Curtis Lazar remains unsigned as NHL free agency deepens, putting a former Sabres forward in limbo

With the NHL free-agent market entering its later stages, Curtis Lazar is still without a contract, according to Yahoo Sports’ look at unsigned players tied to the Buffalo Sabres. Lazar, 31, is a familiar name to Sabres supporters from earlier stops in his NHL career, and his current situation highlights how quickly even experienced depth forwards can fall behind the first wave of signings.

Lazar played 45 games for the Edmonton Oilers last season, giving him a recent reference point for teams weighing whether an additional veteran forward can help in a bottom-six role. But with free agency continuing, his status suggests that the path from “available” to “signed” is not automatic, even for players who have logged meaningful NHL minutes recently.

Yahoo Sports frames the decision facing players like Lazar as one of timing and opportunity. When an established depth option remains unsigned into the later part of the offseason, the market can narrow, leaving alternatives such as short-term arrangements, professional tryouts, or playing abroad. For teams, that tradeoff is usually about roster flexibility, chemistry fit, and how quickly a player can provide value.

The Sabres connection also matters for context. Lazar’s earlier presence in Buffalo established him as a role-oriented forward, not a headline scorer, and that kind of player profile often becomes most valuable to teams when they need structure rather than highlight-reel offense. Remaining unsigned, though, can report that teams are still deciding how much they want to invest in veteran depth versus waiting for other options to emerge.

At this point, Lazar’s next move will likely depend on how training camps and preseason plans take shape. Teams that begin camp short on bodies, or that want additional competition for lower-line assignments, are typically the ones most willing to pivot toward tryouts or brief deals. If he can secure an invitation or contract, his ability to pick up quickly and fit into a defined role will likely become the central question.

What to watch next is whether Lazar stays on the sidelines through the later part of free agency, or whether he is eventually pulled into camp by an organization seeking immediate, low-risk depth. In a league where roster construction often accelerates close to camp, his timeline may narrow quickly once teams finalize their groupings.