The way things stand right now, six Buffalo Sabres players – including five who have spent the entire season thus far with the NHL club – will become unrestricted free agents as of July 1, unless the team chooses to sign them beforehand.
An additional 18 players, scattered throughout the Buffalo Sabres, Rochester Americans and even the Elmira Jackals, will become restricted free agents.
The second half of this season is especially important for all of these players, as they look to a) make an impression b) meld with their team(s) and c) consider their future, as well as the Buffalo Sabres’ future, and whether or not those two things coincide.