BUFFALO, N.Y. — With free agency starting Monday, the Buffalo Sabres have been staying busy with an eye toward next season.
First came the two-day NHL Draft on Friday and Saturday in Las Vegas, quickly followed by a four-day developmental camp at LECOM Harborcenter starting Monday.
In the day between the end of the draft and the start of that camp, the Sabres announced Sunday that they were buying out the final three years of Jeff Skinner's contract.
They also announced that they have extended qualifying offers to forwards Peyton Krebs and Beck Malenstyn, defenseman Henri Jokiharju, and goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.
Krebs played in 80 games last season, scoring four goals and adding 13 assists. The fifth-year player came to Buffalo in the November 2021 trade that sent Jack Eichel to Vegas and also brought Alex Tuch to Buffalo.
Malenstyn was acquired Saturday in a trade with the Washington Capitals. The fourth-year player appeared in 81 games last season, scoring six foals and recording 15 assists.
Jokiharju played in 74 games for the Sabres last season, with three goals and 17 assists. He spent his rookie season in Chicago and the past five seasons in Buffalo.
Luukkonen came through the Sabres' system and played the past four seasons in Buffalo. he played in 54 games last season, notching 27 wins, five shutouts, and a .910 save percentage.
Action will pick up across the NHL on Monday, with the start of free agency.
Just last week, the Florida Panthers beat the Edmonton Oilers in Game 7 to win the Stanley Cup.