Stop me if you’ve heard this before: the Buffalo Sabres are facing a critical offseason. Fresh off its 14th consecutive season missing the playoffs, the franchise is facing turmoil like never before. A 15th straight failure likely means starting over again, something that the franchise can’t afford.
With everyone focused on a multitude of questions, what would the ideal offseason look like? Keep in mind that this isn’t the EA Sports NHL franchise where a half-dozen trades can change things. That said, a few key moves could have the Sabres looking and feeling different next season.
Re-Sign J.J. Peterka and Ryan McLeod
The talk surrounding J.J. Peterka is far from positive at the moment, but the Sabres absolutely have to sign the young winger. He is a core piece for the Sabres, and trading him would indicate that there are no serious plans to make the playoffs anytime in the near future.
Nailing down his value is tough, partially because he may not be keen to sign a long-term deal. If he goes for a bridge deal, something around $6.5 million for two years might be enough. Ideally, the Sabres sign him for around $8 million per season for 5-6 years, locking him down and getting him at a rate that could be a bargain as soon as next season.
Signing Ryan McLeod should be a bit easier. McLeod, traded to the Sabres in exchange for prospect Matt Savoie, was a home run for the Sabres. He registered a career-high 20 goals, 33 assists, and 53 points, showing excellent speed and two-way playmaking ability.
He’s coming off a breakout season, his first with Buffalo, and will do better than the $3 million average annual value (AAV) that most outlets had him projected for. The Sabres will likely need to go around $4 million AAV to nab him, ideally for four or five years. With those two locked down, the Sabres can focus on other areas.
Trade for Rasmus Andersson
The Sabres have dire need on defense. They need not only a quality right-handed shot, but someone with experience and a strong presence in their own zone. Rather than taking a swing offensively at someone who is a long shot like Mitch Marner, the Sabres could find an upgrade to play next to either Rasmus Dahlin or Owen Power.
Related: Sabres Failing to Trade 9th Overall Pick Would Be Massive Failure
The market is going to be competitive for Rasmus Andersson. The 28-year-old has 50-point potential, and…
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