Buffalo Sabres: Predicting one bold signing, draft pick, and trade in 2023
As the biggest events of the 2023 offseason are near, it’s time to make one ultra-bold prediction for the Buffalo Sabres in three different avenues.
Why is the offseason so much fun? You get to make wild predictions. And while I’ve written extensively about potential moves the Buffalo Sabres will (or won’t) make, and have made a few bold predictions, it’s now time to narrow the bold takes to one in each category.
We know what the Sabres need if they’re interested in returning to the playoffs for the first time in what will be 13 seasons next April. To do that, they will make bold moves on two of the three fronts listed below.
They will also make another big splash in the 2023 NHL Draft, which I’ll also discuss in one of the following slides. But first, let’s talk about bringing in a top four defenseman.
One bold signing, pick, and trade Buffalo Sabres will make in 2023
1 – Forgo signing and extending a young blueliner for someone over 30
I previously listed five defensemen aged 30 and over that the Buffalo Sabres could (and should) target. And if you take one look at the available players, there are plenty of names that have experience winning coupled with sound leadership qualities that will help a young hockey team.
Another reason I’m saying the Sabres sign an over 30 blueliner here as opposed to inking one in their late-20s to a long-term extension comes because of the talent they have in the prospects pool. Even on the verge of playoff contention, Adams will still make roster moves with his prospects in mind.
However, given the amount of cap space the Blue and Gold has in 2023-24, they have the means to pay extra and land a top four defenseman over 30 for perhaps a pair of seasons who will immediately play a prominent role in the group while Ryan Johnson and Company develop in Rochester.
In another previous piece discussing the subject, I was rather cryptic about what kind of defenseman I thought the Sabres would sign, using terms like ‘big name’ and leaving it at that. That big name will be over 30, they will serve the team well, and when someone like Johnson, Nikita Novikov, or Vsevolod Komarov is ready to take over, Buffalo will be in a better place.
2 – Draft a top 10 player who fell down the draft boards
This one is a ‘what do I think will happen’ as opposed to ‘what do I hope will happen.’ Though I had him going early in my first mock draft, I don’t see Kevyn Adams taking a chance on Matvei Michkov if he falls to 13th. There is just too much risk there.
The hope, admittedly, is that David Reinbacher falls, but I’m going to be realistic and say he doesn’t slip out of the top 10. However, in every draft, there is always that ONE player who you think will be a surefire top 10 pick that will fall.
In every draft, regardless of where the Buffalo Sabres pick, Adams always needs to go with the best available, even if that pick has little chance of ever making it to the main roster thanks to lack of room. At that point, you can draft top-end prospects, develop them, and trade them if you need to.
3 – Trade for a goaltender WITHOUT giving up a high-end prospect or pick
I’m going rather bold here and claiming Kevyn Adams will strike a deal with another general manager to bring in a goaltender who can act as a 1A or at worst, a high-end 1B. We’ve seen Adams pull off remarkable trades in the past, so if he gave up expendable players and picks for a goaltender like Juuse Saros, for example, it wouldn’t surprise me.
I’ve already written extensively on potential trade pieces regarding Saros, which you can learn more about by clicking the above link. But the pieces listed, including a prospect like Noah Ostlund, a second or third-round pick, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, and a player not listed, but who is also easily expendable in Victor Olofsson, should all be assets Adams would be more than willing to give up. And assets that the Sabres would be just fine without.
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This would give the Buffalo Sabres a solid option at goaltender to pair with Devon Levi. And just like that, the Blue and Gold are ready to contend in the upcoming season. Plus, they would have more than a viable prospect with that projected top 10 pick that fell to 13th overall.