Blueliner T.J. Brennan is a pending restricted free agent.
"It allows us to not only look at our defense, and we feel comfortable there, but it gives us an opportunity to look at the movement maybe up front as well," Sabres GM Darcy Regier told the News.
While Regier is expected to tender qualifying offers to all his restricted free agents, which includes center Tyler Ennis, the position is likely to draw the attention of the GM this summer.
"The right center ice is a priority," he said. "The real unknown here is what the trade market will hold. Nothing has started. It doesn't get started until after the playoffs. Teams begin to talk, and then it really builds as you go into the draft. It's tough to know what will be available, but if we can find the right centerman it would help."
The Sabres' top three centers include Ennis, Hodgson and Derek Roy, who is entering the final year of his contract and had been at the center of several trade rumors throughout the season.
"We expect him back at this point," Regier said, "and we expect him to have a good season at this point."
