After a slow start to the season, the Buffalo Sabres are playing much better hockey and have gone 4-1-1 over the past six games. They have done a great job against division rivals to put them right towards the top of the Atlantic Division after a home win against the Detroit Red Wings and taking three of four points from the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Entering the season, the general feel around this team was cautious optimism that quickly faded after the three losses, but has now returned after this stretch of games. General manager Kevyn Adams needs to build on that and already begin trade discussions to add to this roster to keep the momentum going.
Early season trades are somewhat rare but not uncommon, and there has already been one just a few days ago when Lukas Reichel was traded by the Chicago Blackhawks to the Vancouver Canucks. For the Sabres, they don't necessarily need youth but rather should be focused on veterans who can be leaders in the locker room.
These are three players that the Buffalo Sabres should already be targeting and having trade discussions at this point in the season.
3 players the Buffalo Sabres should already be considering to trade for this season
Steven Stamkos
The trade target for the Buffalo Sabres that would drive the biggest headlines would probably be Steven Stamkos; however, it would also be the most unlikely. Stamkos is currently in his second season with the Nashville Predators, and the Predators once again are looking like they could be missing the playoffs.
Last season, they wanted to stay committed to their roster and not be sellers but finding themselves in the same situation, it might be time. It wasn't a great season for Stamkos last year with a -36 and only 53 points and is off to another slow start this season with two points in nine games.
The biggest questions teams will have to ask before trading for Stamkos is whether the decrease in production is because of his team or the fact that he is towards the end of his career. For the Sabres, it feels like it is worth the risk to see if Stamkos would be willing to waive his no-trade clause.
Jean-Gabriel Pageau
The New York Islanders have to be excited about their first overall pick's performance to date in Matthew Schaefer and he will be a big part of their success in the future. However, this season looks like another struggle, and they should be moving some of their older veterans at some point.
One of those players is Jean-Gabriel Pageau, who began his career with the Ottawa Senators before being traded to the Islanders during the 2019-20 season. He is not a player who is going to score a bunch of goals but does the little things that sometimes go unnoticed to help a team be successful.
Pageau is excellent on faceoffs and has a faceoff percentage of 54.5% and this season with the Islanders it is up to 58.1%. He also has plenty of experience on the penalty kill, which the Sabres have excelled at this season and will only improve.
Jean-Gabriel Pageau is in the final year of his contract, but the biggest question is whether he has a modified no-trade clause. It remains to be seen if the Sabres are one of those teams and if he would be willing to waive it if they were.
Rickard Rakell
While the focus for the Buffalo Sabres should be adding someone up the middle with the depth at center lacking after Josh Norris' injury, they have some versatility to move players around and could add a wing if the move makes sense. One of the players that they should do that for is Rickard Rakell.
The Pittsburgh Penguins were expected to be sellers this season, but have gotten off to a tremendous start, going 6-2-1. They may not be looking to move anyone until they start struggling on the ice, and if that moment comes, then the Buffalo Sabres need to be ready.
Rakell is an older player at 32 years old, but had a career year last season with 70 points (35 goals, 35 assists) and doesn't look to be slowing down with eight points in the first nine games. He is a player who would fit nicely on that top line if the Sabres move Tage Thompson back to center.
Similar to Pageau, Rakell has a modified no-trade clause, and if the Sabres are one of the teams on that list, it might be tough to get a deal done. However, if Buffalo keeps winning, it is something he might be willing to waive.
UPDATE: If the Buffalo Sabres are going to trade for Rakell, they are going to have to wait. It was announced on Sunday morning that he underwent successful hand surgery that will keep him out for six to eight weeks.