The Sabres pulled a shocker by signing Taylor Hall to a one-year deal, and despite lingering trade rumors it seems Jack Eichel isn’t going anywhere unless a team makes an offer new GM Kevyn Adams can’t refuse.
Buffalo has not made the playoffs since 2011, and they haven’t finished above sixth in the Atlantic Division since 2012-13. But the additions of Hall and veteran center Eric Staal are win-now kind of moves, as they’ll mix with the younger talent that’s in place. Suddenly, with some other moves too, coach Ralph Krueger has a lot of options to nicely fill out three or four forward lines. And that leaves out former first-round pick (eighth overall in 2017) Casey Mittelstadt, who is not yet 22 years old.
The Sabres still have over $13.5 million in cap space, so there is room for another addition if one is out there. A defenseman might be a priority, but all opportunities should be entertained.
Kane is a Buffalo native, which make him easy to tie to the Sabres if he’d approve a move away from the Blackhawks. But he may also fit nicely on the roster. Chicago could retain a chunk of salary to facilitate Kane being dealt back home, but this deal works with or without that.