Buffalo Sabres: Breaking down the 3 trades that brought a new hope

The Buffalo Sabres traded away three former first round picks between July and November 2021. And the trades brought a new hope to the franchise.

The Buffalo Sabres were among the NHL’s most exciting teams between 1996-97 and 2010-11. They earned nine playoff trips, an appearance in the 1999 Stanley Cup Final, and they even won the President’s Trophy in that span.

Following the 2010-11 season, everything crumbled and the dark times began, culminating with the Sabres setting a record no professional sports team wants to associate themselves with: The longest streak without a playoff appearance in league history. 

But, General Manager Kevyn Adams worked the phones and traded away some established performers for the unknown. First, he shipped Rasmus Ristolainen to Philadelphia, before moving Sam Reinhart a day later. In November, Adams sent Jack Eichel to Vegas.

Now that those trades are in hindsight, it is safe to say a new hope has arrived for the Buffalo Sabres. And while nothing is guaranteed in life, we might just say a return to relevancy because of these three trades. Let’s take a closer look at each of them.

Three trades that gave the Buffalo Sabres a new hope: Trade #1 – Rasmus Ristolainen

The Buffalo Sabres traded Rasmus Ristolainen to the Philadelphia Flyers on July 23rd, 2021 after he spent eight seasons with the organization. Ristolainen was a good, not great player, though he displayed two-way ability with the Sabres, something that was rather fringe in Philadelphia.

Trading Ristolainen gave the Sabres defenseman Robert Hagg, a first round pick that they used to select Isak Rosen, and a second rounder in 2023. As we know, Hagg did not work out in the Queen City, and the Sabres shipped him to Florida for a 2022 sixth round pick, which they used to select Gustav Karlsson.

Rosen signed his entry-level deal earlier in 2022, and he is expected to debut in North America this season for the Rochester Americans. So far, this trade is one we will not get the full results of until at least a half-decade down the road. But every time a top 15 pick is involved, it has the potential to be franchise-changing.

Jack Eichel

The Buffalo Sabres sent Eichel and a third round pick for 2023 to the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for what became the 16th pick (Noah Ostlund), a 2023 second round pick, plus Peyton Krebs and Alex Tuch. And we all know how the latter two have worked out for the Sabres so far.

Alex Tuch’s game-winning goal against Vegas was just one of many highlight-reel plays both he and Krebs made as members of the Sabres. Tuch, often stuck on the middle six in Vegas, became a regular member of the first line.

Krebs started his career with the organization in the AHL before he turned into a permanent fixture on the middle lines. And while I chastised the Ostlund selection, it doesn’t mean he wasn’t a bad pick. Check out his career highlight tidbits.

And note, I said that the three trades simply granted the Buffalo Sabres a new hope to be franchise-altering. It doesn’t mean that they will be, but there is a very good chance on the outside looking in that each will send shockwaves through the organization for years to come.