Logan Stanley was someone who quite a few fans expected to land a contract on the first day of free agency, and now, as July moves along, more than two weeks after free agency opened, he sits waiting for a new deal.
Stanley, along with Luke Schenn, was traded to the Buffalo Sabres before the 2026 Trade Deadline as the Sabres were making a playoff push, and while they didn’t go as far as they would have liked, they ended up having a solid run into the second round before being eliminated in seven games by the Montreal Canadiens, with Stanley being someone that a few fans expected the Sabres to try and bring back.

After the Sabres traded Bowen Byram, there was even more of a reason for the Sabres to try to bring back Stanley to stabilize their defensive depth a bit, but that didn’t happen. As of right now, Stanley remains an unrestricted free agent, and in this article, we take a quick look at three potential fits for him.
Anaheim Ducks
The Anaheim Ducks have had a very interesting offseason, almost losing Leo Carlsson to a massive offer sheet, while also losing both Radko Gudas and Jacob Trouba. The biggest hole for the Ducks, who are hoping they can make a deeper playoff run than last season and finally start building toward being contenders, is their blue line depth.
The right side of the Ducks’ blue line is their biggest issue, but it wouldn’t hurt to add depth on the left side, either. Bringing in Stanley could stabilize their blue line and give them at least one strong side of defensive depth, and maybe it would carry over to their right side being playable.
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a couple of moves away from being true contenders, and bringing in another defender to upgrade their defensive depth would be a smart move for them. Stanley likely won’t break the bank on a new deal, and getting someone who is an upgrade on Mason Lohrei would be beneficial.
Stanley could also become Charlie McAvoy’s partner, but either way, bringing in Stanley gives the Bruins some flexibility to change up their pairings to figure out what works.
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are not going to be contending this season, and they will likely finish near the bottom of the standings. While their future looks promising, they are quite a few seasons away from getting back to being serious contenders in the Western Conference.
With that being said, Stanley could look to join the Flames’ blue line on a one-year deal to bank on himself, and it could be a win-win for him and the Flames. If he plays well, the Flames could flip him at the 2027 Trade Deadline for future assets, while Stanley could join a contending team and earn a pay raise with the new team that picks him up.
With all of the young defenders the Flames have coming up the pipeline, most notably Zayne Parekh, adding someone like Stanley to play alongside them could help them stay driven and focused as they struggle through a rebuild.
I wanted to mention the Sabres as a team that could be a fit for Stanley, but after they added Olen Zellweger from the Ducks, I don’t think a return is in the cards anymore.
Any of these three teams makes sense as a potential fit for Stanley, and he should eventually be able to land a new deal somewhere before training camp.
As the 2026-27 season approaches, be sure to continue following The Hockey Writers as your source for news, updates, and more from around the NHL and the hockey world
Free Newsletter
Get Free Agents coverage delivered to your inbox
In-depth analysis, breaking news, and insider takes - free.
Subscribe Free →