Buffalo Sabres – Possible Trade Targets… Let’s Shake Things Up!

The Buffalo Sabres should be a team on the rise this season, but does that mean they’ve improved enough to make the playoffs? Let’s look at some potential trade options that may be key pieces towards making the post season.

I think the majority of us can agree that the Buffalo Sabres at fairly set with centers. Even if we all can’t agree with the lines that our centers will play on, we have more than enough talent at that position. I would be willing to make a similar statement in regards to the RW position.

There are a lot of opinions out there on the areas of need for the Buffalo Sabres. You will often hear LW, defense, and goaltending as areas of concern. I agree that we could certainly use an upgrade on the left side of our forward lines. I also tend to agree that our defense could use improvement, however not as much as some people suggest.

As for goaltending, this is where I’ve seen the most conflicting view points. My personal stance is that if Robin Lehner does stay healthy, we need to give him this year to prove himself and not try to replace him beforehand. I do have concerns over Anders Nilsson serving as our primary backup, however I don’t want to count him out before he has a chance either.

So, without further delay, let’s get to the trade options!

Option 1 – The Buffalo Sabres trade Cody Franson, Brycen Martin, and a 4th round pick –> the Edmonton Oilers for Nail Yakupov.

Analysis – Not all that often is a 1st overall pick available on the trade markets. All signs point to Edmonton wanting to move on from Yakupov. The Oilers need help on defense and this trade would address that. Cody Franson only has a year left on his contract, so he wouldn’t tie up any extended cap space. Brycen Martin is a solid defensive prospect, and the mid draft pick adds a small amount of value as well. The Buffalo Sabres would get an enigmatic player with the potential to be top 6 forward. I do realize that Yakupov mostly plays right wing, however he does shoot left-handed and could potentially be converted to play the left side.

Option 2 – The Buffalo Sabres trade Evander Kane ($2 million retained), Nicholas Baptiste, and a 3rd round pick –> the Vancouver Canucks for Sven Baertschi and Jordan Subban.

Analysis – Of course there was going to be a trade option involving Evander Kane in this post. The Vancouver Canucks are rumored to still have some interest in Kane even with his off-ice issues. If Evander Kane is able to put his personality behind him, he could be a highly effective top 6 winger for the Canucks. The additions of Nicholas Baptiste and the 3rd round pick add some additional value being sent Vancouver’s way. Nicholas Baptiste is a legitimate prospect, however could be considered expendable due to the Sabres depth at RW. In return the Sabres get a rising young player in Sven Baertschi, as well as an offensive prospect on the back end. Jordan Subban is an interesting player as he has been able to put up very good numbers in the AHL. The drawback with Subban is his size and defensive play.

Fan Opinion – Kyle Connor is a player that I would be willing to “overpay” for to get on the Buffalo Sabres. I’m curious to hear what your thoughts are on what it would take to get him. Please let me know in the comments section, thanks!

Option 3 – The Buffalo Sabres trade Hudson Fasching and a 2nd round pick –> the Washington Captials for Jakub Vrana.

Analysis – Okay, hear me out on the this one. The Sabres did give up a good bit to acquire Hudson Fasching. With that being said, Fasching plays the right wing where we have good depth and he holds a decent amount of value. The Washington Capitals have their top 9 left wing solidified by Alex Ovechkin, Andre Burakovsky, and Marcus Johnansson. Jakub Vrana, based on his AHL performance, looks to be ready to step into the NHL this year. The Capitals would gain a solid young player in Fasching who is a natural right wing. The Capitals depth on their right wing is not nearly as impressive as their left side. The 2nd round pick also holds some value as well. The Buffalo Sabres would get a promising young player in Jakub Vrana who could potentially step into a top 9 LW role this season.

Option 4 (Comment Request) – The Buffalo Sabres trade Tyler Ennis, Johan Larsson, Will Borgen, and a 3rd round pick –> the Toronto Maple Leafs for James van Riemsdyke and a 4th round pick.

Analysis – As requested by a fan, here is a trade suggestion to acquire JVR. While I admit this trade is unlikely, it is a fun idea to play around with. In order for us to acquire a former 2nd overall pick, plus considering that player is currently on a rival team, his acquisition will not come cheap. Because of the youth movement in Toronto it’s very possible they could use a player like John Larsson to fill the role of a solid defensive center. In addition, Tyler Ennis does have scoring potential, and Will Borgen is a good physical defensemen prospect. In return the Buffalo Sabres would acquire a big bodied LW with the ability to consistently score when healthy. JVR could be a great fit on the Eichel line, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him put up 60+ points if that happened.

Next: Sabres Top 5 Games: No. 4

Thank you for taking the time to read these trade options. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on what it would take to acquire Kyle Connor. Hopefully you find these trades somewhat within reason, and I would love to hear your feedback in the comments section.

Thank you for reading as always!