4 moves the Buffalo Sabres could make before the NHL trade deadline

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — The Buffalo Sabres find themselves in a compelling position as the NHL trade deadline approaches on Friday, March 8.

On one hand, the Sabres have very little chance of making the playoffs and should look to recoup any assets they can for their impending unrestricted free agents. On the other, while 2023-24 doesn’t appear to be Buffalo’s year to snap an NHL-record playoff drought, next season will undoubtedly be an important one for the team and its brass. That means adding player(s) who could be difference makers for the final games of this season and for 2024-25 might be on general manager Kevyn Adams’ mind.

If they do look to add, it would likely be for a player with term who can help spark a Sabres offense that has looked like a shell of its past self. After averaging 3.36 expected goals per 60 in all situations last season, that number has dropped to 3.01 this campaign, good for 27th in the NHL, according to Evolving-Hockey.

Heading into this year’s deadline, Buffalo has $7,986,048 in cap space, according to CapFriendly, giving them plenty of financial flexibility. Additionally, they have arguably the NHL’s deepest prospect pool and most all of their selections over the next two drafts, giving them a plethora of assets they could utilize in a trade.

Adams did make somewhat of a splash last deadline, acquiring forward Jordan Greenway from the Minnesota Wild for a 2023 second-round pick and 2024 fifth-rounder to bolster the team’s postseason run that came up a point short. Greenway has proven to be one of Buffalo’s better defensive forwards this season and an integral piece on the penalty kill.

Here are four moves Buffalo could make before Friday’s 3 p.m. deadline, including selling and buying options. You can stay in the know on any Sabres trade in the coming days via News 4’s tracker.

1. Sell off impending UFAs

This is a trade deadline practice Sabres fans have become accustomed to over the past decade-plus.

There is a slim chance Buffalo makes the playoffs this season, meaning any assets it can pick up for players they would otherwise lose for nothing in free agency would be a win, albeit minor ones.

Defenseman Erik Johnson seems like the prime candidate for a trade to a contender. The 35-year-old was signed to a one-year, $3.25 million deal to bring a veteran presence to Buffalo’s blue line, but has underwhelmed. His -2.7 goals above replacement rank last among Sabres d-men, according to Evolving-Hockey. Adams will likely look for a late-round pick for the 2022 Stanley Cup champion.

Forwards Zemgus Girgensons and Victor Olofsson could also find themselves on the move. Girgensons is the Sabres’ longest-tenured player, spending the past 10 seasons in Buffalo after being drafted in the first round of the 2012 draft. He didn’t quite hit the ceiling fans may have hoped, but he has become a useful fourth-line forward who plays fast and aggressively that a playoff team could use.

There were rumblings Olofsson could be dealt this past offseason, but that did not come to fruition. The 28-year-old has been in and out of Buffalo’s lineup this season but is a year removed from a 28-goal campaign.

Finally, the team’s captain, Kyle Okposo, could see himself leaving the Sabres after eight seasons in search of a first Stanley Cup. Okposo is a well-respected figure within the team’s locker room but at age 35 with an unknown future, he could wish to have a final go at a championship elsewhere. If that is the case, Adams will almost certainly do right by his captain and make a move as long as the price is right.

Other impending free agents that could potentially be on the trade block include Tyson Jost, Eric Comrie, Eric Robinson, and in what would be a significant and surprising move, Casey Mittelstadt.

2. Trade for a forward

As outlined above, the Sabres could use some help generating offense not only as this season comes to a close, but for the following season as well.

While Buffalo boasts talented forward prospects like Jiri Kulich, Matt Savoie and Isak Rosen, expecting them to come in as rookies and provide a significant boost to the team’s offense would be unwise. Making a splash for a top-six capable forward with NHL experience should be a priority for Adams either at the deadline or in the offseason.

So what are some names Buffalo could target to fill that need?

Flyers forward Scott Laughton has been a player rumored to pique the Sabres’ interest. The 29-year-old is under contract for two more seasons at an affordable $3 million cap hit. Laughton has posted nine goals and 30 points this season, a down year compared to 2022-23 when he set career-highs in goals, assists and points. He could provide some needed grit to Buffalo’s lineup to go with some skill that could benefit from a change of scenery, but his underlying numbers paint a bleak picture and Philadelphia could demand a steep return.

Boone Jenner of the lowly Columbus Blue Jackets could be another target. Columbus’ captain has tallied 18 goals and 27 points this season, and could bring a veteran presence as well as a solid two-way game to Buffalo. Additionally, the 30-year-old is under contract until 2026 on an affordable $3.75 million cap hit. The Sabres and Blue Jackets have already done business this year when Eric Robinson was shipped to Buffalo, but that was before Columbus general manager Jarmo Kekäläinen was fired on Feb. 15.

If the Sabres want to make a splash, Blues forward Pavel Buchnevich would be a great way to do it. The price could be high and likely include a touted prospect and a top draft pick, but Buffalo would be bringing in a winger who could provide a significant boost on both ends of the ice. The 28-year-old has 24 goals and 48 points this season and ranks third on the Blues with 261 high-danger scoring chances created while he is on the ice in all situations, according to Natural Stat Trick. Buchnevich is under contract for one more season at a $5.8 million cap hit, which could be an advantage for the Sabres as other teams may struggle to make that figure work. However, with the Blues fighting for a playoff position, it remains to be seen if they will sell, and Buchnevich may be better as an offseason approach.

Other top nine forwards the Sabres could look to that are under team control for next season include the Ducks’ Frank Vatrano, the Rangers’ Kaapo Kakko and potentially the Hurricanes’ Martin Necas if rumors that Carolina may part with him are true.

3. Trade for a defenseman

If the Sabres are going to make any addition before this year’s deadline, it will almost certainly be for a forward. However, if Buffalo can add a defenseman to their top four for the right price that would help solidify the group for next season, it shouldn’t hesitate to do so.

The Ottawa Senators’ Jakob Chychrun is once again on the trading block, and could add some size and grit to the Sabres blue line, and also chip in offensively. The 25-year-old has nine goals and 31 points this season and is under contract through 2025 on a $4.6 million cap hit.

Adam Boqvist has been in and out of the lineup in Columbus, but at age 22, could still have plenty of room to grow at the NHL level. He has one goal and eight points in 28 games this season, and could potentially use a change of scenery. He is under contract for one more season at $2.6 million and could likely be acquired for not too steep of a price.

One of the more standout blue-line options reportedly available is the Flyers’ Sean Walker, who’s had a breakout season in Philadelphia. However, Walker’s contract is up at the end of the season and he is in line for a payday, which would likely not line up with the Sabres’ future intentions.

4. Acquire an asset by being a middleman

The Sabres have a sizable amount of cap space as the deadline approaches, giving them the chance to weaponize it should the right opportunity arise.

Many playoff contending teams are up against the salary cap, which means acquiring players on larger contracts is difficult. That opens up an avenue for the Sabres to take on a percentage of a player’s salary in a three-team trade in exchange for a draft pick or similar asset.

Realistically, Buffalo would pick up a late-round draft selection in this kind of scenario, but an asset is an asset and it would basically be acquired for free.

Adams made a similar move in June 2022, when he acquired the contract of Ben Bishop from Dallas in exchange for a seventh-round draft. This transaction also helped Buffalo reach the cap floor.

Bottom line

This season has not lived up to the Sabres and fans’ expectations alike, but unlike recent letdown campaigns during the playoff drought, the sky is not falling.

Buffalo boasts multiple young, talented players on affordable contracts and a top prospect pool. The team is closer to being a playoff contender than a basement dweller. With that said, the honus falls on Adams to supplement the youthful roster he’s built with veterans who can take it to the next level.

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Adam Gorski is a Buffalo native who joined the News 4 team in 2022. You can find more of his work here.

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