Expect the Buffalo Sabers to attempt to sign two top defensemen this summer and before a critical time when the organization comes under pressure to make a deal. While speaking with the Daily Faceoff’s Frank Serravalle on his Speak Up podcast, GM Kevyn Adams said there is time, but he foresees a scenario where the Sabers are proactive with these two contracts, as they have been with other future stars on the team.
Adams is known as a GM who likes to lock up his buddies early. Dylan Cousins and Taj Thompson signed similar long-term deals and made good money for Matthias Samuelsson, all with the expectation that these players would develop into valuable deals for the organisation. So far, his bets have been an uproar as Thompson has exploded offensively this season with 47 goals and 94 points, while Cozens has taken it in stride, scoring 31 goals and 68 points. Power and Dahlin are already positioning the Sabers to boast one of the best blue line tandems in the NHL, and considering they’re only 20 and 23 years old, respectively, it makes sense to get them in deals that remain affordable as players grow into NHL stars.
It appears the Sabers’ plan is to secure key players in friendly deals with the team and just get ahead of the curve. Power and Dahlin both have another season on their existing deals, so Adams could start negotiating with them on July 1st when it comes to extensions. That will likely be his priority, as it will be securing the future of the team’s goal-directing center. At the moment they have Devon Levy making waves, but it is not clear if the club will be riding with a couple of inexperienced online pros or will try to sign a veteran in the short term as the team is expected to start contending for the play-offs.
There’s no reason to think either Dahlin or the Power would like to use any leverage as the RFAs have to fight their way out of Buffalo, but if the Sabers can lock them in, the team becomes a much more attractive destination for the UFAs and other players who see the Sword as the team of the future.
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