There are a couple of names I’d target, if I were Jason Botterill, if I could get them for reasonable deals:
This is a guy who has won multiple Stanley Cups, and is the leader that could maybe help get the young entitlement out of the Sabres dressing room. I thought Jack Eichel made strides as the leader of the Sabres last season, but Williams is a respected leader that Eichel could learn from. The winger was a $4.5 million cap hit for the Hurricanes, and if I could get him for under $5 million, I’d pounce on a two-year deal. Williams is 37-years-old, but still productive, scoring 23 goals and 53 points. I don’t think he wants to play any place other than Carolina, but I certainly would try.
The leadership would be the same as Williams, but at 38 goals and 64 points, the 34-year-old still has plenty in the tank. The center's cap hit was $6 million last season and if he’d come for $6.5 million on a two or a three-year deal, I’m in.
Boyle’s cap hit was $2.55 million with Nashville last season. I think the 34-year-old would be a huge upgrade adding size, leadership and a little scoring to the bottom-six forwards. In 73 games, Boyle netted 18 goals last season.
The power winger is only 27-years-old and had a cap hit of $1.75 million with Carolina. He had 17 goals and 40 points in 71 games, but he would add some size with the forwards. Even at a substantial raise, I think he’d be a good addition.
