Bold Moves: The Buffalo Sabres are still at the bottom of the standings and are last in the Eastern Conference. The roster and coaching have changed so much during their long playoff drought, but this time it needs to be management. With or without a change, there are some players that the Sabres have to move on from one way or another for different reasons by next season.
Jordan Greenway
The Bold Moves Sabres aren’t getting much from Jordan Greenway and choose to play him on the top line, which is more questionable. He has a goal and three points in 14 games, and has a very poor Corsi For % of 40% and expected Goals For % of 41%. He is in the first of a two-year, $4 million AAV deal and has never been a goal-scorer or point producer. He has some physicality, but shouldn’t be anywhere near a top-6 role. Moving on from him will make it so the Sabres can’t play him in the top-6.
Owen Power
Owen Power got drafted to the wrong team. His offense was highly touted, but he will never outplay Rasmus Dahlin, Bowen Byram is a better player, and Mattias Samuelsson is having somewhat of an offensive breakout. Power is playing on the third pairing, second power-play unit, and has the fourth-most ice time per game amongst defenders. He needs to be dealt to a younger team that doesn’t have a solidified defense ahead of him, or at least a place where he can be a number two. Power is 23 years old and is under contract for five more years at $8.35 million AAV.
Alex Lyon
Alex Lyon has arguably been the most productive and useful to the Sabres of the four players that need to go, but his name is here because the Sabres have too many goalies, have younger options, and Lyon is the easiest to trade. Even with another year left on his deal at $1.5 million AAV, teams that need goaltending help should be all over Buffalo to acquire him. The longer Lyon is around, the less likely Devon Levi will even get another chance in the NHL with the Sabres.
Beck Malenstyn
Beck Malenstyn is one of those depth players who can easily be swapped out. The team overpaid for him and he hasn’t been that useful. He is almost 28 years old, in the final year of his deal at $1.35 million AAV, and only has three goals and five points in 27 games as a fourth liner. There are other young options that can do what he does, but have much higher ceilings, and Malenstyn is taking up a roster spot.
