Sabres GM Jarmo Kekalainen weighs offensive retooling after departures, with Jared McCann among possible targets

The Buffalo Sabres are casting a wide net in the early stages of the NHL offseason, and one name that has started to circulate in connection with them is Seattle Kraken forward Jared McCann. The discussion centers on the idea that Buffalo needs added scoring punch after offensive production was lost when winger Alex Tuch and defenseman Bowen Byram left the roster picture, creating a broader need to replace goals and two-way impact.

In the specific scenario being floated, McCann’s profile fits the kind of established forward acquisition a rebuilding or retooling team might target during the post-draft stretch. He scored 20 goals in 52 games last season for Seattle, a production rate that would be attractive to a Sabres group looking for immediate help rather than only incremental development from within.

The league context matters here. The NHL is moving through the trade-season environment that follows the draft and lines up with the opening of free agency on July 1, when teams can adjust quickly based on what they can address through trades versus contracts. For Buffalo, the priority described is offense, with the expectation that Kekalainen will try to offset the scoring gap created by the departures.

According to the report, McCann is in the final year of a five-year, $25 million contract with Seattle and carries a $5 million cap hit. That kind of cap certainty can be a key factor for teams that have limited flexibility, and it also makes the “rental” concept more plausible if talks are framed around a short-term window rather than a long commitment.

There are also practical constraints to consider. The report notes McCann has a 10-team modified no-trade list, meaning any potential trade would require him to be willing to accept the destination within those restrictions. It also characterizes last season as limited by recurrent lower-body injuries, though he still produced 40 points on the year (20 goals, 20 assists) despite missing time.

The Sabres’ broader roster-building picture adds urgency to the discussion. The report suggests that any addition should help relieve pressure on younger players, including forwards such as Konsta Helenius, Jiri Kulich, and Noah Ostlund, who would otherwise be asked to absorb a larger portion of the offensive workload in the wake of the departures.

What to watch next is whether Buffalo’s offseason approach becomes more concrete around a specific profile like McCann, or whether the market shifts toward other types of forward upgrades. Trade-season pricing, no-trade constraints, and whether Seattle is open to moving a productive, cap-contained winger will likely determine how far this possibility can develop into actual negotiations.

If the Sabres can successfully add offense without disrupting their development runway, it could shape how quickly Buffalo turns the corner in the standings. For now, McCann remains best understood as a rumored fit for a clear need rather than a confirmed direction, and the next wave of rumors and team announcements will clarify what is realistic.