With the Seattle Kraken Expansion Draft officially in the rear-view mirror, teams now have shifted their focus on the upcoming 2021 NHL Entry Draft. The Buffalo Sabres own the number one overall pick and have been subject to multiple trade rumors that could gain them more first-round picks.
With the trade freeze officially over, this leaves the Sabres with a little over 24 hours to make any deals they want to try and gain more picks with. There have been three main characters in most of the trade rumors surrounding Buffalo over the past few weeks; Rasmus Ristolainen, Jack Eichel, and Sam Reinhart. Who is most likely to be traded before tomorrow night’s first round of the draft? And what will the Sabres be looking to get in return?
Rasmus Ristolainen
It seems like with each day, the trade noise around Ristolainen grows louder and louder. It was recently reported that Kevyn Adams and the Sabres are looking for a first-round pick and a prospect in exchange for Rasmus. Two teams have expressed interest in the Sabres defenseman, the Winnipeg Jets and the Montreal Canadiens.
Rasmus seems to be the most likely member of the Sabres to get traded before the draft begins tomorrow night. If Buffalo were to get a first-round pick in a deal for Risto, it is important to note that the Jets currently hold the 18th pick in the first round, and the Canadiens have the 31st pick.
Sam Reinhart
Reinhart is another potential trade target that wouldn’t surprise anyone if he was moved before tomorrow night. The trade interest has been high surrounding Sam since the end of the season. He has made it fairly clear that he is upset with Buffalo and open to a change in scenery.
Elliotte Friedman reported that the Sabres are asking for a first-round pick plus a prospect in return for Reinhart. So the same asking price they have for Ristolainen.
He reiterated, “I think there’s a TON of interest.”
— The Charging Buffalo (@TheChargingBUF) July 22, 2021
He says the Sabres will have no problem moving him when they decide to do so.
Minnesota, Anaheim and Philly mentioned off the bat as teams with interest.
He mentions the Wild, Ducks, and Flyers as teams that have expressed interest. The Ducks currently have the 3rd overall pick, the Flyers have the 14th, and the Wild have the 22nd overall pick.
Jack Eichel
I think Jack is the least likely of these three to get traded before the draft starts. We have been hearing rumors ever since the regular season ended. It seems like half of the league has had at least some sort of interest in trading for the Sabres captain.
It seems inevitable that Eichel will eventually be traded before next season starts. And it is going to take a significant return for the Sabres to agree to trade Jack, but it is beginning to look like that might have to occur after the 2021 NHL Draft.