Buffalo Sabres general manager Jarmo Kekalainen understandably hasn't wanted to tinker with a red-hot roster since taking over the front office in mid-December. The question is whether his stance will change as fellow Eastern Conference teams add talent ahead of the 2026 NHL trade deadline.
RG's Marco D'Amico reported Monday three Eastern Conference teams currently in playoff positions — the Carolina Hurricanes, Detroit Red Wings and Montreal Canadiens — headline the top contenders to land Calgary Flames forward Nazem Kadri before the March 6 deadline. The Wings and Habs are also battling the Sabres for placement in the Atlantic Division.
The Minnesota Wild are the one Western Conference team in the Kadri sweepstakes at the moment, according to D'Amico.
Buffalo has been the NHL's hottest team since early December, posting a 20-4-1 record over its past 25 games to climb from the East basement into a wild-card spot. The Blue and Gold still have plenty of work to do if they're going to end the franchise's 14-year playoff drought, though.
Getting over the finish line may require a roster upgrade or two. The Sabres could benefit from finding an offensive-minded, top-six forward and some defensive depth before the deadline.
Calgary Flames' Nazem Kadri getting traded to the Atlantic Division may force movement from the Buffalo Sabres
It'd be easy for the Sabres to have confidence based on their recent success. They could stand pat, bet their surge up the standings will continue after the upcoming three-week NHL break for the 2026 Winter Olympics and hope the postseason drought ends naturally.
That laissez-faire approach could come back to haunt Buffalo if that's the route it takes, though.
The Sabres' playoff odds currently stand at 71.4%, according to MoneyPuck. While that's a vast improvement from earlier in the campaign, it's still quite a long way from 100%, especially as other playoff hopefuls start making high-profile moves aimed at boosting their own chances.
Kadri is a perfect example of a player who can tip the scales in a close Eastern Conference race.
We previously looked at why Kadri, who's scored 745 points in 1,039 career games, made a ton of sense as a trade target for Buffalo. Based on D'Amico's report, however, it doesn't sound like the Sabres are at the forefront of those discussions, at least for now.
Let's say the 35-year-old Canadian, who also owns 52 games of playoff experience, lands with Detroit or Montreal. That alone could be enough to shift the race for one of the division's three playoff spots, which may be decided by a point or two, in favor of the Wings or Habs.
That's why there's pressure on Kekalainen to show he's different from Kevyn Adams, his predecessor whose in-season inaction frequently hurt the Sabres during his six-year GM tenure.
Yes, there's always some level of risk when it comes to trading valuable future assets, whether it be highly touted prospects or first-round draft picks, for veterans, but at some point Buffalo needs to show it's all-in on trying to win.
Now seems like a perfect time to send that message. The Sabres have fought their way back above the playoff cut line and the long-suffering fanbase has started to make its way back to downtown Buffalo to support the team. It's time for the Party in the Plaza celebrations to return.
One or two additions (or the lack thereof) could be the difference in determining whether that happens in 2026.