Where are the trade rumors?
It's the most pressing question surrounding the Buffalo Sabres with just one week until the 2026 NHL trade deadline. General manager Jarmo Kekalainen has been labeled as an aggressive buyer since early January, but so far there's no concrete evidence of movement.
Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reported Friday the Sabres are "going for it" and will likely retain impending unrestricted free agent Alex Tuch, but the popular NHL insider didn't name any potential targets for the Blue and Gold on the trade market.
Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic wrote nearly 2,500 words Thursday night with the latest rumors ahead of the deadline, including updates on some of the biggest names available. Buffalo wasn't mentioned a single time.
So, while there has been some baseline speculation linking the Sabres to players in obvious areas of need (offensive-minded forwards and defensive depth), there's been nothing to suggest Kekalainen is on the doorstep of a significant addition.
That's a concern as the franchise attempts to take the final steps toward its first appearance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs since 2011, and it's compounded by the fact the Atlantic Division rival Detroit Red Wings are being heavily mentioned in the rumor mill.
Things could always change quickly, of course. All it takes is one phone call to flip the narrative. Yet, those expecting a blockbuster deadline splash may need to temper expectations.
Should Buffalo Sabres fans begin preparing for a quiet NHL trade deadline?
Kekalainen made it clear he's not going to sacrifice the opportunity to build a consistent winner to chase a short-term upgrade.
"I'm not going to sacrifice the ultimate goal for the sake of making the playoffs and then not having any sustainability for our goal as a team to take the next step and have it be an opportunity, a chance to compete for the Stanley Cup," Kekalainen told reporters after taking over the Sabres front office in December. "So, no, we're not going to do that."
Buffalo's long-term outlook is promising thanks to this season's on-ice improvement combined with a prospect pool that's made a lot of positive strides over the past 12 months.
That said, there may be a segment of the long-suffering fanbase that wants to see Kekalainen make some all-in moves to ensure the end of a 14-year playoff drought, the longest such streak in league history.
It'd be possible, too. The Sabres have put together an impressive stockpile of NHL-ready prospects and their first-round draft picks, which they couldn't afford to move while sitting at the bottom of the standings every year, are now a realistic trade chip.
Trading away those assets for rental acquisitions isn't the best course of action, however.
Buffalo is facing a salary-cap crunch this summer, in part because of a $6.4 million dead-cap hit still lingering from the Jeff Skinner buyout, and it'll either need to re-sign Alex Tuch or spend resources to replace him should he leave in free agency.
In turn, the Sabres are going to need young players on team-friendly contracts to make a meaningful impact next season if the club is going to maintain it's upward trajectory. Moving rising stars like Noah Ostlund, Konsta Helenius or Radim Mrtka would come with ample risk.
It's one thing if Kekalainen is chasing a big fish like St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas, who could serve as the Blue and Gold's No. 1 center for a long time, but moving those promising young pieces for a few months of an aging veteran likely wouldn't age well.
All told, Buffalo should ultimately walk away from the deadline with a couple fresh faces, one forward and one defenseman, at minimum. Not bolstering the roster's depth amid an injury-filled campaign would decrease the club's margin for error down the stretch.
Sabres fans may have to wait until the summer for Kekalainen to make the type of franchise-altering moves he became known for during his time with the Columbus Blue Jackets, though.