Buffalo Sabres Guide To NHL Trade Deadline Day

ByMelissa Kania|
Jan 12, 2016; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Buffalo Sabres forward Jamie McGinn (88) celebrates his goal in the first period against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 12, 2016; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Buffalo Sabres forward Jamie McGinn (88) celebrates his goal in the first period against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

Buffalo Sabres fans: we all know that today is one of the most exciting days in the NHL season.

Well, at least for fans of teams who aren’t going to make the playoffs this year. (But I digress.)

It seems likely that Buffalo Sabres GM Tim Murray will make at least a few moves before today’s 3 p.m. deadline, and of course, we all want to stay on top of things!

But what are the best ways to do that? How can you avoid getting duped by a fake insider account on Twitter? Where can you find the legitimate news?

Look no further. Here’s a quick, handy guide on how to survive NHL trade deadline day for Buffalo Sabres fans:

1. Avoid fake accounts.

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It’s easy to get duped on Twitter. Someone with a username that appears similar to a legitimate account – and even their photo! – shows up in your timeline claiming some ridiculous deal has been made. It’s easy to look quickly and get played.

You can avoid this in a couple of ways.

First, double-check the account. Number of followers is a clear indication almost right away as to whether they’re legitimate or not.

Remember that even though the username might LOOK correct, it may still not be. On Twitter, it’s easy to substitute a “1” for an “L” and quickly make your fake account look real. Check the bio, check the followers, and check how many Tweets they have. The real guys from TSN and other legit sources won’t have just created their accounts today.

Also, if you see a fake account: report it! Also block it so you won’t get fooled again.

2. Wait for confirmed team account reports.

Timing is everything with breaking news like the trade deadlines, but if you’re not sure if a trade really happened, sometimes it’s best to wait for a confirmed NHL team account to send out the report, whether that comes via Twitter, press release, website report, etc.

Wait before you flip out about the Sabres getting McDavid – it ain’t happening.

3. Keep tabs on the web.

Here are some legitimate news sites with NHL trade trackers that Buffalo Sabres fans can rely on:

  • TSN Trade Tracker (updated regularly & fairly quickly)
  • Canadian fans can also watch TSN’s live Tradecentre coverage online here. (Must sign in with TV provider)
  • NHL.com Trade Tracker (updated regularly, though not as quickly as TSN)

4. Follow the verified reporters.

Here are the big ones to follow on Twitter.

  • Darren Dreger: @DarrenDreger
  • Bob McKenzie: @TSNBobMcKenzie
  • Craig Custance: @CraigCustance
  • John Vogl: @BuffNewsVogl
  • Mike Harrington: @BNHarrington

5. Remember the AHL-eligiblity rules.

Though this is a minor point, some players may be moved down to their respective AHL clubs today.

Players must be on AHL rosters at 3 p.m. EST today in order to be eligible for playoffs.

Teams can literally send players down and then recall them again at 3:01, but just keep this in mind. Paper moves are likely coming for some teams.

6. Deals can be announced after 3 p.m.

This may seem like an obvious one, but it’s one to keep in mind. The rules are that trade calls have to be into the NHL by 3 p.m. EST.

With deals coming in potentially so late, this means of course that there will inevitably be trades that aren’t officially announced until after the deadline has passed.

So, don’t forget to stay tuned throughout the day, even after the technical deadline is over, to make sure you don’t miss anything!

Next: Murray Has A Lot of Work To Do

There you have it, folks. Today has the potential to be a really exciting day across the league and especially for Buffalo Sabres fans, depending on what Tim Murray has in store.

Who won’t be a member of the Buffalo Sabres anymore by the deadline? Who will head into Buffalo?