The Sabres have qualified seven of their 12 restricted free agents (RFAs). The following players received qualifying offers:
Forwards: Daniel Catenacci, Marcus Foligno, Zemgus Girgensons
Defensemen: Jake McCabe, Casey Nelson, Rasmus Ristolainen
Goaltender: Jason Kasdorf
Ristolainen, McCabe and Nelson are entitled to 105 percent of last season’s $925,000 salaries. Girgensons’ qualifying offer is 105 percent of his $832,500 contract. Foligno’s qualifying offer matches last season’s salary of $2.25 million. All but Nelson are expected to negotiate new deals rather than sign their qualifying offer.
Players not receiving qualifying offers, and therefore becoming unrestricted free agents, include:
Alexander Guptill – LW | 6′ 3″ | 190 lb | Age: 24 |
Guptill was drafted by Dallas Stars in the third round (#77 overall) of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. He came to the Sabres in February 2016 in a multi-player trade with Ottawa. He has yet to play in the NHL.
Colin Jacobs – C | 6′ 1″ | 200 lb | Age: 23 |
Drafted by the Sabres in the 6th round (#107 overall) of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. He has yet to make his NHL debut.
Nathan Lieuwen – G | 6′ 5″ | 189 lb | Age: 24 |
Drafted by the Sabres in 6th round (#167 overall) of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. The Abbotsford, BC native appeared in 7 games with Buffalo in 2013-2014, winning one game and losing four while compiling a 2.98 GAA.
Andrey Makarov – G | 6′ 1″ | 193 lb | Age: 23 |
Signed as a free agent by the Sabres, September 14, 2012. Has left the team to play in his home country, Russia.
Jack Nevins – LW | 6′ 1″ | 207 lb | Age: 22 |
Acquired in March 2015 from the Montreal Canadiens with a 7th round pick in the 2016 draft (Vasili Glotov) to Buffalo Sabres for Torrey Mitchell. Nevins has played in 107 games in the AHL over the last two years, scoring 4 goals and adding one assist.