The Buffalo Sabres are certainly going to be keeping tabs on the trade market and there might be some moves out there to be made prior to the start of the season. The most likely scenario would be with the Penguins, who seem interested in moving Bryan Rust or Rickard Rakell, and either player would be a fit on this team.
However, for this article, we are looking to go big for the Sabres and look at some players that could be available. These are the type of players that could transform the team and significantly increase expectations and make Buffalo a legitimate playoff contender.
In the end, the chances of a trade like this happening are slim but fans might be worth watching these players and how their situation plays out with their current team.
Jason Robertson
Jason Robertson has quickly emerged as one of the top wings in the NHL with 168 goals in only 374 games, including back-to-back seasons with 40+ goals in 2021-22 and 2022-23. It is hard to imagine that a player who has produced like he has and is only 26 years old would be available. However, the Dallas Stars are in a salary cap crunch, and Robertson is entering the final year of his contract.
If the Stars feel like a new deal is not going to happen, they could make him available and the Sabres have what Dallas might be looking for in younger players on responsible contracts. A top line that includes Tage Thompson and Robertson could be a nightmare for opposing teams and really help transform this group.
Martin Necas
Martin Necas is another player that is in the same situation as Robertson in that he is a talented forward who is entering the final year of his contract. However, the longer he goes out with a new deal, the chances of a trade certainly go up.
This past season was Necas' first with the Avalanche after he was part of the Mikko Rantanen trade during the season. He began his career with the Carolina Hurricanes and in two of the past three seasons has finished with 70 or more points.
Marco Rossi
Marco Rossi is currently a restricted free agent, so the Buffalo Sabres, in theory, could sign him to an offer sheet, and if the Wild don't match, they would send the necessary draft compensation to Minnesota. However, the Wild probably match any offer sheet Rossi gets even though the two sides have been unable to come to an agreement.
Another avenue for the Sabres is to work out a trade with Minnesota for the center, and if they could do that, it would have a similar impact to what Necas would bring. The only concern with Rossi is his size at only 5'9", but that has stopped him from having back-to-back 20-goal seasons and increasing his points total from 40 to 60.
Rossi is a player who seemingly is only getting better and is about to enter the prime of his career. He is a talented player who would only make the Sabres better.
Mason McTavish
The final player is another restricted free agent in Mason McTavish, who the Sabres once again could go the route of just signing him to an offer sheet, but a trade would make more sense. According to Frank Seravalli, the sense he is getting is that McTavish is looking to get out of Anaheim due to the lack of winning.
Now, Buffalo hasn't had much winning recently either so they can't really sell him on that part of it. However, what they can offer that the Ducks can't is a chance to be a top-line center because of Leo Carlsson in Anaheim.
While a new contract hasn't been agreed to, the Ducks can wait this out because no matter the offer sheet McTavish signs, they have the cap space to match (and probably would). The Sabres probably have to offer a lot in a trade but he is another player that could be a difference maker for this franchise and help end this playoff drought.