Shortly after the Florida Panthers' game, the Buffalo Sabres announced a trade that sent defenseman Ryan Johnson to the Pittsburgh Penguins for two defensemen, Caleb Jones and Daniel Laatsch. The obvious reason for the deal would be that it is in response to Rasmus Dahlin leaving early in the game against Florida, however, the reason for this deal might be for an entirely different reason.
After the game, Lindy Ruff provided an update on the Sabres' captain, who left in the second period with an injury. Ruff said that Dahlin's injury was considered 'day-to-day', and he would not play on Tuesday night against the Montreal Canadiens.
While the Sabres might call up a defenseman for the game in place of Dahlin, if it is a short-term injury, general manager Jarmo Kekalainen wouldn't make a trade to add another defenseman. It might have been purely a coincidence that the Sabres made this deal on the same day that Dahlin got hurt and this could be a bigger part of a plan for the Sabres' general manager.
Could this trade be a precursor to a Connor Hellebuyck trade for the Buffalo Sabres?
One of the biggest storylines for the Buffalo Sabres through the first part of the season has been the struggles in net. The duo of Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Colten Ellis haven't been able to play at a high level and could make the Sabres more motivated to finally complete the long-rumored Connor Hellebuyck trade.
The question then becomes why a minor trade like this might be connected to a blockbuster deal like one that would include Connor Hellebuyck. It comes down to what trade packages the Sabres might offer to add Hellebuyck.
It is going to take multiple pieces from the Buffalo Sabres to get that deal done and it is hard to imagine any package the Jets realistically would accept that doesn't include former first-round pick Radim Mrtka.
Mrtka has been in Rochester to begin the season but realistically doesn't have a path to a meaningful role in Buffalo. The Sabres, after new contracts for Olen Zellweger and Louis Crevier this offseason, have five of their Top 6 locked in for the next three seasons, including this one, while also having Daxon Rudolph eventually factoring into this group.
This is not to say that Mrtka is a bad player, but the Sabres have a long-term roster logjam at the position that Mrtka doesn't fit in cleanly. He probably has more value in a trade than staying within the organization.
If the Sabres move him, along with other pieces, the Americans are going to need some depth for their blueline. By moving a player like Johnson, who can bring back two defensemen, opens the door to move Mrtka.
In the end, it might not result in a Connor Hellebuyck trade, but for now, it at least gives Jarmo Kekalainen options to offer up one of their best trade assets while making sure Rochester still has the depth they need on their blueline.
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