There aren't any fans that can say that Jarmo Kekalainen wasn't busy in his first trade deadline as general manager of the Buffalo Sabres. He has tried to make two big splashes, both times with the St. Louis Blues, in discussions around Robert Thomas and then Colton Parayko.
On Thursday evening, Pierre LeBrun and Darren Dreger were on TSN's Overdrive and provided some important context between the discussions and where they seemingly fell apart. It is not a secret why the trade for Parayko didn't happen, as the player elected not to waive his no-trade clause.
However, the Sabres might have forced the decision as LeBrun said the Sabres essentially said they need an answer of whether or not the player is going to waive. In that scenario, Parayko said in that case, then the answer is no.
"The Sabres went to them and said we need an answer today because if this isn't happening, we need to pivot and get a defenseman elsewhere," LeBrun said.
As for Thomas, Dreger said the discussions went back and forth, and it eventually got to a point where Kekalainen wasn't ready to include certain pieces that Blues' GM Doug Armstrong wanted.
Pierre LeBrun believes the Sabres are going to trade for a defenseman and names two players
Even after missing two trades, this won't stop Kekalainen, and he will be busy on Friday. It seems clear that he is focused on adding more defenseman, and LeBrun made a notable proclamation on Thursday night.
"Buffalo is getting a D by tomorrow, whether it is [Rasmus] Ristolainen or someone else, Buffalo is getting a D," LeBrun said.
Dreger also mentioned the name Justin Faulk, which is certainly an interesting idea because the Sabres and Blues have now struck out on two trades this week. While Faulk doesn't have a full no-trade clause, he does have 15 teams on a modified no-trade clause.
It is unclear if the Sabres are one of those teams, but there has to be some anxiety on the part of Kekalainen if it is getting close to that 3 PM deadline and he is waiting on an answer from Faulk. Meanwhile, Ristoalainen doesn't have a no-trade clause and has an AAV of about $1.4 million less with both players' contracts running through next season.
However, in terms of the players themselves, the Sabres probably would rather add Faulk. The Blues' defenseman has more playoff experience, and that is something the team is currently lacking, but probably in the back of Kekalainen's mind with this team in a great spot to end their playoff drought.
The Sabres roster is almost certainly going to look different 24 hours from now and the question is what moves Jarmo Kekalainen can get across the finishline before the 3 PM deadline.