BUFFALO, N.Y. — Jarmo Kekäläinen checked off the first big item on his offseason to-do list, signing coach Lindy Ruff to a two-year contract extension less than 48 hours after the Buffalo Sabres’ season ended.Kekäläinen called that move a “no-brainer” during his end-of-season media availability on Wednesday. Ruff, 66, is a franchise icon and a finalist for the Jack Adams Award. He coached the Sabres to first place in the Atlantic Division and their first playoff berth in 15 years.That removes one element of uncertainty heading into the offseason, but Kekäläinen still has a lot to figure out when it comes to this roster. The Sabres were one goal away from advancing to the Eastern Conference finals. They have the core pieces in place to be back next season.“This is just the beginning,” Kekäläinen said.But there are a lot of decisions for the Sabres to make this summer that will impact the roster in 2026-27 and beyond. And during an answer about Josh Doan, Ruff provided the words that should guide the entire organization this offseason.“There’s always areas to improve,” Ruff said. “If you’re not improving, you’re not keeping up. If you think you’ve arrived and it’s, ‘Boy, I’m here now,’ then you’re not getting better.”Here’s a look at some of the key items remaining on Kekäläinen’s offseason to-do list.1. Alex Tuch’s contractExit interview day didn’t provide a ton of clarity on the Alex Tuch situation. Kekäläinen said he wants Tuch back but needs to find a contract that makes sense and also allows the team to get better under the salary cap. Tuch has loved his time in Buffalo, but he’s going to do what’s best for him and his family. If the Sabres are going to bring Tuch back, they may need to leverage the fact that they can give him eight years while other teams can only give him seven. To that end, an eight-year deal at $9 million per year is worth more total money than a seven-year deal worth $10 million per year on the open market. This doesn’t strike me as a situation that will be resolved quickly, but it’s an important domino for the offseason. The Sabres have $12.9 million in salary cap space entering the offseason. If they want to make room for Tuch, it could require shedding Jordan Greenway’s salary and moving out some other money.2. Zach Benson’s contractKekäläinen wasn’t shy about how he feels about Zach Benson. He cracked a smile when asked about him on Wednesday and gushed about his game. He wants to get Benson locked up to a long-term contract. But Benson’s case is an interesting one. Will he want to sign long-term when he’s only just begun to scratch the surface of his potential? He had 43 points this season after overcoming some early-season injuries. He then had nine points in 13 playoff games and was one of Buffalo’s most consistent and valuable players. With the cap going up in the next few years, Benson could bet on himself and sign a shorter-term deal to cash in on a bigger payday down the road. The question is whether there is a number that would convince him to sign longer-term. AFP Analytics projects Benson to make $6.95 million per year on a seven-year contract. That would be a bargain for Buffalo and a smart piece of business.Bowen Byram had seven points in 13 playoff games for Buffalo. (Timothy T. Ludwig / Imagn Images)3. Bowen Byram’s contractBowen Byram said he thought after he signed his extension last summer that he wouldn’t have to talk about his contract for a while. But he signed a two-year deal, which means he’s eligible to sign an extension again this summer. Byram is now one year away from hitting unrestricted free agency, and Kekäläinen told him in his exit interview that he would love to keep him in Buffalo. The Sabres’ top-four defensemen were a major reason why the team had the success it did this season. All four are 26 or younger, but Byram is the only one who doesn’t have a long-term contract.He wants to play for a winner, and the Sabres now check that box. The question is whether he sees a path to the type of role he wants in Buffalo with Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Power and Mattias Samuelsson also eating up big minutes. Byram did get more time as the quarterback of the second power-play unit this season, but if he wants to be a top pair defensemen and get the contract that matches that role, free agency might be his best bet. If he’s happy with his role here, the Sabres should be able to find a way to keep him around beyond next season.