Top 3 forwards Buffalo Sabres could acquire by trade deadline
By Sion Fawkes
The Buffalo Sabres, if they embark on a hot streak after returning to the ice on February 11th, could wind up as buyers at the trade deadline.
Last week, we talked about three defensemen the Blue and Gold could trade for as the trade deadline nears. Now, it’s time to shift gears and talk about three forwards the Buffalo Sabres could have their eye on with the deadline approaching.
As with the defensemen, don’t expect a trade unless general manager Kevyn Adams isn’t forced to break the bank. The Sabres are by all means a team still under construction and they will likely re-sign Dylan Cozens and Rasmus Dahlin to long-term deals following the season. So keep that in mind as I outline three players who could provide sound supporting roles for the Sabres on or before March 3rd.
The following names won’t entail blockbuster deals. But if the Sabres find themselves on the verge of making a playoff run, they will provide a huge help and an upgrade on the middle to lower lines.
Forward #1 – Nick Ritchie, Arizona Coyotes
If there is one thing the Buffalo Sabres lack, it’s physicality. Right now, Peyton Krebs is the team’s only all-out physical forward, but Nick Ritchie can change that. With 133 hits in just 47 games, you can tell Ritchie is the type of player that seeks out and craves contact.
The 27-year-old is also a decent scorer, with 21 points in 47 games, putting him on pace to best his previous career-high of the 31 points he scored in 2018-19. But if the Sabres were to trade for this lower-liner, it would be for his physical prowess.
Ritchie is the kind of player the Sabres could swap for a mid-round pick either in 2023 or 2024. But with the Arizona Coyotes looking to build their program quickly, expect them to ask for something in the realm of a third round pick in 2023.