The Buffalo Sabres have been connected to pretty much every available top-six forward throughout the NHL offseason and now you can add another name to the list: Chicago Blackhawks winger Tyler Bertuzzi.
Michael Augello of The Hockey News noted Monday that Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams would "definitely be attracted by a veteran with years remaining on his deal," which is the case with Bertuzzi as he enters the second season of a four-year, $22 million contract.
The Hawks will likely aim to get off to a better start in 2025-26, however, so Augello reported the "odds are" a trade between Chicago and Buffalo wouldn't occur until the season is underway.
Case for Bertuzzi joining the Sabres
Bertuzzi checks a lot of boxes in terms of what Buffalo should be seeking in a potential top-six forward acquisition. He's a veteran with a proven track record of success in key roles. The Sabres need an instant-impact player, not another development project.
The 30-year-old Canadian is coming off a 2024-25 season where he ranked fourth on the Hawks with 46 points (23 goals and 23 assists) while playing all 82 games. His shooting percentage was high (17.6%) but he's always been a player who finishes his chances at a solid rate (14.4% career).
His best scoring campaign came as a member of the Detroit Red Wings in 2021-22 when he tallied 30 goals and 32 helpers in 68 games. In all, he's recorded 307 points in 488 NHL games across nine years with the Hawks, Wings, Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs.
Bertuzzi also brings a physical edge to his game, especially in terms of getting to the front of the net to do the dirty work in the offensive zone. That's an area the Sabres have often struggled during their 14-year playoff drought, which makes him an ideal fit to fill that top-six void.
Case against Bertuzzi joining the Sabres
There's really just one downside to a potential Bertuzzi trade, but it's a significant one: the acquisition cost.
Augello projected Buffalo's offer would need to include at least one of the following highly touted young players: Zach Benson, Konsta Helenius, Devon Levi or Noah Ostlund.
First things first, there's zero chance the Sabres would include Benson in this trade. You can probably count on your fingers and toes how many players in the entire NHL for whom the team's front office would feel comfortable moving the 20-year-old winger. He's on track to become one of the league's best two-way players.
Beyond that, it's also hard to imagine Helenius or Levi being moved at this stage. Helenius has been on a steady rise since being selected in the 2024 first round, while Levi isn't expendable unless Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has a significant bounce-back year in the Buffalo crease.
That leaves Ostlund as the only possible trade building block. In that scenario, however, Chicago would likely want additional prospects and/or draft picks added to the deal. Exactly how much more value is needed would determine whether it's a realistic avenue for the Sabres for explore.
Final thoughts on latest Buffalo trade buzz
Of all the players linked to the Sabres over the past couple months — ever since JJ Peterka was traded to the Utah Mammoth, creating a hole on the top line — Bertuzzi is perhaps the most intriguing.
Buffalo could desperately use a little more snarl in its top-nine forward group. It's a role that fell almost solely on the shoulders of Alex Tuch last season and, while he set a new NHL record for blocked shots by a forward (113), it's a burden that should be shared.
Bertuzzi having that element of grit combined with a résumé that includes a 30-goal campaign represents exactly what the Sabres need.
A lot will depend on how the first few months of the season go, though. If Buffalo is trending toward the playoff race and Chicago quickly fades out of it, maybe the acquisition price will fall into an acceptable range for Adams and the front office.
At that point, only a few questions would remain: Are the Sabres on Bertuzzi's 10-team no-trade list and, if they are, would he willing to waive it? The answer might depend on whether the team is showing legitimate signs of progress early in the season.