Time for the Sabres and Flyers to Start Talking Trade

I come bearing good news for all Sabres fans down about their 0-3 start and for the ones who want to get rid of Ryan Miller. The Philadelphia Flyers also find themselves 0-3 to start the year and are in desperate need of a number one netminder. It’s time for Darcy Regier to pick up the phone and make a call to Paul Holmgren to discuss some trade options.

Neither team can be pleased with their 0-3 starts but both teams have pieces that can help the other. What do the Sabres need? They need a forward with leadership who can actually score since Thomas Vanek and Cody Hodgson have decided that scoring is overrated. The Sabres need offence, especially young offence that will grow through the rebuild. The Flyers on the other hand aren’t exactly going through a rebuild but they could really use a number one netminder and some solid defence.

So why are the Sabres the perfect option for the Flyers to trade with? Because they have everything they need. The Sabres have 2 goaltenders who are capable of being starters and 2 more in the minors who are almost ready for NHL action and they have a plethora of defencemen. So let’s make a trade!

First we need to see who the Sabres can offer up. Realistically there shouldn’t be any “untouchables” on the Sabres roster other than the

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rookies and possibly Cody Hodgson. A deal to the Flyers would have to centre around a netminder, either Ryan Miller or Jhonas Enroth. Personally I’d be in favour of sending Enroth, since he hasn’t had a chance to make a name for himself yet and could do so in Philadelphia. With Matt Hackett coming up, there’s no guarantee Enroth will get the crease full-time in the future, but we know Miller wants out soon. Send Enroth to the Flyers for a chance to be a number one netminder and allow Miller to groom Hackett.

Looking at the defence take a pick of anyone other than Nikita Zadorov and Rasmus Ristolainen. Could Tyler Myers benefit from a change of scenery? What about Alexander Sulzer or Brayden McNabb? Move to offence and this could be the perfect deal to throw Drew Stafford or Tyler Ennis into. They Flyers have also expressed interest in Thomas Vanek this offseason so if he decides he’s not staying- and right now why would he- a move to the Flyers could work perfectly.

Next we have to see what the Sabres could get from the Flyers. Before we go to far, it’s unlikely Regier could ever sweet talk Claude Giroux away from the Flyers so let’s leave him off the list. The Sabres need young offence and the two players who stand out are Sean Couturier and Brayden Schenn. The Flyers have made it clear they’re willing to part ways with Couturier and Schenn is an expendable forward for the Flyers. Both players are young, skilled and gritty, all the qualities the Sabres would be looking for in players through the rebuild. The Flyers also have a couple of promising prospects in Scott Laughton and Nick Cousins that might be worth a look if Holmgren would be willing to part with.

Now you have a general idea of the type of players each team would be most willing to move. Now to the fun part, making up trade combinations. Would a Enroth, Myers and Stafford combination be enough to lure Couturier and a prospect/draft pick? What about a Miller for Couturier + a first?

Who or what do you think the Sabres would need to offer up in order to add Couturier and or Schenn? Leave your trade options in the comments below and would you be willing to trade with the Flyers?