Why the Buffalo Sabres were smart to avoid Meier, Chychrun
By Sion Fawkes
Many in the Buffalo Sabres fanbase wanted to see a blockbuster trade occur. What they got was Riley Stillman, a letdown for that cluster of the base.
The Buffalo Sabres pulled off a low-key trade for former Vancouver Canucks defenseman Riley Stillman as opposed to a blockbuster. So many fans wanted the power forward in Timo Meier (who landed with the New Jersey Devils) while another cluster wanted Arizona Coyotes defenseman Jakob Chychrun.
So it’s easy to sympathize with those fans’ anger. However, this was the right move when you look at what the Sabres want to do long-term. For one, we have no idea if Meier even wanted to end up in Buffalo, so if that was the case, he’d have been nothing more than a rental.
A few fans may be screaming, “Restricted Free Agent!” But being an RFA doesn’t mean that player will return or sign a long-term deal with the club, so that alone would be a risk. And what if he didn’t fit into the system? Once again, that’s a lot of compensation for a player like Meier.
Buffalo Sabres were smart to snag Stillman over Chychrun
While Stillman was a journeyman who is nowhere near a top-tier defenseman, he only cost the Sabres a prospect in Josh Bloom. Another big plus here is the experience Stillman has. Back when he was with the Florida Panthers, he played in a system similar to one head coach Don Granato runs, so this could turn the struggling defenseman’s career around.
He also has a Casey Fitzgerald type of skill-set. He’s physical, and unafraid to get into fights if the team needs an energy boost. Best yet, his $1.35 million cap hit isn’t going to break the bank, and since he’s signed through 2023-24, the Sabres can hang onto him for another season.
The problem with Chychrun is that he would cost the Sabres a ransom, just like Meier. Another issue is that Chychrun carries an AAV of $4.6 million, and his total salary over the next two years exceeds that number.
This would be a major risk on the Sabres part if they traded away multiple prospects plus a high draft pick to land the injury-prone Chychrun. And for a team battling for the wild card as opposed to a higher seed, Chychrun wasn’t worth trading for a the moment.
light. Related Story. Sabres add much-needed physical edge with Riley Stillman
But a low-risk option like Stillman for a prospect who, while good, would have a tough time forcing their way onto the Sabres roster? This trade was a no-brainer, and while it wasn’t glamorous, the worst that can happen is that Stillman flames out at the expense of a prospect, as opposed to what Meier and Chychrun would have cost.
Source: Sabres acquire defenseman Riley Stillman from Vancouver for prospect Josh Bloom by Lance Lysowski
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