The Buffalo Sabres traded prospect Erik Portillo to Los Angeles for a third round pick, paving the way for Devon Levi when the latter signs.
While you may have lamented about Jakob Chychrun going to Ottawa, Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams pulled a brilliant under-the-radar trade, sending Michigan goaltender Erik Portillo to the Los Angeles Kings for a third round pick in 2023. A remarkable value trade, to say the least, as Portillo has struggled this season in the college ranks with just a 0.901 save percentage and a 3.01 GAA.
In contrast, Portillo had a GAA of 2.14 last season, and a save percentage of 0.926. Further, with Devon Levi’s presence, Portillo was also not likely to sign with the Sabres.
Levi has been outstanding in the net at Northeastern. Last year, he snagged a 0.952 save percentage and a 1.52 GAA. And this season, he followed it up with a 0.934 percentage and 2.20 GAA, light years ahead of Portillo. Levi also totaled 10 shutouts during his 2021-22 campaign with the Huskies, and he’s currently sitting at 6 this season.
Buffalo Sabres loading up on draft picks once more
Despite having one of the league’s best prospect pools, the Sabres need defensemen. And while they have several high-profile names in the junior ranks like Vsevolod Komarov and Mats Lindgren, adding talent is something they need after it’s become more than clear the rotation has been nothing but subpar at the NHL and AHL levels.
Therefore, look for the Sabres to use most of the picks they got – five in the first three rounds – heavily on defensemen. They are also hoping Ryan Johnson signs, which could, in time, give the Blue and Gold a formidable top four to work with. But they would still need help on the bottom pairing.
Overall, Adams swapping Portillo for a mid-round pick was genius, and it was something few of us would have believed another club would have paid for. This trade, though under the radar, gets an A+ in my book.
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(Statistics provided by Elite-Prospects)
Source: Kings Acquire Rights to Goaltender Erik Portillo from the Buffalo Sabres by LA Kings PR, NHL.com/Kings