BUFFALO – It’s over for this edition of Sabres. The same group of young talent that appeared to be on the precipice of something special two years ago will almost certainly be broken up in the coming days and months.
Expect some moves, possibly minor ones, to be made prior to Friday’s trade deadline. The last-place Sabres, after all, have players set to become unrestricted free agents following the season.
Significant deals, of course, usually materialize during the offseason. That’s the time to overhaul a team.
Still, one year ago today, Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams stunned the hockey world by pulling off a good old-fashioned one-for-one blockbuster, trading center Casey Mittelstadt to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for defenseman Bowen Byram.
So perhaps Adams has something up his sleeve.
Clearly, a tweak here or there won’t cut it. The Sabres, who will miss the postseason for the 14th consecutive season, adding to their NHL-record streak, are a flawed group.
Players have looked fragile, sometimes wilting under adversity. Many have failed to adapt to coach Lindy Ruff and grasp his system and expectations.
Their effort, as it was throughout Tuesday’s embarrassing 6-2 loss to the San Jose Sharks, is often suspect. How many times has Ruff talked about losing puck battles throughout this season?
On Feb. 2, the Sabres let New Jersey Devils winger Stefan Noesen get away with hitting winger Tage Thompson, their leading scorer, in the head and concussing him.
The following day, they canceled practice and held a team meeting.
Ruff, whose Sabres play a road game tonight against the Tampa Bay Lightning, has often seemed dismayed by what he has endured in his first season back behind Buffalo’s bench. In December, during the Sabres’ stunning 13-game winless skid, he said it was “the toughest solve I’ve been around.”
Anything other than trading captain Rasmus Dahlin or another player or two should be on the table as Friday’s 3 p.m. deadline approaches.
After the Sabres bottomed out in 2020-21, Adams quickly rebuilt them into a respectable team. Many observers believed they would morph into an annual contender. When they earned 91 points in 2022-23, they seemed to arrive ahead of schedule.
The Sabres, having locked up some of their youngsters to long-term contracts, appeared to have their core set for years. But some of those players – most notably center Dylan Cozens and defenseman Mattias Samuelsson – have regressed since signing those lucrative deals.
Adams has plenty of assets other teams are interested in acquiring. The problem is he needs immediate help. He can’t simply take draft picks or prospects in every deal. That was an acceptable return a few years ago.
Entering Wednesday’s schedule, only five teams stood more than six points out of a playoff spot. Three-quarters into the campaign, 84 percent of the league is fighting for a place in the postseason or for positioning.
So most GMs want to trade futures, not roster players. That means Adams, who has been patient in constructing the Sabres, will likely do his heavy lifting during the offseason. He might just unload some expiring contracts this week.
The Sabres have seven notable players set to become unrestricted free agents, including winger Nicolas Aube-Kubel, who cleared waivers in January and was assigned to the Rochester Americans.
Winger Jason Zucker, 33, is the most notable Sabres player who could hit free agency. He quickly established himself as one of the Sabres’ top forwards after signing a one-year, $5 million contract in the offseason.
The likable veteran, their oldest and most experienced player, has also fit in off the ice, providing some much-needed leadership. The sides have talked about an extension.
Zucker, who has played for four teams since 2022-23, likely wants a multi-year deal. Considering he hasn’t shown many signs of slowing down – he has compiled 18 goals and 44 points in 54 games – it doesn’t seem risky to give him two years.
If the Sabres can’t sign him, he would be coveted as a rental for a contender. To pry him away, a team might have to offer a first- or second-round pick or a notable prospect.
Meanwhile, defenseman Henri Jokiharju, 25, has possibly played his last game for the Sabres. He has been scratched the last two contests, possibly to protect him from injury.
The Finn, once a core member of their blue line, could bring the Sabres a pick.
Goalie James Reimer and defensemen Jacob Bryson and Dennis Gilbert also have expiring contracts.
I applaud the Greenway extension. He’s very underrated IMO. He does all the dirty work, supports his teammates, and is great on the PK.
Trade Cozens, Zucker, and Jokiharju. Cozens has had 2 horrible year’s in a row and is not worth $7.1 million/year.
Zucker is not in the long term plans and will cost too much and likely want a 2-year contract.
Trade Jokijarju. Not worth the $$$. He’s too small & too soft
Trade Power too and sign Byram long-term. Power SUCKS defensively and plays WAY too soft for being 6ft 6in.
I agree with all of this, ESPECIALLY the Power take. It was also refreshing to see Hoppe’s take on Samuelsson as I wondered if I was the only one who noticed just how useless he is. Byram in my opinion is actually underrated and I would extend him tomorrow. But we need a veteran alpha and will be (again) sorely disappointed if we don’t find a way to acquire one either via trade or in the offseason.
Adams needs to go
He assembled this slop
What makes anyone think he can solve it?
I agree I think Adams steps down after the season.