2022 Draft: Will the Buffalo Sabres trade up, down, or stay put?

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LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND – JANUARY 22: Ivan Miroshnichenko of Russia and Frank Nazar of USA (R) battle for the puck during the Men’s 6-Team Ice Hockey Tournament Finals Gold Medal Game between Russian Federation and United States on day 13 of the Lausanne 2020 Winter Youth Olympics at Lausanne Vaudoise Arena on January 22, 2020 in Lausanne, Switzerland. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images) /

Why the Buffalo Sabres should trade up

The question in this scenario is a simple one: Does Kevyn Adams feel the Buffalo Sabres are so close to contention AND able to hang onto most of their core that they are one potential playmaker away?

If the answer is yes, then it is realistic for Adams to at least try to package the ninth pick, the sixteenth pick, and perhaps a prospect or two (Ryan Johnson and/or Erik Portillo?) and trade up in the draft. Two names that jump out are Frank Nazar and Logan Cooley, both of whom are versatile enough to play multiple positions.

They are highly productive players who will probably hear their names called by the fifth pick. So if Adams believes the Sabres will benefit via the quality route, he will need to give up quite a bit – the example above is merely a conservative guestimate.

Related Story. Who the Sabres may draft with the ninth pick. light

But it would make sense to trade up if the Sabres are truly one playmaker away from contending long-term and if Adams believes he can provide even more stability by keeping most of the young roster intact five years from today. And if that’s the case, by all means, take the quality route.

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