Sabers free-agent targets: Bobby McMann and 12 other forwards worth considering

The 2026 NHL free-agent class is just not a star-studded group, however there could possibly be worth to be mined.

The Buffalo Sabers aren’t flush with cap house heading into the summer season. With roughly $12 million in house earlier than making any strikes, the Sabers aren’t able to be large spenders in free company. Trades is likely to be the better route for them to reimagine their roster over the subsequent few weeks.

But some pending unrestricted free brokers would match what Buffalo could possibly be searching for. The tough a part of nailing down the proper matches is determining who stays and who goes from the Sabres’ lineup. If they attempt to change Alex Tuch, who can be the highest free-agent ahead available on the market, the Sabers will probably be focusing on a special participant than in the event that they lose Beck Malenstyn to free company.

All contract projections are through AFP Analytics.

Bobby McMann

Age: 30
2025-26 stats: 78 GP, 29 G, 46 PTS, 15:56 ATOI
(*12*) contract: 4 years, $5,304,000 AAV

McMann picked time to have one of the best season of his profession. The 30-year-old had 29 objectives and 17 assists, each profession highs. The season prior, he hit the 20-goal mark for the primary time. He’s one of many quickest skaters within the NHL and is an efficient forechecker. He won’t be as harmful off the frenzy as Tuch has been, however McMann has proven a stable crowning glory over the previous few seasons and has the tenacity and pace that might match properly in Buffalo’s lineup.

Viktor Arvidsson

Age: 33
2025-26 stats: 69 GP, 25 G, 54 PTS, 14:36 ​​ATOI
(*12*) contract: 2 years, $4,913,422 AAV

Arvidsson turned again the clock a bit this season. At 33, he scored 25 objectives, his highest complete since 2022-23. He has hit the 20-goal mark in a season six occasions. He confirmed the kind of nuisance he will be to play in opposition to in Buffalo’s first-round sequence in opposition to Boston. He’s a hardworking forechecker who can create havoc on the internet and is a proficient shooter. The Sabers play a a lot totally different fashion than the Bruins, so Lindy Ruff and his employees must gauge whether or not Arvidsson could possibly be a method match. But he can be an attention-grabbing addition relying on the price.

Vladimir Tarasenko

Age: 34
2025-26 stats: 75 GP, 23 G, 47 PTS, 14:56 ATOI
(*12*) contract: 1 12 months, $3,390,400 AAV

Tarasenko had one other 20-goal season final 12 months taking part in for the Wild and nonetheless has the sport to be an asset on the facility play. I do not know if he contributes sufficient away from the puck to be worth taking minutes away from a number of the Sabres’ youthful expertise.

Patrick Laine

Age: 28
2025-26 stats: 5 GP, 0G, 1PT, 12:36 ATOI
(*12*) contract: 1 12 months, $850,000 AAV

Laine is eligible for an incentive-laden contract, so he could possibly be an attention-grabbing buy-low candidate. He has a historical past with Jarmo Kekäläinen, who traded for him when he was the final supervisor in Columbus. The principal attraction is that Laine is a superb power-play producer. But that is in all probability of venture the Sabers needn’t take.

Patrick Kane

Age: 37
2025-26 stats: 67 GP, 16 G, 57 PTS, 17:42 ATOI
(*12*) contract: 1 12 months, $3,265,600 AAV

Kane is not what he as soon as was, however there’ll at all times be a portion of Buffalo intrigued by the concept of ​​the playmaking winger returning dwelling to play for the Sabres. The attraction of Kane is his playoff expertise and confirmed power-play manufacturing. For a staff that has struggled on the facility play, Kane may present a significant increase at a comparatively reasonably priced price. He had 63 power-play factors in 189 video games for the Red Wings during the last three seasons.

Andrey Kuzmenko

Age: 30
2025-26 stats: 52 GP, 13 G, 25 PTS, 14:55 ATOI
(*12*) contract: 2 years, $4,006,400 AAV

Like the three gamers listed above, Kuzmenko could possibly be a power-play increase. He’s by no means fairly been capable of recapture the shape he had in his first season within the NHL, however he is actually good across the internet and can play with loads of tempo. The consistency points make him a riskier guess, although.

Oliver Björkstrand

Age: 31
2025-26 stats: 80 GP, 12 G, 32 PTS, 13:38 ATOI
(*12*) contract: 2 years, $2,834,742 AAV

A draft decide of Kekäläinen’s in Columbus, Björkstrand had a giant drop-off in manufacturing final season for the Lightning. He’s not too far faraway from a 20-goal, 59-point season with the Kraken in 2023-24, however at his age, that manufacturing won’t bounce again. Still, he is a robust forechecker who will be counted on in a middle-six function and should not price a ton. The historical past with Kekäläinen makes him worth monitoring.

Jaden Schwartz

Age: 33
2025-26 stats: 50 GP, 11 G, 26 PTS, 16:08 ATOI
(*12*) contract: 2 years, $4,756,960 AAV

Injuries have been an issue for Schwartz lately. He’s missed 53 video games during the last three seasons. But when wholesome, Schwartz is a robust two-way winger who can disrupt video games on the forecheck. He can rating off the frenzy, too. He additionally performed an enormous function within the Blues’ Stanley Cup run in 2019, and that have can be a plus in Buffalo’s locker room. Schwartz could possibly be a reduction model of Tuch.

Scott Laughton

Age: 32
2025-26 stats: 64 GP, 13 G, 20 PTS, 14:21 ATOI
(*12*) contract: 3 years, $4,108,000 AAV

The Sabers had been the worst faceoff staff within the NHL this season. Laughton gained 59 p.c of his faceoffs as soon as he was acquired by the Los Angeles Kings. That, mixed together with his tenacious taking part in fashion and constructive presence within the locker room, would make him an attention-grabbing goal.

Mason Marchment

Age: 31
2025-26 stats: 68 GP, 19 G, 45 PTS, 17:22 ATOI
(*12*) contract: 3 years, $5,670,600 AAV

The Sabers may stand to get a bit heavier up entrance. Marchment performs a bodily sport however also can make performs in entrance of the web. He has three straight seasons of 45 or extra factors and had 32 factors in 39 video games after the Blue Jackets acquired him final season.

Boone Jenner

Age: 33
2025-26 stats: 67 GP, 13 G, 38 PTS, 16:05 ATOI
(*12*) contract: 3 years, $5,209,100 AAV

Jenner is a straightforward title to circle on these free-agent lists. A longtime favourite of Kekäläinen, Jenner would convey veteran management, a hard-nosed taking part in fashion and faceoff skill to the Sabres. At the proper price, he would make a variety of sense, relying on which forwards Buffalo strikes on from. Health is the largest query. Jenner has didn’t hit the 70-game mark in every of his final 5 seasons.

Andrew Lee

Age: 35
2025-26 stats: 82 GP, 19 G, 42 PTS, 15:38 ATOI
(*12*) contract: 3 years, $6,607,466 AAV

Lee may nonetheless get an honest contract on the open market, so which may cease the Sabres. But his management, bodily play and skill to complete performs across the internet can be interesting. He’s nonetheless a productive power-play participant as nicely, with 5 straight seasons with no less than 5 power-play objectives.

AJ Greer

Age: 29
2025-26 stats: 78 GP, 17 G, 32 PTS, 12:26 ATOI
(*12*) contract: 3 years, $2,794,886 AAV

Greer may change a few of what the Sabers will probably be lacking in the event that they transfer on from Jordan Greenway. He performs with an edge and would add a nastiness to Buffalo’s lineup. He additionally had 17 objectives and 15 assists final season, so he is able to chipping in some offense. That profession 12 months may make him fashionable on the open market, although.