2nd pair LD options

Team: 2019-20 Buffalo Sabres

Initial Creation Date: May 5, 2020

Published: May 5, 2020

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

What are the Sabres going to do with their 2nd pair LD hole?

McCabe and Pilut are essentially 3rd pairing shutdown guys, so I don't see either of them playing the role properly. This position would most likely be played beside Jokiharju for the 20-21 season.
A lot depends on Samuelsson, who I think can fill that role in 2 years. That being said, we either need a 2 year stopgap or I would assume we trade him in a package for someone who can fill the hole long-term.
I used RAPM charts from Evolving Hockey, any players under these categories not mentioned would not be worth trading for: we need players with good analytics

Long term: Brodin, Lindholm, Sergachev- all would cost a lot of assets
2 years left on contract: Kempny (Probably not a huge upgrade from McCabe), Will Butcher (think he would be good, but probably too valuable to NJ at the moment)
3 years: Orlov (probably too valuable to the Caps), Dumoulin (probably too valuable to Pens), Jake Gardiner

Summer UFA option: Brodie- estimated 3 year contract

If I'm the Sabres GM (hopefully not Botts): I would overpay to get Brodie and eventually trade him when Samuelsson/Johnson are ready. Brodie's analytics are fantastic. My backup would be Jake Gardiner and do the same thing, his analytics are decent but nowhere close to as good though. He could be cheap to get from Carolina. I would love Sergachev, but I do not think we have the assets to get him, and Brodin or Lindholm would be great, but they would be taking super long deals into their mid-30's after their current contract is up, and that doesn't align with the Sabres's current core at all. This is all if you believe that Pilut would not improve significantly or if McCabe somehow develops more offense in the offseason, both which seem unlikely at this point

Let me know what you think in comments