Prospects who attended the Buffalo Sabres development camp have left Western New York and scattered across the globe.
Free agency has gone from a frenzy to a lull, all in a matter of days, but the question of Bowen Byram’s future with the Sabres remains fluid.
Here are a few “Thoughts on Goal” in the wake of one of the NHL’s busiest offseason weeks.
Center Ryan McLeod, right, facing off against Devils center Dawson Mercer in February, signed a four-year, $20-million contract last week to stay with the Sabres.
Joed Viera, Buffalo News
He scored a career-best 20 goals, so expect McLeod, 25, to pick up more offensive responsibility as he enters his prime. He’s six years into his pro career, and is a two-way center who can play at all three forward positions and in all situations.
The Sabres also might bank on more production from McLeod after trading JJ Peterka and his 55 goals in two seasons to Utah.
“This is a really important piece with our team and the role he plays,” Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams said of McLeod. “We’re buying two UFA (unrestricted free agent) years with the deal that he signed. I think it was a win-win for both sides. And, if I go back a year ago when we identified him, we made the decision because we thought he had upside. We thought, ‘This was a player that could help us now and grow into the future,’ which is exactly why, what he did this past year in terms of his play.”
Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram, knocking the puck from the Flyers’ Jakob Pelletier in April, still has options regarding his NHL future.
Harry Scull Jr., Buffalo News
Byram’s move (or non-move) had some strategy: Had the defenseman filed for salary arbitration, he would have been disqualified from receiving an offer sheet. But the Sabres also had strategy: By electing for arbitration, the Sabres rendered Byram ineligible for an offer sheet.
That means the Sabres don’t have to worry about the possibility of matching one – or having to give him up for future draft picks. (Trade for NHL players, not for futures.) Byram had a cap hit of $3.85 million last season, and AFP Analytics projects his next contract to have a short-term annual cap hit of $5.19 million and a long-term annual cap hit of $7.17 million a year.
The Sabres electing for arbitration could also be the first of the dominoes that fall in the process of a possible trade involving Byram. If he is traded before the arbitration hearing, the team that acquires him can negotiate a contract with him.
Timmins has filed paperwork to ensure he receives a raise over the Sabres’ original qualifying offer, which was not disclosed. He scored three goals with 12 assists in 68 games last season with Toronto and Pittsburgh, and his last contract was a two-year deal with an average annual value (AAV) of $1.1 million, per Puckpedia.
Arbitration hearings are scheduled for July 20 to Aug. 4, but expect the Sabres and Timmins to continue to negotiate toward a new contract.
Mathieu Darche is only a few weeks on the job as general manager of the New York Islanders, but didn’t hesitate to start signing and stocking players, including Jonathan Drouin.
Signing Nikolaj Ehlers keeps Carolina among the top of the Eastern Conference class, and almost makes up for the trade-and-sign of defenseman K’Andre Miller to an eight-year, $60-millon contract.
Los Angeles certainly isn’t “Los Ageless” after the Kings signed Corey Perry (40 years old), Brian Dumoulin (33), Cody Ceci (31) and Anton Forsberg (32).
“I’m not that optimistic, to be honest with you, because there’s more teams than there are players for what we’re looking for,” he told ESPN last month.
Yzerman’s assessment could have applied to this year’s free-agent class as a whole, because it didn’t inspire too much awe. It’s possible 2026 could cause a frenzy, though. Especially if some big names elect to go to free agency, including Edmonton captain Connor McDavid and Sabres right wing Alex Tuch – unless they agree to new contracts with their current teams.
DailyFaceoff.com rated its top 2026 free agents, a list that included McDavid at No. 1, Vegas forward Jack Eichel at No. 3, Florida goalie Sergei Bobrovsky at No. 8 and Tuch at No. 10.
Byers also has a few footnotes in television and movies, including an MTV moment. He and teammate Cam Neely (now the Bruins president) made cameos in Extreme’s video for the song “Hole Hearted,” which reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1991.
Free agency has gone from a frenzy to a lull, all in a matter of days, but the question of Bowen Byram’s future with the Sabres remains fluid.
Here are a few “Thoughts on Goal” in the wake of one of the NHL’s busiest offseason weeks.
Center Ryan McLeod, right, facing off against Devils center Dawson Mercer in February, signed a four-year, $20-million contract last week to stay with the Sabres.
Joed Viera, Buffalo News
1. More of McLeod
The Sabres more than doubled Ryan McLeod’s salary when they signed him to a four-year, $20-million contract last week. He came to Buffalo from Edmonton on a two-year deal worth $2.1 million and parlayed that into an even bigger deal to stay in Buffalo.He scored a career-best 20 goals, so expect McLeod, 25, to pick up more offensive responsibility as he enters his prime. He’s six years into his pro career, and is a two-way center who can play at all three forward positions and in all situations.
The Sabres also might bank on more production from McLeod after trading JJ Peterka and his 55 goals in two seasons to Utah.
“This is a really important piece with our team and the role he plays,” Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams said of McLeod. “We’re buying two UFA (unrestricted free agent) years with the deal that he signed. I think it was a win-win for both sides. And, if I go back a year ago when we identified him, we made the decision because we thought he had upside. We thought, ‘This was a player that could help us now and grow into the future,’ which is exactly why, what he did this past year in terms of his play.”
Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram, knocking the puck from the Flyers’ Jakob Pelletier in April, still has options regarding his NHL future.
Harry Scull Jr., Buffalo News
2. The latest on Byram
Bowen Byram’s future, whether it’s with the Sabres or another NHL team, has some clarity after the Sabres elected for salary arbitration with the defenseman. Electing for salary arbitration comes after Adams said last week the Sabres were prepared to match any offer sheet.Byram’s move (or non-move) had some strategy: Had the defenseman filed for salary arbitration, he would have been disqualified from receiving an offer sheet. But the Sabres also had strategy: By electing for arbitration, the Sabres rendered Byram ineligible for an offer sheet.
That means the Sabres don’t have to worry about the possibility of matching one – or having to give him up for future draft picks. (Trade for NHL players, not for futures.) Byram had a cap hit of $3.85 million last season, and AFP Analytics projects his next contract to have a short-term annual cap hit of $5.19 million and a long-term annual cap hit of $7.17 million a year.
The Sabres electing for arbitration could also be the first of the dominoes that fall in the process of a possible trade involving Byram. If he is traded before the arbitration hearing, the team that acquires him can negotiate a contract with him.
3. Timmins to arbitration
Conor Timmins is one of 11 players who filed for salary arbitration after the Sabres acquired the defenseman last month in a trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins.Timmins has filed paperwork to ensure he receives a raise over the Sabres’ original qualifying offer, which was not disclosed. He scored three goals with 12 assists in 68 games last season with Toronto and Pittsburgh, and his last contract was a two-year deal with an average annual value (AAV) of $1.1 million, per Puckpedia.
Arbitration hearings are scheduled for July 20 to Aug. 4, but expect the Sabres and Timmins to continue to negotiate toward a new contract.
4. Free agency winners
The Stanley Cup riches of Florida get richer after the Panthers re-signed Brad Marchand, Sam Bennett and Aaron Ekblad.Mathieu Darche is only a few weeks on the job as general manager of the New York Islanders, but didn’t hesitate to start signing and stocking players, including Jonathan Drouin.
Signing Nikolaj Ehlers keeps Carolina among the top of the Eastern Conference class, and almost makes up for the trade-and-sign of defenseman K’Andre Miller to an eight-year, $60-millon contract.
5. Free agency losers
Vancouver committed to $50.75 million over seven years to Brock Boeser but also gave goalie Thatcher Demko a three-year deal with an $8.5 million AAV, after Demko played in only 23 games last season due to back, knee and lower-body injuries.Los Angeles certainly isn’t “Los Ageless” after the Kings signed Corey Perry (40 years old), Brian Dumoulin (33), Cody Ceci (31) and Anton Forsberg (32).
6. About 2026’s free agents
Detroit general manager Steve Yzerman gauged free agency for 2025, relative to his team, as a buyer’s market.“I’m not that optimistic, to be honest with you, because there’s more teams than there are players for what we’re looking for,” he told ESPN last month.
Yzerman’s assessment could have applied to this year’s free-agent class as a whole, because it didn’t inspire too much awe. It’s possible 2026 could cause a frenzy, though. Especially if some big names elect to go to free agency, including Edmonton captain Connor McDavid and Sabres right wing Alex Tuch – unless they agree to new contracts with their current teams.
DailyFaceoff.com rated its top 2026 free agents, a list that included McDavid at No. 1, Vegas forward Jack Eichel at No. 3, Florida goalie Sergei Bobrovsky at No. 8 and Tuch at No. 10.
7. On Lyndon Byers
The Boston Bruins on Saturday announced the death of Lyndon Byers, a popular enforcer who played in the NHL from 1983-93. A cause of death was not given. Byers, 61, was known for his gregarious personality and his penchant for fisticuffs – he had 1,081 penalty minutes in 279 NHL games.Byers also has a few footnotes in television and movies, including an MTV moment. He and teammate Cam Neely (now the Bruins president) made cameos in Extreme’s video for the song “Hole Hearted,” which reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1991.