3 Sabres Who May Not Be Back in 2026-27

The lights have only just recently gone out on the 2025-26 Buffalo Sabres season, but it is never too early to look ahead. The Sabres have already taken proactive measures to ensure continued success by re-signing head coach Lindy Ruff to a new two-year pact.

General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen will have more than a few decisions to make, especially with a plethora of youngsters now ready to take on everyday NHL roles. With that being said, there are three names (and a wild card) that could potentially find themselves on other rosters when next season begins.

Alex Tuch

Tuch is the name that will show up most in rumor mills and with good reason. The pending unrestricted free agent (UFA) should be the most in-demand forward this offseason. What he commands has been one of the hottest talking points, with rumors suggesting that he is asking for slightly more than the $10.625 million-per-year deal that Adrian Kempe of the Los Angeles Kings recently signed.

How Tuch’s contract would fit under the current structure is a big question. The Sabres have roughly $12.9 million in cap space, but a few critical restricted free agents to address. Plus, Tuch is 30 years old, and any long-term deal will likely begin to sour within the next four or five years. Will he give them enough of a hometown discount or will his open market offers give the Sabres no choice but to move on?

Jordan Greenway

Greenway is interesting because he showed life down the stretch and in the playoffs. His size – 6-foot-6, 230 pounds – is definitely enticing. He plays with speed, physicality, and just enough skill to make him enticing.

That said, two factors work against him. The bottom-six has really become a strong suit for the Sabres, especially when Greenway was out of the lineup. Combine that with his chunky $4 million-per-season contract, and it would behoove the Sabres to try to move on from the veteran winger.  Whether they are able to move him remains to be seen.

Logan Stanley

Stanley was brought in at the trade deadline to provide size and toughness to a lineup that had historically been missing it. He had his moments, but Stanley was largely as advertised. He played in eight of the team’s playoff games before ultimately losing his spot.

We all knew that Stanley was a rental at the time of the trade. With Zach Metsa emerging as a viable option, the hope for a rebound from Michael Kesselring, and first-round pick Radim Mrtka looming, there simply isn’t any room to keep this UFA in the fold.

Wild Card: Josh Norris

Norris is one of the more interesting names to think about potentially moving. His name was mentioned as a stumbling block in the Rober Thomas rumors, but there may be cause to return back to those talks. He had 13 goals and 34 points in 44 games this season, but his production dried up (one goal, three points) in 10 playoff games.

You can’t mention Norris’ name without the phrase “if he can stay healthy” attached. With a deal at $7.95 million per season, it might be worth packaging Norris, a pick, and an upper-tier prospect to land Thomas, who would be an upgrade in every conceivable way. With several young players ready to take on everyday roles, now would be the time to make a big play.

The Sabres Should be Strong Again in 2026-27

The Sabres should be contenders for the Atlantic Division again in 2026-27. Replacing Tuch would be difficult, but Konsta Helenius and Noah Ostlund are ready for everyday roles, and Jiri Kulich could be ready to return. The Sabres need to find spots for them.

Having too many good players is a good problem to have. As one of the youngest teams in the league, the Sabres still have room to grow and improve. And now that they have had a taste of the playoffs, they are going to want more.