You are making the assumption that the same deal was on the table for the Sabres to make.
Yes both players would have had zero choice to come to Buffalo had a deal been completed, however both players were in their final season of RFA Eligibility and could have taken His qualifying offer in Georgiev’s Case or Arbitration Award in Vanecek’s Case and walked to UFA Status this Summer.
Buffalo still populates a lot of players no thanks list and I’m sure both goalies and their agents were told of all interested teams.
Since both teams got acceptable trade offers from Colorado and New Jersey and both players signed three year extensions, why potentially upset the player or more importantly their agent by sending them to a team they maybe do not want to play for.