Buffalo Sabres Hurt, But Possibly Helped, By Yet Another Anaheim Ducks Early Exit

The Buffalo Sabres will not be sending the Anaheim Ducks a “Thank You!” card any time soon – or will they?

Flashback to the last day of February:

With the NHL trade deadline fast approaching, Buffalo Sabres GM Tim Murray sends the only untouchable player worth a damn on Buffalo’s roster to the red-hot Anaheim Ducks in exchange for a conditional pick:

The trade certainly was not a surprise to Sabres fans, but it was a bit disappointing, as McGinn was providing the Sabres with good offensive production and a solid presence in front of the opposition’s net.   It’s never exciting to hear that a likable, productive player gets traded for a third-round pick, given how rarely any player drafted after the second round winds up enjoying a productive NHL career (here’s an interesting read, even though it is from 2014), but the fact that Buffalo could receive a second-round pick if Anaheim managed to advance to the Western Conference Finals gave Sabres fans everywhere a glimmer of hope.

After all, the Ducks were the hottest team in the NHL since Christmas, and were finally looking like the team so many experts had predicted would represent the Western Conference in the 2016 Stanley Cup Final.

But this is the Anaheim Ducks we’re talking ’bout here, folks:

Yep: the Ducks blew another game 7 at home, giving head coach Bruce Boudreau a 1-7 record in game 7s and causing all sorts of mild-heartburn in SoCal.  (Let’s face it: Ducks fans are a bit too laid back to be described as “heartbroken.”)

That last Tweet really perplexes the hell out of me – why would Boudreau sit McGinn on the bench for the entire third period, in a game that the Ducks had to win?  Unless McGinn was injured, and I have read nothing that leads me to believe that was the case, this is just mind-boggling.  McGinn had scored 2 goals in 6 games against the Nashville Predators, second-best on the Ducks, and finished the series scoring on 40% of his shots!  Sure, it’s a small sample size, but it’s a hell of a lot better than Corey Perry‘s 0% shooting for the series.

Next: Buffalo Sabres VS 2016 NHL Playoffs Teams

At any rate, the Buffalo Sabres will not be getting a second-round pick for the McGinn trade, which is a bit of a letdown, for sure.  Chances are, whichever player the Sabres use that pick on will be lucky to enjoy a long career with the Rochester Americans, or just the AHL in general.  So thanks for nothing, Anaheim . . .

. . . except for the fact that the Ducks are sure to see a good deal of upheaval when it comes to both the roster and the coaching staff.  Here’s a team that has won the Pacific Division four years in a row, yet cannot win a game seven at home to save its life.  There is no way that Anaheim’s GM Bob Murray leaves this roster intact, so odds are that Jamie McGinn will be exploring his options via free agency come July 1.  Will he return to the the 716 to be reunited with Ryan O’Reilly, whom he played with in Colorado, and Jack Eichel, etc.?  Only time will tell, but it’s safe to say that Anaheim’s latest flame-out has guaranteed that McGinn will not be remaining in SoCal.

For that, at least, Buffalo Sabres fans can thank the Ducks.