Buffalo Sabres’ 2024 NHL Free Agent Targets – The Hockey Writers – Buffalo Sabres

This is a critical offseason for the Buffalo Sabres. Though the focus has been on the draft in recent years – and this year’s draft is pivotal for different reasons – they should be looking to the 2024 NHL Free Agency class to potentially make a difference.

The best teams in the league have built their foundation through the draft, but making the right additions through free agency can move a team from the middle of the pack into a contender. Keeping that in mind, here are a few free agents that the Sabres should be considering.

A Quick Word About Steven Stamkos

The most-talked-about name in free agency this season is Steven Stamkos. The Tampa Bay Lightning captain has been one of the game’s premier goal scorers for a long time. He was a vital part of the core that won Stanley Cups in back-to-back seasons just a few years ago.

Having said that, it isn’t happening, Sabres fans. That’s not a bad thing, either. At 34 years old, his best days are behind him. If that weren’t enough, he has a history of major knee injuries. There is no telling when the next may come and end his career right there.

It also doesn’t make sense for the Sabres. This team has been built mostly through the draft and signing a flashy forward like Stamkos doesn’t add anything. If we knew that this was prime Stamkos, it would be a no-brainer. But it’s not and paying this kind of player too much money could be damaging in the long-term. There are better fits for him anyway, so signing in Buffalo is fan fiction, at best.

The Top 2024 NHL Unrestricted Free Agents

Before we get specifically into the players the Sabres should be targeting, it helps to know what the list of available free agents looks like. Here’s a 10,000-foot view of the available unrestricted free agents potentially available this summer: