After an improbable end of the season run to snap a playoff drought, the Sabres faced the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 1st round of the playoffs. Despite a valiant effort, the Sabres were eliminated in 5 games by the proven Lightning. In spite of that, it was a successful season for the team. They watched the Carolina Hurricane's win the Stanley Cup over the Dallas Stars, and GM Ketterer was aiming to bring that to the city. Before that could happen, there was the NHL Draft and free agency to take care of before the next season.
With all of the Sabres young skill and speed, Ketterer decided to concentrate of defensive depth and grit to surround his young team at the draft.
| 1 | 18 | D. Reinbacher | TWD | D | 62 |
| 2 | 44 | O. Bonk | TWD | D | 64 |
| 3 | 78 | M. Marcel | TWF | LW/C | 64 |
| 4 | 114 | S. Mironov | PLY | C | 56 |
| 5 | 146 | J. Hujer | PWF | LW | 61 |
| 6 | 162 | A. Malkin | PLY | C | 52 |
In the re-sign phase, the Sabres were quiet, with the team only re-signing C L. Rousek (74 SNP), LW B. Murray (77 PWF) and D A. Perrott (71 DFD) to one year contracts. They also signed unsigned forward prospects LW/RW W. von Barnekow (75 TWF) and RW S. Robertsson (71 SNP) to 3 year entry level contracts.
On the first day of free agency, Ketterer swung a trade with the Anaheim Ducks, sending V. Olofsson (83 SNP) west for D prospects J. Lacombe (78 TWD) and N. Warren (67 DFD).
The first dominos fell on 07/04/23, with the Sabres signing the following restricted free agents: D A. Andersson (77 DFD), G C. Lindbom (75 HYB) and C M. McLeod (80 TWF). The first two were depth for Rochester, and the latter was pencilled in as the Sabres 4th line centre.
Liking the idea of centre depth, the following day the Sabres signed the biggest free agent, landing C P. Bergeron (90 TWF) to a one year, $8M contract. The veteran was brought in for his leadership and teaching ability, with the hopes that having him will allow the Sabres young centre corps to get better at faceoffs.
The next day, Ketterer looked west again and made a trade with the Arizona Coyotes. They acquired D S. Weber (70 TWD) in exchange for recently drafted C prospect A. Malkin (52 PLY). Weber was assigned to Rochester to help teach the young Sabres prospects.
On 07/08/23, the Sabres signed C V. Filppula (76 PLY), luring him back to North America from Liiga, and assigned him to Rochester to teach their prospects.
On 07/09/23, the Sabres swung two trades. First up was with the Winnipeg Jets, sending LW/C Z. Girgensons to Manitoba for 3 prospects: C C. Pitre (60 SNP), RW F. Wagner (64 PLY), and LW R. Bochenski (60 TWF). Next they traded D with Nashville, sending D J. Rathbone (79 TWD) in exchange for D J. Matier (68 TWD).
On 07/12/23, the Sabres signed restricted free agent LW/C P. Kurashev (81 PLY) to a one year contract worth $1.45M.
On 07/13/23, Ketterer decided to weaken an Atlantic division opponent further, signed C D. Krejci (85 PLY) to a one year, $4.725M contract.
With the NHL team taken care of, Ketterer decided to target more defensive depth. On 07/19/23, he signed D D. Samberg (78 TWD) and D N. Meloche (79 TWD) to identical one year, $875K contracts.
During training camp, Ketterer made one more trade to free up a contract spot. Seeing he was pushed out over the summer, D B. Scanlin (67 DFD) was traded to Toronto for prospect C P. Vesterhelm (56 PLY).
Entering the season, the Sabres look like Cup contenders.
Skinner 87 SNP - Thompson 93 PWF - Quinn 81 SNP
Bergeron 90 TWF - Mittelstadt 85 PLY - Tuch 87 PWF
Peterka 82 TWF - Cozens 87 TWF - Krejci 84 TWF
Greenway 81 PWF - McLeod 80 TWwellF - Kurashev 81 SNP
Krebs 80 PLY
Dahlin 92 TWD - Samuelsson 81 DFD
Power 86 TWD - Peeke 82 DFD
Salo 80 DFD - Jokiharju 83 TWD
Lyubushkin 81 DFD
Levi 85 HYB - Vejmelka 84 HYB
Only time will tell if Ketterer's gambles pay off. The city of Buffalo is hoping so.
Go Sabres
