Since then, Tuch\u2019s contract demands have increased, and his AAV may exceed $11MM on the open market due to a remarkably thin free agent market and a rising salary cap limit. The Sabres may be making a prudent move by letting him walk rather than sign him to that price point, but they will still need to find someone who can match his value to plug into their top six.<\/p>\n
Throughout the past four years, despite missing the playoffs for most of those campaigns, Tuch has remained a consistent contributor. Since the beginning of the 2022-23 season, Tuch has scored 127 goals and 271 points in 310 games with a +63 rating, averaging 19:13 of ice time per game. Essentially, Buffalo will be on the hunt for a 30-goal scorer.<\/p>\n
Fortunately, that should be relatively easy to address. Although he doesn\u2019t have the same track record, the Sabres could easily sign Anthony Mantha<\/a> in a few days. He\u2019s not a lock for 30+ goals, but he\u2019s coming off a solid season and will be far cheaper than Tuch. Additionally, Buffalo could look to an Atlantic Division rival for help. It\u2019s already well known that Dylan Larkin<\/a> has requested a trade from the Detroit Red Wings, but the Sabres could also try to poach Alex DeBrincat<\/a> from them instead, depending on how they navigate the offseason.<\/p>\n Make A Decision On Byram<\/p>\n Nearly since they acquired him from the Colorado Avalanche at the 2023-24 deadline, Bowen Byram<\/a> has been in trade chatter. Now, it feels like the trade speculation has reached a fever pitch because Byram is only one year away from reaching unrestricted free agency.<\/p>\n There shouldn\u2019t be any shortage of suitors, either. Unlike most of the prominent names on the trade block this summer, Byram doesn\u2019t have any trade protection in his contract, giving the Sabres the pick of the litter. He\u2019s been a rock-solid defenseman for Buffalo, scoring 18 goals and 80 points in 164 games over the past two years while averaging 22:31 of ice time per game. He would immediately fill any team\u2019s need for a top-four defenseman.<\/p>\n Still, it\u2019s important to note that other teams are aware of his situation. As much value as he has, it\u2019s hard to imagine a team paying a hefty price for Byram if he\u2019s going to leave next summer, anyway. For the best return, Buffalo should allow Byram and his representation to negotiate an extension with the acquiring team. If he\u2019s unwilling to and wants to consider his options in free agency, that would make the situation much more complicated from Buffalo\u2019s perspective.<\/p>\n Trade A Goalie (Or Two)<\/p>\n Although the Sabres could go in either direction for Byram, they\u2019ll most certainly need to trade a netminder this offseason. Given the performances of Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen<\/a> and Alex Lyon<\/a> this season, Colten Ellis<\/a> is objectively the odd man out in Buffalo. Ellis was solid in a third-string role, managing an 8-4-2 record in 16 games with a .903 SV% and 2.90 GAA.<\/p>\n The decision to move him stems from Kekalainen\u2019s roster construction ideas, not his performance. One of the first things Kekalainen said at his introductory press conference was that he didn\u2019t want Buffalo to carry three goaltenders on the roster long-term. Because of some mild injury concerns, the Sabres didn\u2019t need to make that call toward the end of the 2025-26 campaign, but they\u2019ll now have all summer to do so. If he\u2019s adamant on carrying only two goaltenders, they\u2019ll either have to trade Ellis this offseason or risk losing him on the waiver wire in October.<\/p>\n Additionally, the Sabres will likely need to trade Devon Levi<\/a> during the offseason as well. In mid-May, Jeff Marek of the Daily Faceoff shared<\/a> that the relationship between Levi and the Sabres organization is \u201cover\u201d and that Buffalo will explore moving him this offseason.<\/p>\n A standout goalie at the NCAA level, Levi has shown flashes of dominance with the AHL\u2019s Rochester Americans, managing a 64-39-22 record in 120 games with a .914 SV% and 2.52 GAA over the past four years. There\u2019s little argument that Levi has earned a starter role in the NHL, but he has earned the opportunity to play in a backup role, or even a 1B role, at the very least.<\/p>\n Improve Faceoff Percentage<\/p>\n It\u2019s not high on the priority list, but the Sabres could really use a center that can consistently win faceoffs. Buffalo finished as the worst Eastern Conference team in the faceoff dot last season, averaging a 46.73% success rate on draws.<\/p>\n On the free agent market, depending on his asking price, the Sabres could target Scott Laughton<\/a>. Between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Los Angeles Kings, Laughton won 57.7% of faceoffs. Still, that\u2019s the highest mark he\u2019s ever averaged over an entire regular season, and he only averaged 49.7% throughout his time with the Philadelphia Flyers.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/USATSI_28672169-216x300.jpg\")
<\/a>Furthermore, his agent, Darren Ferris, generally advises his clients to pursue free agency. Inevitably, even if Buffalo manages to sign him to a long-term extension, the negotiations won\u2019t be easy, nor favorable. Instead of turning into a Tuch situation, where Byram would leave for nothing, it may be prudent to move him this summer and take advantage of a fluid trade market.<\/p>\n