BREAKING NEWS: 5 Buffalo Sabres players who won’t be back next season

The Buffalo Sabres need to undergo some restructuring this offseason to finally break their playoff drought and secure a spot in the 2024-25 season. With around 10 players becoming free agents, both restricted and unrestricted, there’s an expectation for more significant changes to the roster compared to the past couple of years. This might mean seeing some familiar faces in different NHL teams or even in the AHL.

While there was progress in the 2022-23 season, the disappointing regression in 2023-24 is unacceptable. This will undoubtedly create a sense of urgency among the front office and coaching staff as they prepare for the upcoming season in October 2024.

There’s a possibility of changes within head coach Don Granato’s staff, as his position could become precarious if there’s no improvement in the team’s performance by October and November 2024.

Sabres 2024 offseason will see an exodus of a few familiar faces

Players currently under contract for the 2024-25 season are expected to remain with the team, as they are typically young and have demonstrated significant potential for impactful plays, making them unlikely trade candidates. However, this discussion will specifically address those players whose contracts are expiring, either as unrestricted or restricted free agents, as retaining all of them could lead to unnecessary roster congestion similar to what was experienced this year.

Two players who were on the verge of not being retained have been given another chance, and their potential reasons for staying with the team for at least part of the 2024-25 season will be explored. Additionally, there are a few players listed whom it has been apparent since October would likely not return, and re-signing them would come as a surprise to the fan base.

Which Sabres players are approaching the end of their tenure in the blue and gold uniform? Continue reading to find out who they are and the reasons why they won’t be back for another season.

We have known for a while it will be Victor Olofsson’s last season in Buffalo

Victor Olofsson experienced a notable decline in point production compared to his previous seasons with the Sabres. This decline can largely be attributed to his reduced playing time throughout the season. Despite receiving more ice time recently, Olofsson’s tally stands at 15 points and seven goals in 45 games, marking a significant drop compared to his past performances as a top scorer for the team.

Just two years ago, there were discussions about Olofsson potentially starting the 2022-23 season as the top-line winger, but his performance limitations hindered his progress. In the 2023-24 season, his ice time decreased by two-and-a-half minutes, indicating a diminishing role in the team’s plans.

For Sabres fans, Olofsson’s likely departure signifies the end of a turbulent season. While he had his moments of value, he never reached the same level of significance as players like Tage Thompson and Dylan Cozens, who received long-term contracts under General Manager Kevyn Adams.

Allowing Olofsson to leave in free agency reflects the Sabres organization’s readiness to move forward, despite their stagnant performance in the previous season. If his replacement, ideally a promising prospect, proves to be a better fit next season, it could propel the team forward.

Tyson Jost has the bright future of a journeyman in the NHL

Last season, when Adams acquired Tyson Jost off waivers, Jost proved his worth in various roles, offering value regardless of the situation. However, this season, his value significantly declined, to the extent that he was poised for a stint in Rochester while the Sabres attempted to salvage their season.

Despite not being known for scoring in the NHL, Jost’s performance this season, with just four points and two goals in 36 games, did little to bolster his standing. Additionally, his struggles in winning faceoffs were evident, reflected in his current 39.9 faceoff win percentage.

Similar to Olofsson, Jost experienced a decrease in ice time, dropping from an average of 13.21 minutes per game in 59 appearances last year to just 10:48 this season. Although he remains a physical presence on the ice, Jost’s contribution in terms of puck possession has been limited, with only nine takeaways.

While Jost has showcased some value in penalty killing, logging 26.6 short-handed minutes, his performance at even strength has not shown significant improvement and may have even regressed. This trend seems to align with the broader struggles of the Sabres this season, with Jost’s Corsi For percentage of 43.3 being his lowest since joining Buffalo after being placed on waivers by the Minnesota Wild.

In summary, Jost remains a skilled player at the AHL level and can serve as a depth option for NHL teams, particularly in lower-line roles, when needed due to injuries or roster changes. However, his impact on the Sabres this season has been limited, reflecting a decline in his overall effectiveness.

Eric Robinson doesn’t bring as much value as other lower-liners

The Sabres are poised to reintegrate either Zemgus Girgensons or Eric Robinson into their lineup, prompting the question of who would make the return. While Girgensons has garnered fan favoritism, Robinson’s trade has yielded unexpectedly positive results. However, upon scrutinizing both basic and advanced statistics, Girgensons emerges as the superior choice.

Although Robinson boasts a higher points-per-game average, Girgensons surpasses him in nearly every other aspect. Girgensons demonstrates greater physicality, excels in faceoffs with 77 wins this season, willingly blocks shots, and contributes significantly more to special teams. Moreover, he maintains a plus-50 percent Corsi at 5-on-5, with the Sabres achieving an impressive 93.9 on-ice save percentage under his presence in the same scenario.

Moreover, Girgensons holds a unique role as the ultimate “glue player” for the team due to his longevity, rendering him indispensable to the Sabres. Upon his return, it’s likely he will resume his role as an alternate captain.

While Robinson also boasts a plus-50 Corsi at 5-on-5 and a solid 92.7 on-ice save percentage, his contributions to special teams are less pronounced, with only 12.0 minutes logged at 4-on-5. Although Robinson has proven more serviceable than anticipated, he has not provided compelling reasons for his retention at the NHL level for another year.

Eric Comrie showed value later in the season

This doesn’t imply that Devon Levi is prepared for a full-time NHL role in the 2024-25 season. We misjudged this possibility based on his decent performance in a seven-game stint, so Kevyn Adams should contemplate acquiring another experienced goaltender during the upcoming offseason. However, Eric Comrie isn’t a suitable candidate for this role, given his declining performance this season.

Although Comrie has only played in nine games this season, this sample size is significant since he appeared in 19 games last year. It’s reasonable to infer that his future likely lies as a full-time AHL player starting next season. His goals-against average (GAA) of 3.91 ranks ninth highest in the league, and third highest among goaltenders with at least nine games played. Additionally, his save percentage of 0.864 is tied for the eighth lowest, alongside Calvin Petersen, among netminders with nine or more appearances. With Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen’s emergence and Devon Levi’s average performance, the Sabres’ defensive issues don’t solely lie with the goaltending, indicating the need for a more dependable player to bolster organizational depth.

Options could include bringing back Dustin Tokarski for another season or exploring the free-agent market, even if the available goaltenders in the 2024 class seem less appealing.

Jacob Bryson isn’t signing an offer sheet this summer

Alright, let’s acknowledge Jacob Bryson’s improvement: He’s shown a significant uptick in performance this season compared to his disappointing 2022-23 campaign. Undoubtedly, his time in Rochester played a role, likely salvaging his NHL prospects with recent strong showings in Buffalo.

However, the Sabres must realistically assess Bryson’s fit within the team. With Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Power, Mattias Samuelsson, Bowen Byram, Ryan Johnson, and Connor Clifton comprising the top six for the upcoming 2024-25 season, the question arises: where does Bryson fit in? While the Sabres require a seventh defenseman, Bryson hasn’t displayed the consistent performance needed to secure that spot.

Henri Jokiharju and Kale Clague are also pending restricted free agents. Clague might return as an AHL option, while Jokiharju has proven to be a dependable player, contributing career-highs in plus-minus, hits, blocks, and possibly takeaways. Jokiharju has also been involved in penalty killing, boasts a Corsi For of nearly 50 percent, and a 92.3 on-ice save percentage, though slightly lower than Bryson’s, but Jokiharju has played significantly more games.