. 

Bringing Reimer in could indicate the Sabres want to see Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen start 55-plus games while the former picks up the rest, or at least most of the rest. Why is this important? It would guarantee Devon Levi an entire season in Rochester, which works in the youngster’s favor even if he proves to be the AHL’s best netminder, setting the stage for what could be one remarkable tandem in Buffalo for 2025-26.