The Buffalo Sabres, if they were to buy at the trade deadline, should not sacrifice the chemistry they’re building for a big name at a steep price.
Logistically, a trade only happens if the Buffalo Sabres enter March having won at least three of their next six contests to close out February and ideally, more. So if they’re in that position, you can expect them to perhaps pull off a trade that will make their team better, maybe to add a physical winger or a defenseman.
There are players they should also avoid. Even if many in the fanbase would otherwise like to see trades for such players occur.
Below, I listed three players that I don’t necessarily expect the Sabres to target. But if they shocked the world and pulled off such a transaction for one of the three, it wouldn’t just be a bad idea in hindsight, but instead, in foresight. Here are three players who could make the Buffalo Sabres worse off.
1 – Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks
Kane’s from Buffalo, so there’s a natural attachment to fans here. But I don’t understand this logic. At 34, and with 37 points in 51 games, Kane’s past his prime.
Yeah, he had two goals in the Blackhawks big win over Ottawa, which ironically helps the Buffalo Sabres. But that’s about the only thing Kane should be doing in regards to assisting the Bllue and Gold. He will be a free agent at the end of this season, and although Kane will no longer demand an AAV of $10 million, he’s still productive enough to desire a heftier sum.
And since the Sabres want to retain their younger talent and sign them to long-term deals. It makes zero sense to acquire Kane for what could be a handful of games. If the Sabres were a top three team in the Atlantic, I may feel otherwise, but that’s not the case.