3 Buffalo Sabres Not Expected Back Next Season

The Buffalo Sabres are one of the best stories of the 2025-26 NHL season. They've shattered expectations and have built a gap in the Atlantic Division, and if they get the goaltending they need in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, could certainly make some noise.

The Sabres didn't do a whole hell of a lot at the trade deadline, but they could be in for quite the summer as they're quickly becoming a team free-agents will have on their radar. Expect to see some roster changes this offseason and here's three Sabres who aren't expected back next year:

Luke Schenn

Make no mistake about it, Schenn is in Buffalo to help this season, and isn't someone expected to sign a contract extension in the summer. Schenn prefers playing on the west coast, closer to family, and is purely a rental for the Sabres, who acquired the veteran blueliner and Logan Stanley from the Winnipeg Jets ahead of the deadline. Stanley has family in southwest Ontario, so he's certainly a candidate to re-sign.

Devon Levi

Levi is quickly becoming a prospect who's leaning towards a bust, as he was highly regarded, but hasn't been able to find his footing at the NHL level. With Alex Lyon and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen under contract for the foreseeable future, Levi's a prime trade candidate to try and land some more help up front. The 24-year-old is 20-17-8 this season in the AHL, with a 2.76 GAA and .906 save percentage. 

Tanner Pearson

Like Schenn, Pearson was brought in as a veteran presence for the depth of the Sabres' lineup, and he's certainly not someone expected to stick around Buffalo. The winger is a pending unrestricted free agent and with declining numbers, will be in tough to land anything more than a league minimum one-year contract this offseason. Unless he goes off in the playoffs, don't expect to see Pearson back in Buffalo.

Photo credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images