In foresight, it made sense for the Buffalo Sabres to be huge sellers at the trade deadline
In hindsight, the Buffalo Sabres may be grateful they did not sell key veterans in March’s trade deadline. Rather than hosting a fire sale, which would have led to a lot of losing in April 2022 with undoubtedly the team pulling young prospects up from the AHL ranks, the Sabres stuck with their key vets.
Some may find it counterintuitive, since a fire sale would have done two things:
- Potentially let younger talents like Jack Quinn and J.J. Peterka develop at the NHL level.
- Tank for a better chance to win the draft lottery.
But Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams felt the team was better off with its veterans. And he was right. For one, the Sabres have drafted in the top ten for years and never once did they draft a player, even a talent like Rasmus Dahlin, that took them over the top and into the playoffs.
While Adams undoubtedly wants the team to get younger, he’s taking the right view with retaining his veterans in hopes they will embrace leadership roles. And such roles will grow more important if the Sabres are either contending for or securing a playoff berth in 2022-23.
Young teams need guidance, and it’s something Adams realized. He also saw potential in a third player whose performances have come on strong in recent games. Therefore, let’s rejoice the fact that Adams didn’t deal the following players.