Sabers offseason roadmap, part 3: Fixing Buffalo’s depth chart with trades and free agents

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Buffalo Sabers general manager Kevyn Adams was talking about the possibility of a Jeff Skinner buyout during his pre-draft press conference last week, but the quote could have applied to the Buffalo’s offseason as a whole: “Nothing is off the table. »

Adams is about to enter the busiest and most important offseason he has had as general manager of the Sabres. And while he was short on details on some of the biggest questions his team will face over the coming weeks, Adams made it clear the Sabers are open for business. He said he was willing to trade the No. 11 pick, swap prospects, move up in the draft or move down.

It’s the only approach Adams can afford to take going into his fifth season as general manager. New coach Lindy Ruff has been heavily involved in self-scouting the Sabers personnel and identifying areas needing improvement. He will be able to help identify the type of players who can improve Buffalo’s roster for the better.

But the Sabers have a lot to accomplish over the next few weeks. This is what makes the offseason particularly difficult to predict. What jobs could Adams do? Will Ruff’s presence help convince free agents to take a chance on the Sabres? Here’s a look at how I would reshape the Sabers roster through free agency, trades and the draft.

Internal activity

Extend Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen for four years and $4.5 million per year
Qualify Henri Jokiharju at $2.6 million
Qualifying Peyton Krebs at $874,000
Don’t qualify Jacob Bryson, Kale Clague
Let Zemgus Girgensons, Victor Olofsson, Tyson Jost and Eric Robinson enter free agency

Part of this is a slight adjustment from our salary cap preview from last week. We’re extending Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen for four years at $4.5 million per season, based on the framework the Minnesota Wild used for Filip Gustavsson’s three-year contract with a cap hit of $3.75 million . Luukkonen showed he could be a starter in the NHL this past season, and even though the sample size is small, Luukkonen should have more room to improve. This contract represents a good compromise for both parties. Depending on how long the Sabres wait, the goalie market could change this summer and their numbers could increase.

Henri Jokiharju gets his expected qualifying offer and Peyton Krebs gets a one-year deal slightly higher than his qualifying offer. If either player comes up in trade conversations, it’s something the Sabers should explore. But keeping these players is not the end of the world. Jokiharju is a capable defender and right-handed shooter. Ideally, the Sabers would find another veteran defenseman to add a more physical element to the blue line and move Jokiharju out in a trade.

Jeff Skinner buyout

Adams was non-committal when discussing the Jeff Skinner buyout rumors. He said the Sabers were open to anything and he didn’t want to go into details. He could have denied the rumors, but he chose not to. Read into it what you want. We’ve gone over the pros and cons of buying back here, but I think it’s worth it. The Skinner buyout creates $7.5 million in cap space for this season. There are some tougher years on the contract that the Sabers will face, but the roster and salary cap flexibility makes it worth it.

GO FURTHER

Should the Sabers consider a Jeff Skinner buyout?

Professions

Center Radek Faksa for a fourth round pick and Henri Jokiharju

Radek Faksa is exactly the type of player the Sabers are missing in their bottom six. He is excellent on faceoffs, willing to throw his body on the forecheck and plays a reliable defensive game. He’s not the flashiest offensive player, but Adams stressed the need for the bottom two lines to have more “identity” and Ruff stressed the need for better defense. ‘team. Faksa could help on the third or fourth line. He also played for Ruff early in his career in Dallas. Given their cap situation and Faksa’s $3.25 million cap hit, the Stars might be willing to move him for the right price.

Winger Andrew Mangiapane replaces Peyton Krebs and a third-round pick

The Calgary Flames’ dream trade target would be winger Blake Coleman. He’s 32, signed for a reasonable $4.9 million cap hit, and is coming off his career-best season in terms of production. His leadership, physicality and defensive play would be a perfect fit in the Buffalo locker room. But Calgary may be in no rush to trade one of the team’s most reliable veterans as they go through a transition period. Andrew Mangiapane could be an easier trade target after a few down seasons and with a cap hit of $5.8 million. Using money from Skinner’s savings, the Sabers move Peyton Krebs and a third-round pick to get Mangiapane. It should be noted that Mangiapane had an excellent World Championship alongside Dylan Cozens for Team Canada. His ability to win battles and play a smart 200-foot game would be a welcome addition to the Sabres’ young second line.

Teddy Blueger is a reliable hitman who could give the Sabers flexibility and defensive play in the bottom six. (Steve Roberts / USA Today)

Free agent signings

Teddy Blueger, two years, $2.75 million

Teddy Blueger isn’t a big point producer with a career-high 28, but he’s the type of player who could give the Sabers flexibility and reliable defensive play in the bottom six. He can add competition at center, which is needed, but also play on the wing if needed. He is a willing player, a constant presence in front of the net and a reliable penalty killer. He’s also great on faceoffs. Perhaps his market value pushes his contract higher, but the Sabers are in a position to bid higher if necessary. I would be comfortable with $3 million and adding another year.

Winger Ryan Lomberg for one year, $1.5 million per year

Ryan Lomberg was left out at times for the Panthers during the playoffs, but they put him back in the lineup for Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals. His energy and tenacity will always stand out. He’s a nuisance to play against; he is more than willing to hit and rule the net to create traffic. He has three consecutive seasons with at least 100 hits. He would be a plug-and-play fourth line for the Sabres. Although $1.5 million is more than AFP Analytics projects for Lomberg, the Sabers may have to sweeten the deal to bring him to Buffalo.

Kiefer Sherwood, two years, $2 million per year

Kiefer Sherwood is coming off his best career season in which he recorded 27 points in 68 games and posted a plus-17 rating with the Nashville Predators. He is a chess machine that would help the Sabres’ bottom six players play with more physicality, which is needed.

Jani Hakanpaa for two years, $2 million per year

Jani Hakanpaa is a massive presence at 6-foot-7 and his game matches that size. He had back-to-back 200-plus hit seasons before having 179 hits this season in an injury-shortened year. He’s not a flashy rookie, but someone who could add some needed depth to the Sabers on defense.

Depth Chart

Attackers

JJ Peterka – Tage Thompson – Alex Tuch
Andrew Mangiapane – Dylan Cozens – Jack Quinn
Zach Benson – Teddy Blueger – Kiefer Sherwood
Jordan Greenway – Radek Faksa – Ryan Lomberg
Lukas Rousek Jiri Kulich

Defense

Bo Byram – Rasmus Dahlin
Mattias Samuelsson – Owen Power
Ryan Johnson/Connor Clifton/Jani Hakanpaa

Goalkeepers

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Devon Levi

Future prospects

This roster would leave the Sabers with just over $5 million in cap space for the 2023-24 season, giving Adams enough flexibility to make an in-season move if necessary. Jiri Kulich and Lukas Rousek are walk-ons on the depth chart we’ve sketched, but the idea is to have competition and roster options up front. Maybe Lomberg and Sherwood aren’t everyday players. Injuries happen too. Kulich could also spend time in Rochester and come over if needed. I included him here because I think he is ready to contribute at the NHL level and has completed his game away from the puck enough to play a third line role.

That would leave the Sabers with between $25 million and $30 million in cap space for the 2025-26 season, depending on the cap increase. This is important because JJ Peterka, Bowen Byram, Jack Quinn and Devon Levi will all need new contracts after this season. Mangiapane and Faksa also have expiring contracts, which is worth noting. Just like Connor Clifton and Jordan Greenway. The Sabers need to factor these upcoming contracts into everything they do this summer. In this scenario, the Sabers should have the flexibility to take care of their young players and keep a player like Mangiapane.

What about pick #11?

The Sabers shouldn’t feel like they have to force a trade with the No. 11 pick. Mangiapane would be an impactful addition to the lineup and should not cost this type of asset. If they keep the pick, I would target Tij Iginla, if he falls, then look at a group of players including forwards Cole Eiserman, Berkly Catton, Konsta Helenius and Michael Brandsegg-Nygard as well as defensemen Sam Dickinson and Carter Yakemchuk . . Given the unpredictable nature of this draft after the top five picks, it’s difficult to determine which of these players could fall to Buffalo. Sabers assistant general manager Jerry Forton said his goal was to minimize risk in the first round, so maybe Eiserman isn’t an obvious candidate, but he would be my target. Otherwise, a defenseman like Yakemchuk or Dickinson would be a nice addition to the prospect pool. I also like the two-way play Helenius displayed against the men in Finland.

(Top photo of Peyton Krebs and Teddy Blueger: Derek Cain/Getty Images)