The Buffalo Sabres have been busy this offseason as they have already completed four trades and Jarmo Kekalainen likely isn't done yet. The next trade could end up being the biggest with recent reporting that the Columbus Blue Jackets are listening on offers for Zach Werenski.
The Blue Jackets were originally going to wait until after the NHL Draft to discuss Werenski's future with the franchise. However, something has changed as Pierre LeBrun is now reporting that the Blue Jackets are listening on offers, although nothing is imminent.
Werenski is coming off a season where he just won the Norris Trophy with 81 points after finishing runner-up to the award last season with 82 points. Werenski has played all 10 seasons and Jarmo Kekalainen knows the defenseman well, as he was the general manager who selected him eighth overall in the 2015 NHL Draft.
Buffalo Sabres should lead with the fourth overall pick in trade discussions for Zach Werenski
With how active Jarmo Kekalainen has been, it is almost guaranteed that he called his former team to potentially lay the groundwork for a trade, if that is a direction he wants to go. The Sabres did just trade away Bowen Byram and Michael Kesselring this offseason, but did bring in Olen Zellweger and Louis Crevier. However, that shouldn't stop them from trying to add arguably one of the best defenseman in the league in Werenski.
There is no one in the league that could match up with a top pair of Rasmus Dahlin and Zach Werenski. The Sabres could then move Mattias Samuelsson to the second pair with Owen Power and build their third pair with Zellweger and Conor Timmins.
The Sabres would be taking a risk because any trade package has to start with the fourth overall pick, and they are going to have to make a decision on that pick in the next hour. The question becomes what else they would have to add, and how confident do they feel they can extend him long-term. The good news is that he does have two years left on his current deal, which gives them time.
There is no question that Jarmo Kekalainen is not afraid to make a big move, as there have been discussions around Connor Hellebuyck and even Jason Robertson. The addition of Zach Werenski would give the Sabres an incredible blueline that gives them an advantage over every other team in the NHL.
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