NHL Rumors: Top 3 Options For Sabres to Add “Abrasiveness”

Buffalo Sabres GM Kevyn Adams has made it clear that his team is too soft to play against. There’s certainly some high-end talent there up front, but after the season, Adams noted “I do think the bottom six of our lineup, our forward group, we can have a little more — be a little more abrasive, a little more identity.”

With that in mind, the Sabres will be looking for those types of “abrasive” players to add to the roster this summer, and that left Buffalo beat writer Matthew Fairburn of The Athletic to propose the following unrestricted free agent targets for Adams to shoot for:

Anthony Mantha

Mantha was moved at the trade deadline from the Washington Capitals to the Vegas Golden Knights, and in addition to some pretty hefty size to plant in the front of the opposition's net, would bring some valuable playoff experience as well to the Sabres. The 6'5", 234-pounder had a nice 23-goal season overall, making for a nice bounce-back year for the 29-year-old.

Ryan Lomberg

At 5'9", Lomberg doesn't have anywhere near the size of Mantha, but he still hands out plenty of punishment, delivering 179 hits this season in only 9:32 ice time per night. He certainly brings the "abrasiveness" that Adams is looking for in the botttom-six.

Dakota Joshua

Joshua brings all of the aforementioned attributes, with scoring (18 goals in 63 games this season), size (6'3"), and a willingness to use it, with 245 hits handed out this season. That would have easily been tops on the Sabres. The 27-year-old has likely earned himself a nice raise from the $825,000 cap hit he had this season with career highs in goals, points, hits and TOI; the Sabres would be well-advised to offer him that raise.