Oh, it’s that time of the year. There may only be two teams still battling it out for the Stanley Cup, but the summer is all about rumors. And guess what? That means potential landing spots for star players. And one could just work their way onto the Sabres.
Hey, if general manager Kevyn Adams pulled off such a trade, well, he’d redeem himself in the eyes of many fans. Even if it meant moving a piece like JJ Peterka or Bowen Byram to make it happen. While I covered something similar earlier in the week regarding a potential trade with the Vancouver Canucks, a new player and team has emerged.
This one comes courtesy of Bleacher Report, where Joe Yerdon listed eight potential landing spots for Stars forward Jason Robertson. And yep, you may’ve already guessed that the Sabres were among the eight lucky teams. Now, before you sit there and say, “This would never happen,” let me tell you why it might.
As for Yerdon, he summed it up well, saying, “The Sabres have RFAs in forward JJ Peterka and defenseman Bo Byram at the top of the list who could be used to make a big-swing deal. They've also got the No. 9 pick in the 2025 draft, and there's a debate to be had as to whether they should keep that pick or trade it in this kind of move.”
Jason Robertson may not mind ending up with the Sabres
For one, if the Stars sent Robertson to the Sabres, there’s nothing the star winger can do about it since he doesn’t have a no-trade or no-movement clause. But Robertson might look forward to playing on the first line alongside Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch.
I mean, unless injuries strike, this would be one of the best and most feared lines in the game. Tuch is a dynamic three-zone player, and Tage can single-handedly make things happen. Add in Robertson, and he’s a clear upgrade over Peterka. And, best yet, he’s not much older.
So, while I don’t mind the idea that I proposed a few days back in a trade proposal that involved sending Peterka, Byram, and the ninth pick to Vancouver for Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser (before free agency for obvious reasons), this one might be even better.
Robertson would also have long-term stability with the Sabres
Secondly, Robertson’s in a contract season, and the Sabres have the space to ink him to a long-term deal. An eight-figure contract is almost guaranteed now, and if the Sabres find a way to extend Tuch, they will solidify their first line into the 2030s.
And best yet, a presence like Robertson would attract free agents, regardless of what the Sabres do next season. It's a team they can build around that line, and don’t forget about Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power on the blue line.
Should Power break out for good next season, and if Robertson came to town, players would be looking for an excuse to make Buffalo their next stop.
Sure, Sabres hockey has been the worst in the league for a while now. But far too often, we forget that it only takes one big move to turn the team’s fortunes around. Maybe, if Adams can ink a deal to bring Robertson to Buffalo, the Sabres, at long last, may finally be on a winning trajectory.
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