Top remaining free agents in contention for Sabres

The Buffalo Sabres made a splash in free agency, signing 11 players to NHL contracts. Jason Zucker, Sam Lafferty, Nicolas Aube-Kubel, Jacob Bryson, Dennis Gilbert and James Reimer could all be on Buffalo’s roster to start next season. Meanwhile, Mason Jobst, Josh Dunne, Jack Rathbone, Colton Poolman and Felix Sandstrom are all expected to start in Rochester of the AHL. Even with all of these free-agent signings, the Sabres still have some needs to fill, particularly at the top-tier forward or third-line center level.

The dust has settled on all the big names in the free agent market. According to CapFriendly, there have been 228 signings since the free agent market opened on July 1. That’s a big number over two days, but there’s still talent. Let’s take a look at some of the Sabres’ top remaining free agent options.

Vladimir Tarasenko

Vladimir Tarasenko has been one of the NHL’s leading scorers for more than a decade, scoring 23 goals and 55 points in 76 games with the Ottawa Senators and Florida Panthers last season.

He’s a player who is very dependent on his teammates at this stage of his career, but can still produce top-notch offence and contribute on the power play. There’s not much to expect from Tarasenko defensively and he’s already 32 years old.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have reportedly made an offer for Tarasenko, which makes sense given the recent Reilly Smith trade that leaves a void at goal next to Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Evolving-Hockey projects him to receive a three-year deal with an average annual value of $5.478 million, which is expensive for an aging talent. The Sabres may have to bid up to get Tarasenko, which could be way too much for their liking.

Must Read: Reports: Sabres sign Zucker, Lafferty as free agents

Jack Roslovic

Jack Roslovic is a much younger and slightly cheaper option than Tarasenko. The 27-year-old is projected to sign a three-year deal worth $4.455 million annually, according to Evolving-Hockey.

The upside to signing Roslovic is his versatility, allowing him to play center or wing as a right-handed shot. He’s also much more capable of running the play than Tarasenko, using his speed to move the play up the ice and push opponents away.

Roslovic would slot right into Buffalo’s third line and provide an instant spark. He won’t wow you with his production — nine goals and 31 points in 59 games last season — but he does enough to provide a second line.

Daniel Sprong

If you want to be impressed by production, look no further than Daniel Sprong. Sprong has one of the best goal-scoring rates in the entire NHL, even though he has averaged fourth-line play throughout his career.

Like Tarasenko, one of his closest comparators, Sprong is a dependable player who fits right in as a versatile, playmaking center. Think “playing on a budget” when considering him, as Evolving-Hockey is pricing the 27-year-old in a three-year, $3.378 million contract.

So why hasn’t Sprong had better luck? That’s a question only the locker room can answer. He’s been around the league since he was a kid, so finding the right scorer could be tough for him. The Sabres still have to account for the offensive power they lost by acquiring Jeff Skinner, and adding a player like Sprong could go a long way.

Justin Schultz

The Sabres appear to be well-positioned on defense, having no problem signing restricted free agent Henri Jokiharju. That said, most of the depth additions at the position have focused on toughness. Justin Schultz has top-of-the-line puck-moving skills and contributes offensively. If the Sabres want another slick-skating defenseman to fuel their offence, he would be a very interesting addition.

Evolving-Hockey is offering a three-year deal worth $3.191 million annually, which is a lot for a 33-year-old. If the Sabres can get a short-term deal in the $2.5 million per year range, a trade would make a lot more sense.

More free agency: Sabres sign Buffalo native Gilbert; bring back Bryson

Tyson Barrie

Tyson Barrie is in the same boat as Schultz, as an offensive defenseman and a puck-moving prospect. Barrie is 32 years old and Evolving-Hockey is planning a much cheaper one-year deal, worth $1.789 million.

Adding a player like Barrie could better complement Mattias Samuelsson on Buffalo’s third defensive pair. Right now, physical Connor Clifton is the slated role, which could shut down some of the Sabres’ bottom-pairing offense.

There are still some free agent options available regardless of the Sabres’ decision. A trade could make more noise, but it’s good to know there are still fallback options.