Trading for Raffi Torres
On January 12th, 2018, The Hockey Writers outlined the worst roster moves in Buffalo Sabres history. The Raffi Torres trade served as their honorable mention and it is probably still etched in the minds of many fans since this one took place during the 2009-10 season.
That year, the Sabres were among the best teams in the NHL and they eventually topped the Northwest Division with 100 points. Like most buyers near the trade deadline, they wanted one player that would take them over the hill. That player, they hoped, was Torres.
In 60 games with the Columbus Blue Jackets that season, Torres enjoyed a 19.2 shooting percentage, and his 19 goals at the time paced the Sabres when general manager Darcy Regier acquired him. Unfortunately, Torres only logged five assists and zero goals in 14 games with Buffalo.
Some of the highlights regarding Torres’ tenure with the team included him arriving out of shape, losing his spot on the top six, and ultimately riding the bench in the playoffs. After his short stint in Buffalo, Torres played a full season in Vancouver and Phoenix before his relevance waned.