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Buffalo Sabres: Trade interest for Olofsson will skyrocket

By Sion Fawkes |
Jan 23, 2023; Dallas, Texas, USA; Buffalo Sabres left wing Victor Olofsson (71) skates off the ice after scoring a goal against the Dallas Stars during the third period at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 23, 2023; Dallas, Texas, USA; Buffalo Sabres left wing Victor Olofsson (71) skates off the ice after scoring a goal against the Dallas Stars during the third period at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Victor Olofsson may have been the most disappointing member of the Buffalo Sabres this season, but he will still draw interest around the NHL.

Victor Olofsson is done as a member of the Buffalo Sabres, that much I can say with confidence. He’s a tremendous scorer, especially from the circle, and he has taken his career further than most seventh round draft picks in league history.

But he’s nothing more than a specialist, and the Sabres need more. This is why they will trade him at some point during the summer.

However, as bland as Olofsson’s game has been when he and the Sabres couldn’t find twine, expect many would-be playoff contenders to possess plenty of interest in the Swede. They will need someone capable of scoring from the circle, and Olofsson fits that void better than many in the NHL.

Buffalo Sabres will draw sound interest for Victor Olofsson

Many of us who follow the Sabres would scoff at the proclamation that Olofsson would draw interest, but for teams looking for a power play specialist capable of scoring 20 to 30 goals per season, Olofsson is a luxury. And you can expect them to call general manager Kevyn Adams with a larger trade offer than you would expect.

I’m not saying it will be a blockbuster deal; far from it. But you can be sure that Adams won’t be flipping the winger to another team for a late-round pick, and nothing more.

I know that Olofsson also has his backers in the Queen City, and it’s natural to ask whether you can replace such a reliable goal-scoring asset. The answer is yes, you can, with the likes of young wingers like Jack Quinn or J.J. Peterka.

Must Read. Sabres: 3 major traits an incoming defenseman must possess. light

Especially Peterka, who started taking more shots from the circle as February faded into March, and that trend continued to a degree for the rest of the year. With some seasoning, someone like Peterka could easily wind up replacing Olofsson, and he can also offer more than just taking shots from the circle.

Source: Sabres Mailbag: How will GM Kevyn Adams try to acquire another defenseman? by Lance Lysowski, BuffaloNews.com

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