The Buffalo Sabres are one point back of the Wild Card spot after the Washington Capitals beat the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday. However, a playoff spot is still very much a realistic possibility after the Sabres have won 12 of their last 13 games.
For new general manager Jarmo Kekalainen, he faces the tough challenge of trying to improve the roster without disrupting the success they have. About a month ago, several players realistically could have been on the trade block, but after the way they have played since then, the Sabres can't afford to move any of them.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
The Buffalo Sabres have to find a solution to their three-goal rotation at some point this season. They have been able to delay a decision for a bit now after Colten Ellis suffered a head injury in December. Then, around the time he was ready to return, Alex Lyon suffered an injury that landed him on injured reserve.
Once Lyon is set to return, the Sabres once again will have to figure out which of the three goalies is the odd man out. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, at the time, was probably the toughest player to move because of his contract, but based on performance, he was going to be the one who should be traded.
That isn't the case anymore after Luukkonen has now put together a great stretch of games, and over the past 10 games, he has been the best goalie in Buffalo. According to Natural Stat Trick, in Luukkonen's last six games in 5v5 situations, he has a goals against average of 1.61, a save percentage of .924 and the only positive goals saved above average at 0.30 among the three goalies.
It certainly won't be an easy decision, but Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen should no longer be considered as the goalie to trade away.
Bo Byram
At the time that Kekalainen took over as general manager, Bowen Byram seemed like a very logical player whom he could offer in trades to try to improve the roster. Byram started the season struggling, and it felt like the team could have buyer's remorse after signing him to a two-year contract extension this summer instead of trading him as a restricted free agent.
Through the first 25 games, Byram had a +/- of -8 with four goals and seven assists, but over the past 17 games, he has five goals and seven assists with a +/- of +11. It has been an impressive turnaround, and he is making the plays that the Sabres expected, like the assists he has had the past two games, setting up Alex Tuch for goals.
With injuries to Michael Kesselring and Conor Timmins, the Sabres are not in a position to trade anyone on their blueline, which could have ended up being a blessing. If Byram was really on the cusp of a breakout season, based on what he has shown over the past few weeks, he can be a difference maker on the Sabres' journey to a playoff spot.
Owen Power
Byram wasn't the only defenseman that the Sabres theoretically could have been offering in trades, but those plans could have changed due to injuries, and now the recent play of Owen Power. Similar to Byram, Owen Power has been playing incredible hockey as of late and showing fans what made the Sabres see to make him the first overall pick in 2021.
Over the past 10 games, Power has five assists after having five assists in the first 31 games of the season, along with a +/- of +6.
There are certainly reasons for the Sabres to move Power, the most notable is his contract with an AAV over $8 million. It would not only help with cap space this season, but moving forward when players like Alex Tuch, Josh Doan, and Zach Benson are all looking for extensions.
However, at 23 years old, he could finally be having the breakout season many expected, and if he does reach that potential, the contract is no longer a concern with what he can do on the ice. Similar to Byram, the Sabres aren't in a position to trade a defenseman with the injuries, but even when Kesselring and Timmons return, Power should remain past the trade deadline and help this team get to the playoffs.