The closer the NHL Trade Deadline gets, the more likely it seems that the Buffalo Sabres are not going to be making a big splash. Frankly, they don't need to with how well they have been playing as they look to extend their win streak to four games on Tuesday night against the Vegas Golden Knights.
That doesn't mean that they won't be looking to make moves, but general manager Jarmo Kekalainen is probably looking for depth rather than a headline-grabbing trade. That is what insiders like TSN's Darren Dreger are hearing about the Sabres, and he said as much last week on the Barn Burner Podcast.
"I think they're trying to add depth. I'm told they want to add a bottom-six forward, and they want to add a depth defenseman," Dreger said. "That's normally the standard sort of messaging and search for teams that also want to be mindful of chemistry.
With that thought in mind, these are three under-the-radar players that the Buffalo Sabres could target to address some of those needs.
3 under-the-radar trade targets for the Buffalo Sabres before the trade deadline
Simon Benoit
Recently, I put together a list of four defenseman that the Buffalo Sabres could target at the trade deadline. Most of the players could fit the Sabres need but Connor Murphy is no longer available after the Blackhawks traded him to the Edmonton Oilers.
One player that wasn't on that list but could be a good fit is Toronto Maple Leafs' defenseman Simon Benoit. The 27-year-old is in his third season with the Maple Leafs and in 53 games has 143 hits and 83 blocked shots.
For the Sabres, a player like Benoit could be a great upgrade for their third pair, and the Sabres could build a three-man rotation for that last pair between Michael Kesselring, Conor Timmins, and Benoit. This is also a move that could help past this season, as Benoit is under contract through next season with a very reasonable AAV of only $1.35 million.
Nick Foligno
If the Buffalo Sabres want to add a bottom-six forward with veteran experience, the Chicago Blackhawks Nick Foligno. At this point in his career, Foligno is limited in what he can do on the ice, and in 36 games, he has only 11 points with an average ice time of only 12:50.
However, he has plenty of hockey leadership that could be valuable in a locker room like the Buffalo Sabres. He has been a captain for the Blackhawks for the past two seasons and was a captain for a number of seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The time with the Blue Jackets is notable as Jarmo Kekalainen was general manager during Foligno's time, and he saw firsthand what Foligno can bring to a locker room. The addition of Foligno could check a lot of boxes for the Buffalo Sabres and seems like one of the more likely trades to happen.
Ryan Lomberg
The Calgary Flames are one of the teams that the rest of the league is watching closely, as they have several players they could be trading before Friday's deadline. While this includes big-name players like Nazem Kadri and Blake Coleman, the Sabres could be interested in forward Ryan Lomberg.
He is a player who excels on the fourth line and over the past three seasons averaged less than 10 minutes per game, but has averaged over two hits per game. Lomberg also has playoff experience and even won a Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers back in 2024.
With how the Buffalo Sabres have been playing, they don't necessarily have any glaring needs and don't have to make a big move over the next week. However, adding any of these three players could help add depth and some veteran leadership to the locker room.