Top 3 Buffalo Sabres trade deadline candidates, ranked

BUFFALO, NY - OCTOBER 14: Robert Hagg #8 of the Buffalo Sabres skates with the puck as Nick Suzuki #14 of the Montreal Canadiens pursues during the third period at KeyBank Center on October 14, 2021 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Kevin Hoffman/Getty Images)
BUFFALO, NY - OCTOBER 14: Robert Hagg #8 of the Buffalo Sabres skates with the puck as Nick Suzuki #14 of the Montreal Canadiens pursues during the third period at KeyBank Center on October 14, 2021 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Kevin Hoffman/Getty Images)
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Buffalo Sabres goaltender Craig Anderson
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 01: Craig Anderson #41 of the Buffalo Sabres waits for a faceoff in the second period of a game against the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on February 1, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Golden Knights defeated the Sabres 5-2. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

The Buffalo Sabres already traded their top two trade candidates in July and November 2021 when they shipped Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart

As potential sellers at the NHL trade deadline, the Buffalo Sabres may not be finished. There are still plenty of names being thrown around the rumor mill, including four defensemen. The Sabres also have a few aging players that may generate solid returns if they can strike a deal with a contender.

A young team looking to get younger so they can make a strong playoff run in the future, the Sabres can shed some cap space and age, which will let them recall some prospects from the AHL and set the stage for the offseason. They can also, if general manager Kevyn Adams plays his cards right, land some young, NHL-ready talent via a trade (or three).

So which players is Adams most likely to deal? Here are three players ranked by projected returns, starting with a physical defenseman.