A total of six restricted free agents received qualifying offers from the Buffalo Sabres ahead of the 5 p.m. ET league-wide deadline on Wednesday. Those six players are forwards Sam Reinhart, Victor Olofsson and Casey Mittelstadt, defensemen Brandon Montour and Lawrence Pilut, and goaltender Linus Ullmark.
However, a total of four restricted free agents were not extended a qualifying offer from the team, making them unrestricted free agents as of Friday at 12 p.m. ET. Those four players are forwards Dominik Kahun and Remi Elie, as well as defensemen Brandon Hickey and Matthew Spencer.
It was no surprise to see players like Elie, Hickey and Spencer not receive a qualifying offer, with all three of them spending time in the American Hockey League with the Rochester Americans.
However, Kahun comes as a surprise to many after a short, but impressive stint with the Sabres after being acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins at the NHL Trade Deadline in exchange for forwards Conor Sheary and Evan Rodrigues.
In six games with the Sabres, Kahun performed well with two goals and two assists for four points. Head coach Ralph Krueger spoke highly of the German forward after his acquisition and into the offseason, and it seemed like that he had plans down the road for Kahun.
It is entirely possible that the Sabres and Kahun can come to terms on a new contract before 12 p.m. ET on Friday, but time is ticking before he can begin contract negotiations with other teams around the league.
In his two seasons playing in the NHL with the Sabres, Penguins and Chicago Blackhawks, Kahun has played admirably with 25 and 43 assists for 68 points in 138 games. He played a nice depth role on the second or third line with all three teams on the wing, but was able to slide up or down the lineup when needed.
When playing professionally overseas in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga in Germany with EHC München, Kahun played at center, and Krueger made mention this offseason that he could make the transition back to center, if needed, in the NHL.
As for the players who did get a qualifying offer, Reinhart, Olofsson, Montour and Ullmark are all eligible for arbitration this offseason.
As for Pilut, he signed a two-year deal in the offseason to play in the Kontinental Hockey League with Traktor Chelyabinsk. The qualifying offer will allow the Sabres to retain his rights for up to three years.
Be sure to track all of the 2020 offseason moves made by the Sabres here: