Buffalo Sabres general manager Jarmo Kekalainen decided to give the organization's next wave of young forwards, a group headlined by Jiri Kulich, Noah Ostlund and Konsta Helenius, a golden opportunity to prove themselves following the departure of Alex Tuch.
It's understandable. Those players, along with more established teammates like Zach Benson, Josh Doan and Jack Quinn, have the talent to take a significant step forward in 2026-27. It's certainly possible betting on internal improvement will pay off in the end.
What if it doesn't, though? The Sabres find themselves in an Eastern Conference that's going to feature an intense battle for playoff spots, and the reigning Atlantic Division champions will attempt to defend that crown amid competition from legitimate Stanley Cup contenders like the Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning and Montreal Canadiens. A tough journey awaits.
So, Buffalo may find itself in the need of a little help up front if its offense is struggling early and/or injuries arise to deplete the club's scoring depth. Who are the best forward options still available on the NHL free agent market? Let's examine.
1. Vladimir Tarasenko
Vladimir Tarasenko was once among the league's most dangerous offensive weapons, as highlighted by his career-high 82 points (34 goals and 48 assists) across 75 appearances for the St. Louis Blues in 2021-22.
The 34-year-old Russian winger has bounced around the NHL at a rapid rate in recent years, playing for six clubs over the past four seasons, but he's still been productive. He posted 23 goals and 24 helpers for the Minnesota Wild in 2025-26.
His game definitely has warts, mostly at the defensive end of the rink, but the Sabres wouldn't be bringing him in to play against an opponent's top line. He'd occupy a spot somewhere in the middle six while receiving plenty of ice time on the power play.
Tarasenko still possesses ample attacking flair and, in a limited role focused mostly on offensive-zone starts, he could prove quite valuable for a depth-laden team like Buffalo.
2. Michael Bunting
Michael Bunting is another player who's been changing his address on a frequent basis over the past couple seasons. He's played for six teams in the past three years, which includes splitting 2025-26 between the Nashville Predators and Dallas Stars.
The former Toronto Maple Leafs standout is the most complete player on the list, and he should still have some productive campaigns left at age 31. The main reason he's still sitting on the free-agent market is a lack of skating speed and acceleration.
It'd be a concern for Buffalo, which watched similarly slow-footed Logan Stanley struggle to keep up with the Blue and Gold's pace of play after being acquired ahead of last season's trade deadline. The Sabres prefer to maintain a high tempo for 60 minutes.
Bunting would give head coach Lindy Ruff quite a bit of added flexibility, though. He's capable of playing up and down the lineup, and he's also proven himself as a capable net-front presence on the power play, something the Sabres have lacked in recent years.
3. James van Riemsdyk
Although James van Riemsdyk's production has dipped in recent years, including just 31 points in 72 games for the Detroit Red Wings last season, he's another battle-tested veteran capable of providing secondary scoring and a power-play boost.
Even last year in Detroit he scored seven goals with the man advantage, and he's tallied 176 PP points across his 17-year NHL career.
Van Riemsdyk also owns 82 games of playoff experience and compiled five points in 11 postseason games during his last trip with the Boston Bruins in 2024.
The 37-year-old New Jersey native could be the type of player who sits on the open market until around midseason and then, with the benefit of fresher legs, helps a contender like the Sabres down the stretch and into the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
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