The Buffalo Sabres do not necessarily need another blockbuster acquisition. What they need is a dependable middle-six winger who can score at even strength, play with an edge and help replace some of the offence that disappeared when Alex Tuch was traded to the Washington Capitals.
That is why free-agent winger Eeli Tolvanen should be on general manager Jarmo Kekäläinen’s radar.
Tolvanen remains unsigned after producing 12 goals and 24 assists for 36 points in 78 games with the Seattle Kraken during the 2025–26 season. Those numbers do not immediately jump off the page, but they undersell what the 27-year-old could provide Buffalo. Tolvanen is a legitimate shooting threat, contributes away from the power play, and plays a more physical game than many wingers in his offensive tier.
Buffalo’s situation has also changed considerably. The Sabres are no longer trying to end their historic playoff drought. They snapped it in 2025–26, won the Atlantic Division and returned to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2011. The challenge now is proving that breakthrough was sustainable, and replacing Tuch without making a desperate long-term commitment.
Why Eeli Tolvanen Fits the Buffalo Sabres’ Post-Tuch Lineup
Tuch’s departure created a meaningful hole in Buffalo’s forward group. He scored 33 goals and 66 points last season before being sent to Washington in a sign-and-trade that brought Buffalo forward David Kämpf and a 2027 third-round pick. Kämpf subsequently left for Europe, leaving the Sabres without a direct NHL replacement from the transaction.
Tolvanen would not replace everything Tuch provided. He is not a 6-foot-4 power winger, established team leader, or automatic 30-goal scorer. However, Buffalo does not have to replace Tuch with one player.
Instead, Tolvanen could absorb some of the missing five-on-five offence while giving the Sabres another winger who hunts pucks, finishes checks and is willing to shoot. According to the source report, 22 of his 36 points last season were recorded at five-on-five. That kind of production is valuable because it does not depend on receiving first-unit power-play minutes.
Eeli Tolvanen Career NHL Stats
| Type | GP | G | A | P | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Season | 423 | 92 | 98 | 190 | -37 |
| Playoffs | 21 | 4 | 5 | 9 | -6 |
Tolvanen’s Goal Total May Undersell His Offensive Value
The most interesting part of Tolvanen’s 2025–26 season was not that he fell from 23 goals to 12. It was that he still reached 36 points despite a significant decline in finishing.
That suggests there may be some rebound potential.
Tolvanen is unlikely to become a 35-goal scorer, but he has already demonstrated that he can finish at a 20-goal level. He scored 23 times in 2024–25 and recorded 41 points the season before that. His shot remains dangerous when he gets into scoring areas, and a modest improvement in shooting percentage could push him back toward 18 to 22 goals.
My expectation in Buffalo would be approximately 19 goals and 39 to 43 points, assuming he receives regular middle-six minutes and some secondary power-play work.
He would also make Buffalo harder to play against. Tolvanen’s physical involvement is not cosmetic. He consistently finishes checks and competes around the boards despite standing only 5-foot-10. That combination of shooting ability and physical engagement is difficult to find among the remaining unrestricted free agents.
The Buffalo Sabres Must Stay Disciplined on the Contract
The biggest obstacle is no longer whether Buffalo can technically afford Tolvanen. It is whether signing him would leave enough flexibility for injuries, call-ups, and in-season trades.
PuckPedia currently projects the Sabres to have approximately $5.12 million in cap space with a full 23-player roster. Tolvanen’s previous contract carried a $3.475 million average annual value.
A one-year contract worth $3.25 million would leave Buffalo with approximately:
$5,123,652 − $3,250,000 = $1,873,652 in projected cap space
That is manageable, but not especially comfortable. Buffalo would also have to remove another player from its active roster because it is already projected to carry 23 players.
For that reason, my preferred offer would be a one-year contract between $3 million and $3.25 million. A two-year agreement could work if the cap hit falls below $3 million, but I would avoid giving Tolvanen three or more years based on the possibility of a shooting-percentage rebound.
My Verdict on Eeli Tolvanen and the Buffalo Sabres
The Sabres should explore this signing.
Tolvanen is young enough to rebound, experienced enough to contribute immediately, and versatile enough to play on either wing. More importantly, he would give Buffalo another useful five-on-five scorer without forcing Kekäläinen to surrender draft picks or prospects in a trade.
Kekäläinen publicly described Tuch as an important player and a good leader after the trade, which reinforces that Buffalo cannot treat his departure as a minor subtraction. Tolvanen would not replace Tuch’s leadership, but he could replace a portion of his offensive workload at a considerably lower cap hit.
At the right price, this is the type of calculated late-offseason addition that could improve Buffalo’s depth without disrupting its long-term plans.
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