Fansided

5 best fits for Mike Green in NHL free agency

By Nick McAdam

DENVER, CO - MARCH 18: Mike Green #25 of the Detroit Red Wings shoots against the Colorado Avalanche at the Pepsi Center on March 18, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. The Avalanche defeated the Red Wings 5-1. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - MARCH 18: Mike Green #25 of the Detroit Red Wings shoots against the Colorado Avalanche at the Pepsi Center on March 18, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. The Avalanche defeated the Red Wings 5-1. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON – APRIL 28: NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly poses with Buffalo Sabres General Manager Jason Botterill after the Buffalo Sabres won the first overall pick during the NHL Draft Lottery at the CBC Studios on April 28, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Kevin Sousa/NHLI via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – APRIL 28: NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly poses with Buffalo Sabres General Manager Jason Botterill after the Buffalo Sabres won the first overall pick during the NHL Draft Lottery at the CBC Studios on April 28, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Kevin Sousa/NHLI via Getty Images) /

3. Buffalo Sabres

The Sabres are making some serious progress with establishing a new and young core. Jack Eichel, Alex Nylander, Casey Mittelstadt, Rasmus Ristolainen and maybe Rasmus Dahlin will make up of a speedy and skilled group, similar to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

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They still could use a lot more in surrounding areas both offensively and defensively. Ryan O’Reilly expressed some morale issues with the club just days after Buffalo’s season ended, and nobody can be sure if he wants to be in Western New York anymore.

The bottom pair of the defense consists of Nathan Beaulieu and Josh Gorges. One player that surely didn’t impress last season, and one severely overpaid defender.

Green could fit perfectly into Buffalo’s lineup if Jason Botterill decides to buy out the contract of Gorges this summer. With Dahlin and Ristolainen, the Sabres also will have Brandon Guhle to make three young defenders who can hopefully mainstay the blueline for years ahead.

Green is also a right-shot defenseman which is not common in the Sabres’ defense.

It’d be a really smart move again for both parties involved. Believe it or not, Buffalo is certainly on the rise for the next decade and they look to be building from the back. Green may want to consider staying there long-term with a team that will contend sometime within the next five years.

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