Sabers' Quiet 2024 Offseason Was the Right Move – Hockey Writers – Buffalo Sabers
Another missed run in the playoffs, the Buffalo Sabres, and their fans are expecting big moves during the offseason. The rebuild took too long and because of the births too many people to endure another mediocre season.
Related: 4 Reasons The Buffalo Sabers Can Make The Playoffs
But then not much happened. Ultimately, this could be a good thing for the Sabres. They will rely heavily on a few players to get the team over the hump and back to the playoffs. Despite the lack of a blockbuster move, this could be a high-profile season for Buffalo.
Sabers' Offseason Expectations
Heading into the offseason, the focus is on the NHL Draft. Although it wasn't the trade everyone was expecting, they moved 11th Overall pick to the San Jose Sharks with their 14thth overall pick and an additional second baseman (defenseman Adam Kleber). They then took Finnish striker Konsta Helenius with that pick.
The blockbuster trade never came. The management's biggest move was sending prospect Matt Savoie to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for center Ryan McCleod and Tyler Tullio. The deal left a sour taste in the mouths of many fans. A lot of time and attention had been paid to the routes the Sabers could make. Instead, they stopped short, took the best player available in the draft, and replaced the bottom six through trades and free agency.
The Sabers Chose the Right Path
In the end, it might be the smartest move. The Sabers have a deep, talented corps up front with players like Tage Thompson, Alex Tuch, and JJ Peterka. A major shake-up of the top six was not realistic, but avoiding major change was also the best course of action.
Sabers Keep Prospect Pool Deep
Even without Savoie and Zach Benson — who already has a season under his belt and will be back in 2024-25 — from the ratings, the Sabers have one of the league's best pools. Taking the best player available, Helenus, added another great prospect to the roster.
While there are arguments to be made that there is only so much room available, having a lot of good prospects is never a bad thing. The best in a team with Helenus, Jiri Kulich, Noah Ostlund, Isak Rosen, and others will have to find a place with the Sabers.
More importantly, these talented prospects provide the franchise with flexibility, allowing them to make a big-name play or walk away from a bad deal because there's someone else waiting in the wings. Any franchise would kill to have that kind of flexibility.
The Sabers Maintain Cap Space
General Manager Kevyn Adams has already inked a few deals that will be healthy for the team (or at least probably will be) for a long time. Thompson and Tuch are very friendly deals, although the latter will be an unrestricted free agent in 2026. Dylan Cozens and his $7.1 million cap hit will look even better in a back-to-back season.
Making a big splash may have been what everyone wanted, but what would have been done to the salary cap structure? Tuch will need a new deal soon. Peterka is a restricted free agent after this season. Ditto for Bowen Byram and Devon Levi. In the NHL, there is always something to deal with in the near future. The Sabers have taken a smart approach by trying to retool their bottom line and hope the top half of the roster can return to its 2022-23 value.
Future of the Sabers After the 2024-25 season
Let's get one thing straight: I wanted to see a big explosion as much as everyone else to make the Sabers relevant again. Having said that, it would be very easy to sacrifice the future in order to get into the play-offs and fall in the first round. The wrong move would not only have left the Sabers out of the playoffs but also forced them to restructure again. They have been there and done that too many times already.
It's hard to ignore the collapse of the Thomas Vanek/Jason Pominville/Ryan Miller era. It's impossible to ignore the tank years, the Jack Eichel saga, and everything that led to this point. But it is important to keep a clear head because even one mistake can put the team back in that position. The Sabers have a bright future ahead of them, even if there are ghosts from the past to overcome.
Sabers Now
Finally, the longing and the desire to reach the playoffs has become stronger. The city and the fan base have suffered more than any other team in this relatively short period of time. It's too early to predict what happens when the Sabers make the playoffs. For now, let's focus on the positive moves, the pieces that are there, and how they can get the team back to where they belong.
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