With no big trades on draft weekend, the Buffalo Sabres may have to turn to free agency to bolster their roster. The team needs a center and has only three NHL centers under contract: Taj Thompson, Dylan Cozens and Peyton Krebs. There are a few directions the Sabres could go, but the one that's been getting the most attention is a big name: Steven Stamkos.
Some would argue that the Sabres have Thompson and Cozens as the team's top two centers, and some would say Krebs is good enough as a third-line center, but it's clear the Sabres need to add someone, and the more depth they have, the better the team will be.
Here are Buffalo's top center options in free agency:
Steven Stamkos
Steven Stamkos' agent, Don Meehan, confirmed Saturday that the star forward's status within the Tampa Bay Lightning organization remains unchanged, meaning he will become a free agent. This comes despite the Lightning clearing cap space that they are expected to use to pay newly acquired guard Jake Guenzel.
The Sabres need the skill and experience of the 34-year-old Stamkos, who has switched between center and wing but remains one of the league's best finishers, and Buffalo is expected to try to acquire him, as will other teams, including the Nashville Predators.
According to Evolving-Hockey's contract projections, Stamkos is expected to make $8.443 million per season over three years.
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The addition of Stamkos would immediately strengthen the top-six forward group. Stamkos could be deployed as a second-line center with a scoring edge, pushing Cozens into the shutdown role he favored last season. Stamkos could also be a complementary player on the wing in the top six.
If Stamkos joins the Sabres, the lineup would look something like this:
JJ Peterka – Tage Thompson – Alex Tucci
??? – Steven Stamkos – Jack Quinn
Zach Benson – Dylan Cozens – Jordan Greenway
Beck Malenstine – Peyton Krebs – ???
As a winger, Stamkos can play on the left side of the top line.
Steven Stamkos – Tage Thompson – Alex Tucci
JJ Peterka – Dylan Cozens – Jack Quinn
Zach Benson – Peyton Krebs – Jordan Greenway
Beck Marenstine – ??? – ???
The addition opens up room for another scoring source in the lineup. No matter how the Sabres' lineup plays out, Stamkos will add some much-needed offensive firepower to the lineup. He'll also be a great asset to the locker room, and as a former captain, he adds veteran experience to the leadership group.
The downside
Stamkos is still a top-tier power-play talent, even in his mid-30s. So why is this a negative? Because he fills the same role as Buffalo's top power-play player, Tage Thompson.
Both stars are big, right-handed shot-shooters with one-time shots from the left wing, and that role could be redundant and force the Sabres to get more creative on the power play, creating discomfort for two players who want to lock down positions off the wing.
Also, Stamkos' defensive ability has declined with age. Like Jeff Skinner, Stamkos' balanced defense has hurt teams. Head coach Lindy Ruff will have to take advantage of his star player and get him into more of a 200-foot game.
Conclusion
At the very least, signing Stamkos would reassure fans that the Sabres are trying to compete. He's not the player he once was, but he's still one of the offensive threats in the NHL. Weighing the pros and cons, Stamkos is a “buckle up” signing that could get the new Sabres moving in the right direction.
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Chandler Stephenson
Chandler Stephenson was likely traded out of Vegas as a center who could play a key role in supporting the team's top players. He's 30 years old and has speed and versatility. His player comparisons are a bit mixed, with offensive playmakers, defensive specialists and power play specialists all making the top 10.
Evolving Hockey projects Stevenson to sign a four-year contract worth $6.133 million per year, a bit of a steep price tag for an aging third-line center, but the Sabres will likely have to pursue the deal in free agency.
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Stevenson could help energize the team's third line in transition between Benson and Greenway, and he'll have Vegas with one of the league's best defensive wings, Mark Stone, under center, so a shutdown player like Greenway and a relentless forechecker like Benson would be a great match.
Stephenson also found success on the power play in a bumper role, something the Sabres lost with the acquisition of Skinner.
The downside
In addition to possible contractual obstacles, Stevenson is below replacement on the penalty kill and just above replacement at even strength. He's struggled defensively of late and is not a comfortable fit for Ruff in a third-line role.
He's a speedy counter-attacking player who is well-suited to creating quality scoring chances, but it also means opposing teams are more likely to control the puck when he's on the ice.
Conclusion
Signing Stephenson could be an alternative, but it's not a recipe for long-term success for the Sabres. They have top prospects on the team who could potentially play in the NHL, and a four-year deal worth more than $6 million would put a strain on the cap at the end of the deal.
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Sean Monahan
Sean Monahan has had a career resurgence since leaving Calgary, where he was demoted to the third line. Since then, he has re-established himself as a top-six forward and power-play contributor. Unlike Stevenson, Monahan won't overwhelm opponents with his speed. Instead, he will work more tactically to create and drive the offense.
Evolving Hockey projects the cost of Monahan's services to be an average of $5.276 million per year over three years.
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Monahan will immediately fill the “2A” and “2B” center roles alongside Cozens, with Monahan serving as a high-scoring line center and Cozens as a more complete two-way center, giving the Sabres a variety of options depending on who else they add to their forward line.
The power play would also be instantly improved having Monahan there, as he has been one of the NHL's best bumper scorers throughout his career.
The downside
It's hard to criticize a potential signing for his shortcomings, because Monahan fills in what the Sabres lack. But there are flaws. The Sabres are a young, fast team, and Monahan is not a speedster. But notably, he played well with speedy Winnipeg Jets winger Nikolaj Ehlers.
Additionally, his 5-on-5 defensive performance has not been up to par. The Sabres could use a better defensive wing to protect him, or they could look to ease up on their line offensively to avoid certain matchups.
Conclusion
Monahan would be a much more cost-effective deal than Stevenson, especially if the signing bonus is cheaper. He's 29 years old, so they'd be fine if Buffalo added another year on to the deal to encourage a deal.
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Alex Wennberg
Alex Wennberg is a prototypical third-line center with experience in a shutdown role, and some of the players most similar to him across the league are players with defensive tendencies and playmaking attributes, such as Alex Kerfoot and JT Compher.
The projected price tag of $4.41 million per season on a three-year contract is a reasonable and affordable price for a third-line center.
good point
Wennberg is an effective even-strength player with the versatility to contribute on both special teams as well. He won't do anything that will wow you, but he's the type of reliable forward that Ruff wants to have on the ice in key moments.
There is a play-driving aspect to his game that makes him well-suited for a shutdown role, and his passing ability allows him to make plays out of the defensive zone and up the ice.
The downside
Wennberg isn't as well known as Stamkos, Monahan or Stevenson, and he's played for mostly mediocre teams, but the Presidents Trophy-winning New York Rangers made him a priority at last season's trade deadline.
Wennberg is also a reliable penalty killer, but the underlying data doesn't support him being able to fill that role. He's probably better off as a penalty killer for the Sabres, since a lot of shorthanded performance is determined by a team's system. Still, a player who's good at shorthanded regardless of limitations would be preferable.
Conclusion
Wennberg would be a nice addition for the Sabres, but there are plenty of teams in more cap-constrained situations with a need at the center position who would be interested in him. He would form a clear one-two-three with Thompson, Cozens and him. If Wennberg develops, Krebs could push him onto the fourth line, making Wennberg a costly luxury item.
