A few days back, Jason Moser of Buffalo Hockey Now listed a few potential trade candidates for the Buffalo Sabres from the St. Louis Blues. A couple of names were in the ‘yeah, no thanks’ category while one was a captain who’d be a spiritual successor to Kyle Okposo at this point, and another was next to impossible to think would, but one I’d definitely like to see happen.
That said, one name jumped out more than any other, and I could see general manager Doug Armstrong ‘shocking’ the league by trading them away, even if it wouldn’t shock me. Their name? Jordan Kyrou, who is the team’s leading scorer and points producer.
Now, you may be wondering why on Earth the Blues would trade away someone who appears to be a franchise cornerstone, or at least on the surface. One reason is that Kyrou, despite his solid numbers, has never been consistent in Gateway City.
Okay, so if that’s the case, why would the Sabres even remotely want to consider trading for him? Because it’s obvious that, despite their scoring prowess at times this season, they’re still back-burners when they play what should be winnable games.
Blues winger would be a great fit if the Sabres want to salvage their season
For all it’s worth, Jordan Kyrou has never quite ‘broken out’ in St. Louis, despite 75, 73, and 67-point seasons, each of which saw him putting at least 27 pucks into the net. But he’s not just inconsistent; Kyrou is one of the more turnover-prone forwards in hockey.
So again, Todd, why do you think this would be a fantastic trade? It’s because the Sabres already have more than enough solid forwards to the point Kyrou wouldn’t need to be the top guy. Instead, with far more talent in Buffalo than the bland scoring threats we’re currently seeing in the Lou, Kyrou might actually thrive in such a situation.
And it’s clear the Sabres could use him because outside of Tage Thompson, JJ Peterka, and Alex Tuch, this team is mainly composed of solid but by no means top-six scorers. Kyrou has proven he can be one, but he’s also proven he can’t be the main act.
Okay, to be fair, Robert Thomas is the main act in St. Louis, but since he’s missing extended time with an injury, the weight has fallen on Kyrou’s shoulders. But he’s shown he can’t be the guy, and amidst a still-retooling Blues team alongside a sense of urgency in Buffalo, it’s a trade that would benefit both parties, because Kyrou still belongs as a top-six player.