The Toronto Maple Leafs and Buffalo Sabres are taking similar roads back to respectability.
Both wallowed at the bottom of the NHL standings to acquire potential franchise cornerstones Sam Reinhart, Jack Eichel, Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews and are expected to make positive progress next season, but the Atlantic Division rivals paths may diverge in the near future based on their roster configuration and organizational depth.
The Sabres are a year ahead in their rebuild, with Eichel and Reinhart scoring over 20 goals in their rookie season. They added scoring punch in winger Kyle Okposo via free agency last month and are strong up middle with centers Eichel and veteran Ryan O’Reilly, as well as a legitimate top pairing defensemen in Rasmus Ristolainen.
Matthews and possibly Marner will make their NHL debuts in October and the Leafs concentrated on adding toughness this summer in Roman Polak and Matt Martin to help out holdover veterans James van Riemsdyk and Nazem Kadri and defenseman Morgan Rielly.
Both clubs have question marks in goal, with Robin Lehner coming off an injury-plagued 2016 and Frederik Andersen being acquired from Anaheim as the latest solution to the Leafs goaltending woes.
The Sabres great disadvantage going forward is the number of overpriced contracts they are carrying with significant term remaining. Team captain Brian Gionta’s contract expires at the end of next season, but the oft-injured Tyler Ennis and declining Matt Moulson have three years remaining at a collective $9.6 Million per season.
Zach Bogosian has not lived up to expectations since being acquired from Winnipeg and has four years remaining and Evander Kane’s off-the-ice exploits has made the once-coveted power forward an immovable contract.
Other than Joffrey Lupul’s $5.25 Million cap hit the next two seasons, Toronto’s burdensome contracts will be cleared after 16-17, with Brooks Laich, Milan Michalek, Colin Greening, Matt Hunwick and Stephane Robidas entering the final year of their deals.
Ristolainen will get a long-term contract in excess of $6 Million per season this summer and Eichel and Reinhart are eligible to get locked up on extensions next July, but unless Buffalo can find takers for Kane or Bogosian or buyout Moulson, the Sabres will not have much wiggle room to make upgrades.
Leafs GM Lou Lamoriello could have a lot of flexibility to add talent next summer and may have more if Lupul is bought out next June or veterans Tyler Bozak or van Riemsdyk are moved for young assets.
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