The Buffalo Sabres might be well positioned to contend during the 2026-27 season, but the Alex Tuch question continues to hover over the team like it's the Pixar lamp. And as the clock on such negotiations continues to tick, it might be time for the Sabres' front office to consider top-six forwards that can keep the Sabres in the playoff contender tier while also allowing for the team to continue to gain experience.
I've already made my thoughts clear about Detroit Red Wings forward Patrick Kane as a potential option, but he shouldn't be the only target.
One could throw a plethora of star forward as trade/free agency candidates, but a name that Sabres fan should watch over the next month or two is Vancouver Canucks winger Jake DeBrusk.
A recent piece by The Province reinforced DeBrusk's status as a winger who would feel better suited in a Cup-contending environment, even after he made clear that he would not be part of any rebuild in Vancouver. This makes sense considering that he has seen what success looks like; he was part of a Boston Bruins team that made the Stanley Cup Final in 2019, won the Presidents' Trophy in dominant fashion back in 2023, and forced the Stanley Cup-winning Florida Panthers to six games during the 2024 postseason. DeBrusk has also long been attached to trade rumors; considering that Vancouver's front office only recently shipped anyone with value off at the trade deadline, they could easily do the same for a player like DeBrusk.
While DeBrusk's point-scoring numbers have consistently hovered in and around the high-40's, that lower-than-expected was never the biggest star in Boston. Brad Marchand, David Pastrnak, and Patrice Bergeron were the top dogs in the Bruins lineup for much of DeBrusk's tenure in Boston, while Charlie McAvoy strung two 50-plus point campaigns together in three of DeBrusk's final three years with the organization.
Even in Vancouver, the likes of Elias Pettersson and Filip Hronek outshone DeBrusk's modest but strong offensive production.
But as part of a Sabres forward group sans Tuch, DeBrusk's spotlight would arguably be at its largest. Sure, one could argue that the likes of Ryan McLeod and Josh Doan have done well to establish themselves in Buffalo's forward group, but when it comes to name recognition alone, DeBrusk and Tage Thompson would all but certainly find themselves at the top.
The Sabres might not need to give up much for Jake DeBrusk ...
Considering that the Canucks shipped Conor Garland, who recorded at least 40 points in four of the last five seasons, to the Columbus Blue Jackets for just a second and a third-round pick, there is a decent chance that the Ryan Johnson-led front office opts to get rid of a reluctant-to-stay DeBrusk without too much hassle.
The Sabres own their first-round pick in each of the next four drafts alongside five second and third-round picks combined. A potential package could see the Sabres send a first and a third-round pick to Vancouver in exchange for DeBrusk.
If the Canucks were willing to take on a contract, the Sabres could throw in one expiring within the next season or two. Moving a forward like Jordan Greenway would help the Sabres to balance the books, but he does have a five team no-trade list. Jason Zucker could act as a veteran option to help Vancouver develop young stars like Linus Karlsson; while a late-round pick would likely act as compensation in a direct Zucker trade, Vancouver could be interested as part of a larger deal.
... but will DeBrusk entertain Buffalo's vision?
Considering how well the Colton Parayko trade went down, that is something fans, pundits, and the front office should ponder very, very carefully.
Even though the argument that Buffalo isn't a top destination was an extremely solid one to make earlier in the season and even at the time when Parayko refused to waive his no-move clause, the failed Parayko deal is now almost three months old. In that time, the Sabres ended their playoff drought, won the Atlantic Division and a playoff round, while also forcing the Montreal Canadiens to overtime in Game 7 of their second-round encounter.
Whether DeBrusk concurs with Buffalo's vision or not will be a significant litmus test as the offseason progresses. The Sabres successfully proved their status as a playoff team over the past few months, but they will need to prove that they can replicate their performance from their breakthrough 2025-26 season if they are to be a true destination for the league's top players.
But if the Sabres' run is truly indicative of the bare minimum that this Sabres team can achieve, then maybe DeBrusk will truly view this franchise as one that is truly different from the one Parayko perceived.
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