The Buffalo Sabres will allow goaltender Robin Lehner to hit free agency, rather than tender the restricted free agent with a qualifying offer.

"We've made a decision on Robin Lehner," Sabres general manager Jason Botterill said Friday. "It was a difficult decision. Robin is not coming back next year. We felt we had to make some adjustments."

The deadline to qualify restricted free agents is Monday but the Sabres have opted against giving the 26-year-old Lehner a more than $4 million tender.

Lehner, who joined the Sabres in the 2015 off-season, started 50 games for Buffalo this season, posting a 14-26-9 record with a 3.01 goals-against average and a .908 save percentage. The native of Sweden took over the team's starting role in 2016-17 and recorded a career-high 23 wins in 58 starts with a .920 save percentage.

Linus Ullmark, who played in just five games for the Sabres this season, is expected to serve as the team's starter next season. He posted 1-2 record with a .935 save percentage and a 2.00 GAA in 2017-18.