Shoutout to @MrApplesauce: I liked his AGM and wanted to make my own tweaks and expand on his work (https://www.capfriendly.com/forums/thread/448277?post_id=2318565). Keep in mind I don't know the Sabres super well: I only really maintain an interest in rebuilding teams.
Tankathon simulation has the Sabres picking third behind the Senators and Devils: my suspicion is that Beniers and Power go first and second overall, leaving the Sabres with Guenther. With the 9th overall pick, I would see the Sabres take Chaz Lucius. The 16th pick would be used to select Matthew Coronato.
Given these picks and assets already in the system, I think the Sabres 'rebuild' should only last 3 years tops and will correlate with the development of the 2021 draft selections: the trio all return to the NCAA/WHL for a season, play in Rochester for a year, and then look to make the big club. Along the way, the Sabres have a near-guaranteed shot at one of Lambert, Savoie, and Wright, as well as a top prospect from the 2023 draft. In the meantime, Laaksonen, Quinn, Samuelsson, and UPL will likely graduate into full-time NHLers for the 2022-23 season while the graduations of Chisholm, Coronato, Guenther, Lucius, Lundkvist, and Peterka all follow suit with the selection of a top prospect at the 2023 draft.
I figure Skinner is going to be bought out at the end of the 2023 season regardless of performance over the next two years. There's a lot of risk in that contract and none of it has been warranted lately. Kapanen and Olofsson are likely Sabres for at least until this point as well, possibly until the end of 2025 when it's no longer feasible to keep their cap on the roster.
The Sabres are going to look top capitalize on waning Bruins and Panthers teams in order to compete for a playoff spot with the likes of Detroit, Montreal, and Ottawa with a fast, high-skilled, very young roster. The selling point for the Pegulas to reinvest in the Sabres like they did in the Bills will likely require an internal cap over the next 5ish years: after bonuses are accounted for, let the extra near-$10M be used to redesign the scouting departments and facilities accessible via the players. This show of good faith to the fans, players, and prospects must be made.
The only reason I don't maximize the available cash for the Pegulas to throw at upper management is because I believe there's an opportunity for the Sabres to pick up Vancouver's pick by 'outbidding' other teams in terms of value going back to the Canucks: Davidsson being a former 2nd rounder, likely not interested in signing in Buffalo, and needing a change in scenery outside of Sweden represents more value going back to Vancouver than most teams looking to take on Eriksson for the Canucks' draft capital. I'd even be willing to include up to the Bruins' 2nd round pick. Key point is getting pick #9 for a year of Louis is always going to be worthwhile to a rebuilding organization.
Alexis is untouchable. I think the offer would start with Kakko and go from there.
I've seen, heard, and believe otherwise:
Panarin and Kreider are signed until the end of time. Depth is great, but Lafreniere coming in at anything above $4M on his next deal (very likely) puts the Rangers in a bad spot in terms of cap. Kakko's emergence as one of the best defensive forwards in the game makes him a hell of a lot harder to justify trading: he's the perfect compliment to either a Kreider-Eichel pairing or a Panarin-Zibenejad pairing, Buchnevich landing on whichever other line while Strome and Kravtsov feast on lesser opposition.
Intrinsically, Kakko has more value to the Rangers today than Lafreniere does. He performs a unique role on the club that isn't predominantly offered elsewhere.
You also have to consider the Sabres' side of this too: top centermen of Eichel's calibre are never made available. Tavares hitting UFA is the only other instance I can think of. These pieces don't move willingly, thus there's always going to be a steep acquisition cost: the Sabres were specific about a return of four first round equivalents: given the minor surplus value going back to New York *plus* the Sabres taking a less prove piece in Lundkvist, there's justification in having Lafreniere over Kakko here.