Blue Jackets roster moves could point to an intriguing Sabres trade connection

Jarmo Kekalainen appears determined to get a trade done early this season and after missing out on Connor Hellebuyck and with Dylan Larkin unwilling to waive his no-trade clause to join Buffalo, the general manager might be turning his focus to a team he knows well in the Columbus Blue Jackets.

While there is nothing confirmed, there are enough signals that it is worth mentioning and maybe connecting the two teams as trade partners. Kekalainen was general manager for the Columbus Blue Jackets for about 12 seasons before being let go during the 2023-24 season. He joined the Sabres two offseasons ago initially as a senior advisor, before taking over as general manager last December.

On Tuesday, it was reported by The Hockey Writers' Mark Scheig that Jarmo Kekalainen was in attendance for the Blue Jackets game against the Colorado Avalanche. This alone is not a reason to believe a trade is close, but it is at least an indication that the Sabres' general manager might have some interest in the players on the ice.

However, the Blue Jackets on Wednesday put Danton Heinen and Emil Andrae on waivers and it starts to raise some questions. In fact, The Athletic's Aaron Portzline tweeted shortly after those players were put on waivers that the Blue Jackets made these moves for salary cap and roster space reasons. He would speculate that there is something in the works, although not imminent.

While Portzline doesn't connect the Sabres as a team that could be a part of a deal, the timing of these two events certainly could be a coincidence, or maybe there is something more.

Which Columbus Blue Jackets could the Buffalo Sabres be targeting?

If the Buffalo Sabres and Columbus Blue Jackets are discussing a trade, it raises the question of who Jarmo Kekalainen could be targeting in a deal. It almost certainly won't be Zach Werenski or Adam Fantilli, but there are a few other players who might be a fit.

Dmitri Voronko is one of the first players who come to mind, as he has been rumored to be made available by the Blue Jackets. He is a big forward at 6'5" and 230 pounds who was drafted in the fourth round of the 2019 NHL Draft but has struggled to find a spot in the lineup this season.

In 2024-25, Voronko had his best season with 47 points in 73 games, and this past season he had 32 points in 63 games. This season, though, he has played in only eight games with two assists, but Voronko didn't play against the Avalanche, so if he is in the trade, he might be part of a package.

Among the other players who could be on the Sabres' radar are Cole Sillinger and Kent Johnson, both first-round picks who are playing relatively well. Sillinger has eight points in 13 games, and Johnson has been a point-per-game player with 13 points.

One thing that all three of these players have in common is that they were all drafted by Kekalainen when he was general manager of the Blue Jackets. Both Johnson and Sillinger were drafted in the first round of the 2021 NHL Draft, with Johnson being selected fifth and Sillinger picked 12th.

One other player who could be a possibility worth mentioning, although probably unlikely, would be Matthew Knies. The Blue Jackets acquired Knies in the Kirill Marchenko trade with Toronto who hasn't been incredibly productive as of late, with only two points in the last 12 games.

At the end of the day, there may be nothing that comes from this and it could be strictly a coincidence that Kekalainen was doing his due diligence and getting a close look at other players around the league. However, the timing of these two things makes it feel like it is more than that and the Buffalo Sabres' general manager may be closing in on his first trade of the season.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow