How could the Buffalo Sabres acquire a top four defenseman?
The Buffalo Sabres could acquire a defenseman via trade this summer, and they have more than enough young talent to trade away.
It’s no secret the Buffalo Sabres need a better defenseman than what they have to play on the top four. They could always lure a free agent to the Queen City, or they can trade for one currently playing for a team looking to either rebuild, or one that doesn’t figure to be in playoff contention for 2023-24.
But what would a potential trade package look like for the Sabres? Well, with a team as stacked in the prospect pool as they still are, they could get ambitious and send a former first round pick to another organization, plus Victor Olofsson, perhaps, and even someone like goaltender Eric Comrie.
Buffalo Sabres could trade for a top four defenseman this summer
Now don’t get me wrong, you won’t see the Sabres trading anyone like Matt Savoie or Jiri Kulich, so please, refrain from the idea that I’m implying anything remotely close to that. Instead, you could see them move someone like Noah Ostlund or Isak Rosen, as they raised their respective values this past season, but at the same time, don’t appear to have the inside track to find a spot on the Sabres any time soon.
Suppose you packaged in Isak Rosen, Eric Comrie, and Victor Olofsson – a high end prospect, a backup goaltender who can float between the AHL and the NHL, plus a proven scorer. Rosen would get a better chance to find a spot on an NHL roster than he currently has in Buffalo, while Comrie could slide in as a backup goaltender, and Olofsson would immediately upgrade a young team’s power play, though there is a strong chance a contender would rather have the winger.
More. Sabres: Trade interest for Olofsson will skyrocket. light
Anyway, this would result in a win-win for the Buffalo Sabres and a potential trading partner. Or, Buffalo could flip Rosen and another prospect like Noah Ostlund for someone on the top four. A year ago, this wouldn’t be the case, but since the Blue and Gold are finally in contention for a playoff spot, and are expected to make the playoffs next season, it’s now a definite possibility.
Source: Sabres mailbag part 2: Is Matt Dumba a fit? Does Buffalo have room for top prospects? by Matthew Fairburn, TheAthletic.com