The Buffalo Sabres hiring of former Columbus GM Jarmo Kekalainen as a senior advisor was an essential move to add an experienced hockey executive to their management staff, something that has been lacking for the balance of the time that owner Terry Pegula bought the club in 2011.
With the club missing the playoffs for the 14th straight season, it is expected that Sabres GM Kevyn Adams is going to make a series of moves involving some of the club’s young core pieces and the addition of Kekalainen represents some insurance that Adams goes in the right direction.
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The club faces decisions in every sphere of their roster. In goal, the club has to sign youngster Devon Levi to a new contract coming off his entry-level deal, but after a strong second-half in 2023-24 that earned him a five-year extension, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen struggled as the full time starter last season. Do the Sabres choose to deal Luukkonen with a lack of starters in free agency or the trade market? Do they trust Levi to take the reins after playing well in the AHL but struggling at the NHL level the last two years?
On defense, the future of Bowen Byram seems to be leaving Buffalo in favor of a destination where he can be a top pairing blueliner, but Adams must bring back NHL-ready talent in a deal for the 23-year-old, preferably a defenseman of comparable age that can partner with Rasmus Dahlin or Owen Power. There are also questions of the future of Mattias Samuelsson, who continues to struggle with injury and inconsistency.
Up front, Adams must deal with the restricted free agency of winger JJ Peterka and the persistent rumors that he would prefer to play elsewhere. The offer sheet option may not be as big a threat to the Sabres as some might think, since Buffalo has ample cap space to match one and that would lock Peterka in a place that he reportedly does not want to play.
If Buffalo cannot get the 23-year-old signed, a deal involving Peterka as with Byram, has to bring back NHL talent that can play with the Sabres this season. All these dilemmas are critical to the immediate future of the club and their success or failure will determine whether they will have a chance of making the postseason or extending their playoff drought to 15 years.
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