Buffalo Sabres general manager Jarmo Kekalainen decided against making a blockbuster deal ahead of the recent NHL trade deadline but those talks may have laid the groundwork for an offseason deal.
Kekalainen was shown having a conversation with a fellow NHL GM during the newest episode of the Buffalo Sabres Embedded series. He references circling back over the summer on one potential trade because he didn't want to risk losing his team's immaculate vibes.
"I don't want to mess with the group too much either," Kekalainen told other members of the Buffalo front office. "It seems like they're really tight now."
The scene then cuts to the Sabres GM on the phone with an unnamed counterpart.
"We can revisit that in the offseason," Kekalainen said. "Not change our group here too much now that they've had success and fun together. Yeah, we can revisit that in the offseason if you don't end up trading him."
Although it's unclear exactly who Buffalo was negotiating with at that moment, the obvious hope for Sabres fans will be discussions with the St. Louis Blues about center Robert Thomas.
The Blue and Gold made a strong push for Thomas, one of the top players available leading up to the deadline, but St. Louis ultimately opted to keep him. At least for now.
Meanwhile, the Sabres' trades for a group of depth players — Sam Carrick, Logan Stanley, Luke Schenn and Tanner Pearson — didn't cost Kekalainen any of the organization's top prospects or first-round draft picks. It leaves him plenty of assets should he try to pull off a marquee deal for Thomas or another NHL star in the months ahead.
It's hard to blame him for not wanting to mess with the current roster. Buffalo is a remarkable 30-6-2 over its last 38 games, including a 3-2 shootout win over the Atlantic Division rival Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night.
The Sabres are going to see how far this group can take them, and then they'll have time to consider more significant trades after the campaign, especially if impending unrestricted free agent Alex Tuch decides to leave, which would create some financial flexibility.
For now, let's dive into the latest edition of our Sabres player grades series centered around Saturday's triumph over the Leafs.
Zach Benson thrives in return to larger role as Buffalo Sabres score a March 14 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs
Sabres player grades
Player | Grade (1-10) |
|---|---|
Zach Benson | 9 |
Owen Power | 8.5 |
Jack Quinn | 8 |
Noah Ostlund | 8 |
Josh Doan | 7.5 |
Ryan McLeod | 7.5 |
Zach Metsa | 7 |
Sam Carrick | 7 |
Alex Tuch | 6.5 |
Tage Thompson | 6.5 |
Josh Norris | 6.5 |
Rasmus Dahlin | 6 |
Beck Malenstyn | 6 |
Bowen Byram | 5.5 |
Alex Lyon | 5 |
Peyton Krebs | 5 |
Jason Zucker | 4 |
Luke Schenn | 3 |
Logan Stanley | 2.5 |
Buffalo Player of the Game: Zach Benson
Benson skated on the fourth line for several games following his return from injury. It was probably equal parts letting him get back to full speed in a lower-pressure role and giving Peyton Krebs another chance to prove himself in the top six.
Krebs has taken some positive strides this season, including a career-high 30 points, but Benson remains the far superior option alongside Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch on the first line. He helped create several chances after being elevated to his usual role against the Leafs.
The 20-year-old winger also tallied an assist on Owen Power's first-period goal, giving him 29 points (seven goals and 22 helpers) in 50 appearances this season. He also owns a plus-19 rating, which is impressive, even in an era where plus-minus doesn't carry the same weight it once did.
Benson should remain on the top line for the foreseeable future.
Sabres quick hits
- Owen Power, whose lack of offensive production was becoming a serious concern, has now recorded a promising nine points (four goals and five assists) in the last 14 games.
- Jack Quinn's high-end success in the shootout continued, while Tuch delivered the game-winning shot to secure the two points for Buffalo.
- Alex Lyon didn't see a ton of action on Saturday night, allowing two goals on just 18 shots, but he rose to the occasion in the shootout.
- Zach Metsa is making a strong case for a spot in the Sabres' playoff lineup on the blue line.
- Head coach Lindy Ruff will likely continue to give opportunities to Stanley and Schenn, who were acquired from the Winnipeg Jets at the deadline, but the defenders so far appear incapable of keeping up with Buffalo's pace of play.
- The Sabres (41-20-6) begin a four-game West Coast trip Tuesday night (10 p.m. ET) when they visit T-Mobile Arena to battle Jack Eichel and the Vegas Golden Knights (31-22-14).