Buffalo Sabres get it right by adding the imposing Jordan Greenway
By Sion Fawkes
The Buffalo Sabres needed to get physical, so they added Riley Stillman last week. Now, they just acquired the 6’6, 230lb Jordan Greenway.
Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams has been active during the 2023 NHL trade season. First, he sent Josh Bloom to the Vancouver Canucks system for Riley Stillman, who had an impeccable debut last night.
Then, he shipped Erik Portillo to the Los Angeles Kings system and somehow got a third round pick for the struggling collegiate goaltender. Yesterday, he sent Anders Bjork to the Chicago Blackhawks for future considerations. That trade wasn’t much, but given how poorly Bjork has played, it’s surprising to see that anyone was interested in the fourth-liner.
Then today, Adams iced the trade deadline by acquiring the 6’6, 230lb Jordan Greenway from the Minnesota Wild for a 2023 second round pick and a 2024 fifth round pick. Greenway is a power forward not known for his scoring (seven points in 45 games), but he can hit, hit, and hit some more. He’s also not afraid to sacrifice the body to block a shot or two, something else the Sabres sorely need.
Buffalo Sabres score a high grade in landing Jordan Greenway
As I noted before, the Sabres didn’t need to pull off a blockbuster. Not during a season when you’re fighting for a mere wild card berth and looking to extend several of your top players following the season like Rasmus Dahlin. They need to prioritize their own before anything else if they plan on this team sticking together long-term.
That said, trading for Greenway is an incredible value trade to say the least. No, he isn’t going to score, but you don’t need that when you have one of the top scoring units in hockey. At least when everyone’s healthy.
But the Sabres, until this week, had few players who were willing to hit. Sans Peyton Krebs, Mattias Samuelsson, and Ilya Lyubushkin, who else was there? Dahlin? Yeah, but he’s also a two-way player known just as much for his offensive play.
light. Related Story. Stillman shows physical play, intensity in Buffalo Sabres debut
Enter Riley Stillman, and today, enter Jordan Greenway. Overall, this trade, and those that preceded them, weren’t flashy. But they were necessary, both to perhaps make a wild card push this season and surefire contention in the future, perhaps even as early as 2023-24. Overall, I’m giving this trade an easy A.
Source: Buffalo Sabres Acquire Jordan Greenway by Ethan Hetu, Pro Hockey Rumors
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