With the Buffalo Sabres’ season essentially over, looking to the offseason and what they need to be doing is the best course of action at this point. They need to consider what players they should add, and what players they should subtract as they are once again on track to miss the playoffs. Despite subtracting Dylan Cozens and adding Josh Norris at the 2025 Trade Deadline, they still have a lot of work to do in order to refine this roster and get it up to par if they want to see any sort of dramatic improvement. Assuming that is truly the end goal, they cannot be afraid to make some moves, and moving these players would certainly make a difference.
Mattias Samuelsson, Defenseman
For some reason or another, Mattias Samuelsson has just not fit right in head coach Lindy Ruff’s system. His usual ability to play a physical shutdown defensive role has been stifled, and he has not been the same type of player since former head coach Don Granato left. Whether that is a coaching difference or simply a player issue is up for debate, however, the fact still remains that Samuelsson is under contract until 2030 at a $4.29 million cap hit, and if he is not going to perform like the defender he is being paid to be, he needs to be moved for one that will.
His playing woes, along with his injury history, are the biggest issues that make him a prime candidate for being moved out after the season ends. While he may be having his best offensive season in his career with four goals and 12 points, point production is not why he is being put in the lineup each night. He has been a healthy scratch for his poor play multiple times, and the fact is he has been outplayed by defenders like Jacob Bryson and Connor Clifton. Even while he is technically slotted on the top pairing with Ramus Dahlin currently, it feels more like a last-ditch effort to recapture his old “mojo,” but he still has not looked spectacular. All in all, the Sabres need to find an upgrade over him.
Jack Quinn, Winger
It has been a tough season for a number of Sabres players, but for Jack Quinn, it has been noticeably difficult at times. While he has had a bit of a resurgence toward the conclusion of this season, his struggles to find his game on a regular basis have contributed to his low point total, regular healthy scratches, and practical invisibility while he is on the ice. This does not mean he would not be able to find his game somewhere else or that he is a lost cause by any means. Rather, Quinn has been a case of a player who has been asked to do too much too soon, and it has stifled his development as a young NHLer.
The Sabres need to make a move somewhere in their forward group, and with other young players like Jiri Kulich and Zach Benson continuing to develop well in the NHL, Quinn is being left by the wayside. The Sabres would be best served by moving him to another team and getting another roster player back that will suit their needs better and make them a better hockey club as a whole. He could also be sent as a nice part of a package deal for a larger piece, should the Sabres decide to make a bigger splash in the offseason, as Quinn still has a lot of potential as a 23-year-old who can put the puck in the net. His value may not be out of this world on the trade market, but there are definitely some teams that would be chomping at the bit to have a chance to develop Quinn into the goal scorer he has shown the potential to be.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Goaltender
This one may be a bit of a hot take, but the logic behind it resides in a few simple facts. The first one is that Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has been very average at best all season long, and despite his athletic abilities and skills, he has not been able to lock in the same way he did last season. This season has been riddled with questionable shots getting past him, and when he has been mostly outperformed by 37-year-old backup James Reimer, it calls into question whether it is time to make a goaltending swap. With some decent goaltending options available in the free-agent market coming up in July, and potentially some other goaltenders being available for trade, the Sabres could definitely move Luukkonen and replace him with the likes of Frederik Andersen, Thatcher Demko, or a few others.
Then there is the goalie staring at Luukkonen from below named Devon Levi. He has been an absolute beast with the Rochester Americans in the American Hockey League this season, and is making a case to be a regular in the NHL if the Sabres put together a competitive team in the offseason. If Levi continues to perform and compete at the same level he is now, Luukkonen may lose out on his starting position sooner than later, and it would make sense to move him for a different goaltender before that happens. Goaltending can be a fickle thing in the NHL, but getting it right can make a huge difference. Right now, Luukkonen is not being the difference-maker they need him to be, and either that needs to change or they need to move him.
Change for the Sabres Is Good
If the Sabres want something to change next season, then they cannot run it back with the same exact roster that they had this season, other than with minor changes to the third and fourth lines. They need to make some core moves, and moving out these kinds of players will not only send a message but will also allow the general manager, whether Kevyn Adams or someone else, to make the necessary moves with good assets to add the right pieces. Adding Ryan McLeod when the season started was a great first step and adding Norris at the deadline was another good one (although too little too late), but now they need to continue making the necessary changes to get themselves to the next level.
Related – Sabres Have a Lot to Clean Up During the Upcoming Offseason
Mediocrity isn’t enough anymore, and none of these players have been good enough. It is time to show some accountability by moving out the ones who are not performing up to the standard of play needed and make some moves for players who will. If the players are serious about wanting to win, they will understand that it is not personal that their longtime friends are being moved and that it is about making the team better. There is no more room for failure. Get the job done, or get moved for someone else who will.
