(Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)
Some will come, and some will go.
The age of free agency and arbitration is upon us; that inevitable time where any number of deals can be made (or not made, for that matter.)
The Sabres enter this year's market with a total of 20 free agents on their hands (nine unrestricted, 11 restricted.) That number includes Marek Zagrapan, who has signed with a Russian club.
So, let's take a look at some of the most prominent free agents the Sabres have to offer the market.
Unrestricted free agent Max Afinogenov is a tough one.
A lot of Buffalo fans seem to love him—his speed is undeniably impressive, but he has yet to prove himself and have one stable season.
It's unfortunate, because he could really be a strong player in a few years, but Afinogenov has probably played his last game as a Sabre.
Mathieu Darche has yet to play a game with the Sabres, and spent all of last season playing in the AHL with the Portland Pirates. He's a tough player with a lot of grit (as was evident when the Pirates hosted the Albany River Rats at the Sabres' home arena last season), and could really be useful to the organization.
Will they sign him?
Matt Ellis, Colin Murphy, and Colton Fretter (all unrestricted) spent last season with the Pirates as well, with Ellis being the only one of the three to see any time in the NHL. Murphy and Fretter are both still young, and could develop into good players with some experience.
Dominic Moore, a recent acquisition, will also become an unrestricted free agent on Jul. 1. Last season, Moore had 13 goals and 32 assists in 81 games (not all with the Sabres, of course), and, if the Sabres sign him, they won't regret it.
He's a power forward.
Rounding out the Sabres' unrestricted free agent list are Andrew Peters, Teppo Numminen, and Jaroslav Spacek. Peters brings grit and size to an otherwise average-sized team, and Sabres fans seem to have mixed opinions about his contract.
But, I ask you, Sabres fans, to imagine a team without Peters. While there are other "tough guys" on the team, Petey is undoubtedly the headmaster.
Sign him.
Last year at this time, we weren't even sure if Numminen would be back for another season. After his heart problems, he managed to have a strong comeback.
And now, we are again not certain.
He's a great player and a great guy, and, at 40-years-old, can provide the veteran experience a lot of other Sabres don't have. He's the father figure on the team, and I hope that he continues to be a part of the organization even if the Sabres don't sign him.
Spacek is a must-sign.
He led all Sabres defensemen in multi-point games last season, and he's a fun guy to have around.
Sign him, and let Teppo have a management position.
So, that's the unrestricted section.
As was previously stated, Marek Zagrapan has signed with Russia. He's gone, and it's unlikely he'll come back as he felt the Sabres weren't giving him an opportunity.
Of the restricted free agents, there are several must-signs, namely Andrej Sekera, Patrick Kaleta, and Drew Stafford.
These three youngsters have proved themselves and become a key part of the team, rising up from the ranks of the NHL in a short period of time.
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