Buffalo Sabres: 3 possible trades at the 2022-23 trade deadline
We are months away from the 2022-23 trade deadline, but that doesn’t mean we can’t make projections for what the Buffalo Sabres might do.
Yes, this is a way too early prediction regarding the Buffalo Sabres and the 2022-23 trade deadline. But after seeing the question posted and answered in Lance Lysowski’s mailbag (link at the end of the article), it piqued my interest of what the Sabres may have in mind.
Last season, I predicted that the Sabres would be sellers at the deadline, but they ended up selling just one player, Robert Hagg, to the Florida Panthers for a sixth round pick. This season, I expect the Sabres to sell at least one of their older players, but I also wouldn’t be surprised if they bought if the price was right.
Let’s explore three possible trades that may occur at the deadline. Starting with a player who has been a Sabre forever.
3 possible trades the Buffalo Sabres might make at the 2022-23 trade deadline: Trade #1 – Zemgus Girgensons
Lysowski implied that Girgensons is the best candidate for the Buffalo Sabres to trade when the deadline approaches. That is, if Girgensons can stay healthy. If you have read my previous articles, you know how much I like him as a player, and preferably as a fourth-line center given his physicality and ability to win face-offs (49.8 FOW in 2021-22).
But with Girgensons starting to age and Lysowski citing the center/winger’s playing style as fit for playoff hockey, odds are great that the Sabres ship him to a contender. Girgensons would likely play on the fourth line elsewhere, or he may even find himself on the checking line and receive even more ice time.
I can also see the Sabres actively trying to shop Girgensons since his contract is up following the 2022-23 seasons. And since he does own a playing style fit for the playoffs, one of the league’s top 16 franchises will find value in him.
Trading for a forward
This past weekend, I’ve had at least two inquiries regarding the Buffalo Sabres situation regarding face-offs, and who would win one with the team either up or down by one goal with a minute to go in the contest. My answer was either Girgensons or Cozens. The former proved last season he can win face-offs at least half the time, while the latter will improve in the category.
But suppose for a second Girgensons and Cozens both regress in winning face-off battles. Now what? If the Sabres even remotely find themselves in contention, expect them to trade for a forward who can win face-offs with the game on the line.
This individual would be a player that, like Girgensons, has an expiring contract toward the end of the season. The team trading them would also pose zero interest in re-signing them, perhaps because of their age or that they no longer fit the system.
Wait? Age? Aren’t the Sabres trying to get younger here? It is true, but this player would be a stopgap solely helping the team return to the playoffs for the first time in about a thousand years. I wouldn’t expect the Sabres to trade anything more than a late-round pick for them.
And I also wouldn’t look for them to stick around Buffalo any longer than a season or two. At least until the Sabres can find a younger replacement to win face-offs.
Kyle Okposo
No, I am not predicting the Buffalo Sabres will ship Okposo out of town. But since the fan posed the question to Lysowski, I wanted to address it. Lysowski even said Okposo would not be traded when he answered the question.
But, the winger is 34 and given his leadership skills both on and off the ice, teams will inquire about him if the Sabres are once again not contending. Lysowski went on board to say that yes, Okposo will be the captain next season, and he can even see the Sabres striking a contract extension with the winger.
That said, the only player you can expect to see the Sabres part ways with is Girgensons. But Lysowski also implied the Sabres would try to bring him back to the Queen City in the Summer of 2023, which would be a catch 44 if they managed to get something valuable for him at the deadline and ended up bringing back one of their most physical players.
Sabres did enough in free agency. light. Related Story
My hope is that the Sabres are playing well enough to buy at the deadline. Preferably to acquire that forward who can win face-offs if Cozens or Girgensons cannot slide into the role. But if they aren’t contending, expect Girgensons to go while they hang onto Okposo.
Article Source: Sabres Mailbag: Why Patrick Kane isn’t a fit for Buffalo … not now, at least by Lance Lysowski