Buffalo Sabres: Pros and cons of an Alex DeBrincat trade

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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – MARCH 20: Alex DeBrincat #12 of the Chicago Blackhawks and Dylan Demelo #2 of the Winnipeg Jets battle for control of the puck in the second period on March 20, 2022 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) /

Cons

The obvious con would be general manager Kevyn Adams deviating from the plan he had set forth for the Buffalo Sabres: Build and find star players through the draft and the system. Trading for DeBrincat would throw off those plans entirely.

Then there is DeBrincat’s contract. He is playing in a contract year, slated to earn a $9 million salary. When he reaches the bargaining table as a restricted free agent, you can bet DeBrincat is going to want a ransom. Will the Sabres give it to him considering they have cornerstones to ink to extensions? Again, a trade for DeBrincat throws a dagger into their long-term plans.

Finally, we have the case of chemistry. If the Sabres were to trade for DeBrincat, he is yet another new face that would need to build chemistry with his new teammates. Chemistry that a certain RFA named Victor Olofsson already built. That alone is going to take time and it will see a growing pain or two.

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