The Buffalo Sabres are desperate to end the franchise's 14-year postseason drought and usher in a new era of sustained success in one of the United States' best hockey markets.
Although the Sabres currently occupy the top wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference as the NHL breaks for the 2026 Winter Olympics, some cracks in the foundation started to emerge leading up to the three-week hiatus.
In turn, Buffalo general manager Jarmo Kekalainen is going to face pressure to bolster the squad with a few additions ahead of the NHL trade deadline on March 6. It'll be a hectic stretch from when the roster freeze is lifted on Feb. 22 until the deadline.
A lot of names are common when it comes to potential Sabres trade candidates. Alex Tuch, whose status remains uncertain as an impending unrestricted free agent, headlines a group that features several top prospects, including Noah Ostlund, Konsta Helenius and Isak Rosen.
Then there are the veterans who Buffalo would probably like to move, led by Jack Quinn and Jordan Greenway, but it's unclear whether there's any market for them. Probably not.
So, let's check out a few other players who could be bantered about by Kekalainen and his colleagues as the Blue and Gold go hunting for an offensive-minded forward and defensive depth.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
A few months ago, the Sabres would have been thrilled if a team was showing serious trade interest in UPL. His numbers had dipped considerably since his breakout 2023-24 campaign and he still has three-plus seasons remaining on a five-year, $23.75 million contract.
Things have changed, though.
Luukkonen helped spark Buffalo's surge up the standings by posting a .922 save percentage across a 10-start stretch beginning in mid-December. It was his best stretch between the pipes in two years, and unfortunately an ill-timed injury cost him a trip to the Olympics with Team Finland.
His strong play combined with the Sabres fighting their way into a playoff position caused the trade rumors to fade away. Yet, it's fair to wonder whether moving UPL should still be considered.
Alex Lyon (.912 SV% in 27 games) has proven he can handle the starting job in the short term and Buffalo still has to figure out its goaltending logjam at some point. Colten Ellis and Devon Levi will be seeking full-time NHL roles in the years ahead.
In addition, if Luukkonen's play drops off during the stretch run of the regular season, he may once again become unmovable and Kekalainen's window to get an asset or two for him will be closed.
The Sabres may opt for the conservative route of waiting until the summer to begin solving their goalie conundrum, and playing it safe would be understandable given the potential downside of trading a red-hot netminder during a playoff race.
Yet, this feels like Kekalainen's best chance to strike while the iron is hot if he doesn't view UPL as the club's long-term answer in net.
Zac Jones
Jones joined the Sabres organization in July after spending the past five years in a depth role for the New York Rangers.
The 25-year-old defenseman has been outstanding for the AHL's Rochester Americans. He's scored a team-leading 40 points (seven goals and 33 assists) and provided much-needed stability for the Amerks as the Sabres needed several call-ups to fill injury holes in the NHL lineup.
Despite Jones' impressive play, Buffalo has instead placed its faith in Jacob Bryson and Zach Metsa to play while Michael Kesselring and Conor Timmins dealt with injuries. Ryan Johnson also received a three-game stint with the big club.
Jones wouldn't command much of a trade return by himself, but he could be a good filler piece if a team is in need of a No. 7 blueliner. He's also a restricted free agent at season's end, so the acquiring organization would have the option to keep him at a reasonable price for 2026-27 and beyond.
His performance warrants an NHL opportunity but that seemingly isn't on the horizon in Buffalo.
Maxim Strbak
In terms of prospects, Strbak seems like the player who could command the most league-wide interest while not having a monster impact on the Sabres' organizational depth chart.
The 20-year-old Czech defender has maintained a steady trajectory, including 15 points in 28 games for Michigan State in college hockey this season, and he still projects as a potential second- or third-pair defenseman at the NHL level eventually.
Yet, Buffalo has several blueliners locked in for the long haul — Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Power and Mattias Samuelsson — and Michael Kesselring may ultimately join that group if he's able to bounce back after an injury-prone start to his first campaign with the Blue and Gold.
Strbak, a second-round choice in the 2023 NHL draft, has also seemingly been jumped by 2025 first-rounder Radim Mrtka along with 2024 selections Adam Kleber and Luke Osburn in the race to fill the few spots that may open up on the Buffalo blue line in the coming years.
He's the type of prospect who could really boost an offer if the Sabres attempt to make a blockbuster trade for a top-six forward between now and the deadline.