Despite seeing the end of their season, having lost round two to the Montreal Canadiens, the Buffalo Sabres’ work has just begun. Sure, they’re done with rebuilding, but the Buffalo team has a list of unrestricted free agents and restricted free agents. The next step is figuring out what they’re going to do with them.
What will happen with fan favorite Alex Tuch whose contract expires at the end of the 2025-26 season? He is an unrestricted free agent, and that has caused a bit of a stir in the club and the fanbase. The focus has been on what he’s asking for in his next contract extension.
A connecting link to this hot-button topic is Tuch’s age. He’s entering the average retirement window in the league. Not only that, he’s also leaning toward a max term contract, which is eight years.
If staying with the Sabres is in the cards for Tuch, he would be in his late 30s by the time his contract expires. The only notable time the club has seen something similar was when they traded Jason Pominville at 30 years old and acquired him again at age 34.
An additional point is Tuch’s performance. He went from being a frequent scorer to silent in the playoffs. The winger averaged 33 goals and 33 assists during the regular season and had two goals and three assists during round one of the playoffs.
Tuch didn’t contribute in round two. The playoffs were his chance to prove why he should stay. Unfortunately, the club might need more convincing. Granted, Tuch never made a playoff debut until this point, so what he would look like in the postseason remained uncertain.
Tuch, the UFA (Unrestricted Free Agent), also brings a veteran aspect to the team. He was the one to get Colten Ellis to go out for a curtain call when the goalie had his first NHL shutout. That’s just an example of how he’s a driving force behind the team’s camaraderie.
The club can still negotiate with Tuch, but more will come about during the offseason. There is no indication that they want to get rid of him or that the winger wants to leave; he does love the city of Buffalo.
The Sabres can keep him if they negotiate a salary, but they’re not going to stop him from leaving if he doesn’t like their offer. The team has Sam Carrick, who they couldn’t see in full swing because of an upper-body injury. They also have Ryan McLeod, who’s been producing for the team’s third line, and even Josh Norris.
The emptiness of Tuch’s absence would be felt. The chemistry the players on each line have with one another is also a factor. When push comes to shove, the organization won’t budge. Furthermore, Buffalo’s general manager, Jarmo Kekäläinen, isn’t attached to the players on the team and has been known for making ruthless moves to improve the organization.
Newcomer Logan Stanley also will be an UFA at the end of the season. The Sabres traded Isak Rosen and Jacob Bryson, along with a 2026 fourth round pick and 2027 second round pick, in exchange for Stanley and Schenn.
Stanley played in eight of the playoff games and is known for his physicality and 6’7 height. Michael Kesselring is another physical defenseman fans have yet to see more of. It’s too soon to say if it would be a trade-off if Buffalo kept Stanley and scrapped Kesselring, who has yet to show promise.
Focusing on Stanley, he didn’t play as much leading up to the postseason, which needs to be taken into consideration. His arrival mid-season with nothing but his stats goes to show the nuance of the decision. If the Sabres have the cap space, which is roughly $11.95 million, they will keep him.
An offer has yet to be made, but another factor is whether other clubs will want Stanley. As of now, he isn’t in high demand. Overall, fans didn’t see much of him. Whether he’s worth keeping is a decision that will come with time, like when Buffalo traded Jack Eichel and acquired Peyton Krebs and Tuch.
There’s a whole different lens when it comes to the RFAs (Restricted Free Agents) on the team. Zach Benson is one of those three players. Drafted in the first round as the 13th overall pick in the 2023 draft, he had a terrific season. Often compared to a young Brad Marchand, Benson has begun to make a name for himself.
Benson always had the puck throughout the playoffs and was fun to watch. The winger developed a mentality of not letting anything really bother him, which got under his opponent’s skin. Benson is young, having turned 21 on game four of round two against the Canadiens. He can easily be considered the future of the Sabres organization.
Benson has spunk, much like Peyton Krebs, and is not afraid to instigate. The Buffalo player also hit his career best with 13 goals and 30 assists during the regular season. There’s no question that instilling Benson long-term is a priority on Kekäläinen’s list.
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Another player worth talking about is Peyton Krebs, who is also an RFA. His two-year $2.9 million contract expired, and he’s seeking a raise. What makes his situation even more interesting is the fact that he’s arbitration eligible.
Like his teammate Mattias Samuelsson, Krebs had a career breakthrough during the 2025-26 season. He accumulated 12 goals and 27 assists during the regular season. He has played for the Sabres for five seasons and has gone from a third-line center to a first-line player with Thompson and Tuch. Despite being on the shorter side, he’s an instigator and is known for defending his teammates on the ice.
Krebs is also 25 years old; therefore, he has more hockey years in him. He’s reliable and brings momentum to the ice. If Krebs is flexible, Buffalo can keep him if they put aside his varied performance in the two rounds of the playoffs.
It’s an interesting situation for the Sabres to be in, especially coming off a playoff run for the first time since the 14-season-long drought. There are many layers to consider. One of the benefits is that Kekäläinen uses all his time wisely and thinks through the organization’s future carefully, regardless of the players involved.
Buffalo has a group of young comers, but that shouldn’t change the veteran mix they already have; that way, they can pass the torch to the younger ones. The Sabres will keep Benson. Whether Tuch stays or leaves will be a decision that takes up most of the summer.
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