NHL Trade Rumors: Latest on the Buffalo Sabres buying at the deadline
By Sion Fawkes
The Buffalo Sabres upset two division rivals to climb into the second wild card spot. Does this put them back in the discussion to buy at the deadline?
The Buffalo Sabres find themselves in a place they hadn’t been in nearly 12 long years. Not only are they in the thick of the wild card race, but they’re actually entrenched in one of the two wild card slots. At least for the night and part of today.
And with 25 regular season games left and Buffalo playing at what seems to be a high-octane (and physical) level, do they keep everything as is, or does general manager Kevyn Adams decide to bring someone in from the outside? Of course, I’m not going to get so bold and predict a blockbuster, but at this point, he needs to consider whether a trade will make his team better.
Buffalo Sabres general manager must leave the option to buy open
If Adams believes the Sabres are the best version of themselves as they currently stand, then there is no need to bring someone in from the outside that could possibly mess with the chemistry this team has built throughout the season. On the opposite end of the debate, however, is if Adams thinks the Sabres could be even better off with a trade, then he needs to make one.
As mentioned, don’t expect a Timo Meier or Jakob Chychrun blockbuster, and overall, that would be a bad idea. They’re talented players, but risk, trade compensation, and ultimate price tags could hurt Buffalo long-term, and it’s something they don’t need.
Instead, if Adams were to make a trade, look for a physical defenseman to place onto the third pairing, or a power forward head coach Don Granato could insert onto the bottom six. As for compensation, with the Sabres still, despite being in the playoff race, a team still in building mode, Adams would be wise to avoid parting ways with high draft picks or high-end prospects.
Related Story. The best possible players the Sabres can trade for. light
As it stands, don’t rule the Sabres out from being buyers at the trade deadline. But even if Adams brings someone in, a blockbuster is out of the question. He’s not going to give up a ransom to acquire what could be a 20-game rental. Nor should he.
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