With the Buffalo Sabres entering the off-season, the talk around their salary cap space and how it will be spent is on everyone’s mind. The Sabres have 23 million in cap space, but most of that will go to Ryann McLeod, JJ Peterka, and Bowen Byram.
However, with Byram likely leaving via trade, the Sabres are well-positioned to make a splash in the free-agent market. Landing a player like Mitch Marner is slim to none, which means the Sabres should focus on another potential name, Vancouver’s winger, Brock Boeser.
Boeser is coming off a season where he scored 25 goals and tallied 50 points over 75 games. The only concern from his season was his plus-minus, which was a -25. While this falls short of his standout season two years ago, when he had his first 40-goal season, the 28-year-old is in the midst of his prime. That’s promising news for Buffalo, as they could solidify a top offense in the league.
Now, it's been mentioned that Boeser’s next contract could be around 7-8 million per year. It’s uncertain what kind of an offer he will get, but with Boeser being looked at as a defensive liability two of the last three seasons, they have a great chance at getting him at 6.75 million, maybe a bit lower.
With the projected rise in the league cap space to $95.5 million next season, teams like Buffalo have to embrace the challenge of outbidding other teams to secure a veteran like Boeser.
Sabres fans are eager for the team to make some moves and take advantage of their current roster situation. There is pressure on the management to draw in key free agents so they can compete with the other teams in the Atlantic.
The Sabres don’t want to overpay for an All-Star caliber player, but they could find another way around it. Big market teams will add an extra year or two to contracts, which might be a necessary strategy for the Sabres to consider.
The Buffalo Sabres have missed the playoffs 14 years in a row. I feel like a broken record bringing it up every time, but management needs to make strategic gambles. With free agency in just five weeks, the Sabres have a chance to redefine their current situation.