The Buffalo Sabres have forgone any blockbuster trades or free-agent signings to acquire a high-profile forward following the departure of Alex Tuch. Instead, the front office is making a significant bet on the internal improvement of young players to fill the void.
While it's an understandable plan given the Sabres' wealth of young centers and wingers — Zach Benson, Josh Doan, Jack Quinn, Noah Ostlund, Jiri Kulich and Konsta Helenius — there's still risk involved with not directly replacing such a key piece of the roster.
In turn, Lyle Richardson of Bleacher Report named Buffalo as one of the top potential landing spots for Boston Bruins center Pavel Zacha if he's traded during the 2026-27 NHL season.
"Pavel Zacha could be an attractive rental option for the Sabres if younger options like Noah Ostlund, Jiri Kulich or Konsta Helenius aren't ready for the role. His experience could be as invaluable to the Sabres as his versatility and two-way skills."B/R NHL writer Lyle Richardson
Zacha is entering the final season of a four-year, $19 million contract and, barring an extension, will become an unrestricted free agent next summer. His current deal includes an eight-team no-trade clause, and it's unclear whether Buffalo is on that list.
The 29-year-old Czechia native has recorded 407 points (155 goals and 252 assists) in 706 games across 11 NHL seasons with the Bruins and the New Jersey Devils. He compiled a career-high 30 goals along with 35 helpers last season with Boston.
He'd also bring some faceoff acumen to Western New York, having won 53.8 percent of his draws over the past three years with the B's. The Sabres ranked last in the league in 2025-26 with a brutal 45.9 percent mark in the faceoff circle.
The Bruins reached the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season, losing to Buffalo in six games during the opening round, and they're likely aiming for another trip to the postseason next spring.
So, a potential Zacha trade to the Sabres (or another organization) will likely wait until Boston's front office knows what direction its season is heading. If it's making a playoff push, keeping the veteran pivot as an "own rental" will be a consideration.
If the 2015 first-round pick does become available on the trade market, however, the Sabres certainly make a lot of sense as a possible destination on paper.
Sabres GM Jarmo Kekalainen must be prepared to act early in 2026-27
It's impossible to blame Buffalo's front office, led by longtime NHL executive Jarmo Kekalainen, for wanting to see what its young contingent of players can produce before giving up significant assets to acquire a veteran forward like Zacha. It's the right approach to open the campaign.
Kekalainen must be prepared for things to change in the blink of an eye, though.
The Eastern Conference is loaded, and the Sabres may struggle to defend their Atlantic Division title amid challenges from the Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning and Montreal Canadiens as well as the Bruins and a potential resurgent push from the Toronto Maple Leafs.
As a result, the fight for the final few playoff spots in the East will likely be decided by a point or two, leaving an incredibly small margin for error.
It puts Buffalo, which just ended a miserable 14-year postseason drought, in a situation where an early trade may be required if the club gets off to a sluggish start. This probably isn't a situation where the Blue and Gold can wait until mid-December to find their game again, as they did last season.
Kekalainen does have some valuable pieces that could be used in a deal, led by prized prospect Radim Mrtka and the team's first-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft, and he can't be afraid to strike if he feels like his roster needs an early spark.
Whether that's a forward like Zacha or maybe Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck if that situation remains unresolved into the regular season, there may come a moment where the young Sabres could use an infusion of veteran talent and experience.
Kekalainen was never afraid of shaking things up during his extended run as general manager of the Columbus Blue Jackets (2013-24), and he did make a push to land St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas ahead of last season's deadline.
Now, with the Sabres hoping to open their championship window, there will come a moment either during the upcoming campaign or next summer when it's time to get aggressive.
Only time will tell whether Kekalainen is able to deliver the goods.
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