The Toronto Maple Leafs had a season they will want to forget, but a silver lining is that it resulted in them ending up with the first overall pick. While it seems likely that they are going to make that pick and pick Gavin McKenna with it, the Maple Leafs could look to trade it to speed up a rebuild. That rebuild could include two St. Louis Blues players that the Buffalo Sabres were aggressively pursuing at the trade deadline.
Recently, Darren Dreger was on First Up on TSN 1050 to talk about the Toronto Maple Leafs. Dreger mentioned the fact that the Maple Leafs have to at least listen to trade offers for that first overall pick, but if they move it, it has to be for a massive trade package.
The NHL insider mentioned the St. Louis Blues as a team that could potentially put a trade package together that the Maple Leafs might actually listen to. For the Buffalo Sabres, it is notable because that package was headlined by Robert Thomas and Colton Parayko, one player they tried to trade for and another they thought they traded for until Parayko decided not to waive his no-trade clause.
"Imagine the return that would have to come along with trading the first overall pick," Dreger said. "But if you're retooling, then you have to be willing to listen. What if you include a goaltender on the rise or one of the NHL guys and something else, and you were able to get a Robert Thomas and a Colton Parayko or a package? I isolate St. Louis only because the Blues were engaged with Buffalo and other clubs creeping up to the trade deadline."
Buffalo Sabres can't afford to see Robert Thomas end up in Toronto
While it would sting to see Colton Parayko decide to waive his no-trade clause to end up with a division rival, for the Buffalo Sabres, there is really nothing they could do, as they made an offer that the Blues were willing to accept, but Parayko didn't want to come to Buffalo.
However, prior to agreeing to a deal for Parayko at the trade deadline, the Sabres were making a strong push to sign Robert Thomas. It wouldn't be surprising if that is not a player they circle back to this summer to try and get something done.
Thomas is a top-line center who is just entering the prime of his career. Over the past five seasons, he has played in a total of 361 regular-season games and has 373 points, with 20 or more goals over the past three seasons.
Shortly after the trade deadline passed, it was reported that the Sabres made an offer with four significant pieces but didn't want to include Josh Norris. After the way Norris finished the season with a lackluster playoff performance, the Sabres may be more willing to include him, or the Blues may not want him in a trade package.
Right now, the Sabres' focus should be on figuring out if there is a way to keep their own free agents, specifically Alex Tuch and Zach Benson, but Jarmo Kekalainen will also need to be looking for ways to improve. If the Maple Leafs do want to make a play for Robert Thomas, the Sabres need to do their best to offer a competitive offer, as it not only helps their team but would block a division rival from getting better.
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