Sabres Face Some Intriguing Options Leading Into The Draft And Free Agency
Buffalo could go a number of directions to replace Alex Tuch if he leaves on July 1.
Video Transcript
You know, we've talked a lot about how Tuck's free agency is gonna play out if he does go to the market.
you know, and, and where he's gonna end up, if it's Buffalo, if it's somewhere else.
But I wanna kinda look back at the other side of this.
So if Tuck does leave in free agency, as you predict that he will, how do you think the Sabres should pivot if, if he does end up moving on?
I mean, are there specific trade targets, maybe not even specific players, but specific positions, that you would prioritize?
and you know, how much, how much worse off do you think the Sabres are without him?
You know, what are they gonna need to add to sort of make up for that gap?
Well, I mean, first, I've, yeah, like, like you said, I've been saying since September, ba- based on the reports that came out, that he was gone.
and not because I don't think he-- I think he would wanna stay in Buffalo if they would pay him, but he's gonna be the highest paid free agent in this market.
He's probably gonna get over $10 million a year.
He's 30 years old.
I understand the reservations of the Sabres w- paying a 30-year-old that kind of money.
but I, you know, but he's gonna get that somewhere with the cap going up.
so how do they pivot?
Well, I think, you know, Jarmo Kekalainen sort of signaled at what they wanna do.
I think they wanna sign Zach Benson long term, and I think, you know, based on the way he played in the playoffs, that's a smart move.
You know, that's a 21-year-old kid who's got three years of NHL experience already.
I think they're interested in paying Bowen Byram when he becomes eligible for an extension at the, at, on July 1st, but that's gonna be very costly.
His agent is Darren Ferris.
He likes to take his players to market.
So you know, y- I think it'd probably end up costing them more than what Owen Power is making.
And how much money do you wanna allocate to your defense?
So those are, those are factors here.
Free agency-wise, I, and this is just my theory, I'm just, I'm just, you know, speculating here, I think they'll want to fill sort of the veteran leadership gap left by Tuck leaving.
And a guy who is probably hitting the market, who Jarmo Kekalainen knows very well, is Boone Jenner of the Columbus Blue Jackets.
you know, he's not Tuck.
He's older than Tuck.
He doesn't play as mu- He's not as durable as Tuck, but he is a leader, and Ke- Kekalainen knows him.
He brought Justin Danforth, who was a fourth liner depth forward, from Columbus here last year, and he got hurt early in the year.
But you can't deny the conne- connections between Columbus and Kekalainen since he was there for so long.
So if they do lose Tuck, which I think is very possible, I think a guy like Boone Jenner, if he hits the open market, Buffalo will be in on him.
