Earlier this month, I mentioned one major weakness the Buffalo Sabres still had which involved lacking a top-six scorer. In that piece, I also mentioned Trevor Zegras and Joel Farabee as two potential trade targets, but they weren’t the only duo we need to talk about as we approach mid-July.
Instead, let’s focus on those who have either recently entered the rumor mill or have been talked about in Sabres circles. There isn’t a single name listed below that I wouldn’t take, as they each have playmaker potential, while two of them have also routinely shown us they’re more than capable of finding the back of the net year after year.
Mikael Granlund, San Jose Sharks
While some may scoff at this one, considering Mikael Granlund scored just 12 goals last season, I digress. Granlund still finished the season with 60 points, and if you’re keeping track, that’s exactly one more point than the highest points-producers on the Sabres scored this past season.
He did this on the lowly San Jose Sharks, of all teams, and Granlund would be heading into a much better situation in Western New York. While he didn’t have as strong of an outing in 2022-23 when he split time between the Nashville Predators and Pittsburgh Penguins, Granlund logged 64 points and 53 assists in 2021-22, his final full season in Nashville.
Unlike newcomer Jason Zucker, Granlund has routinely logged top-six minutes in recent seasons, so I wouldn’t even put it past them to put him on the first line as a left winger instead of his listed position of center, allowing him to work his magic as a playmaker alongside Alex Tuch and Tage Thompson.
Nikolaj Ehlers, Winnipeg Jets
Nikolaj Ehlers is another name that’s been thrown around for a while, and he’s the most ideal trade candidate on this list. Listed as a left winger, he would also be a perfect fit for the first line, and as someone who’s logged 21-plus goals in seven of his nine seasons in Winnipeg, he would also factor in as a reliable scorer.
Ehlers can fit into the Sabres top or middle-six, and like Granlund, he also factors in as a playmaker, even if he’s never put up elite numbers. Still, solid would be just fine with the Blue and Gold in 2024-25, especially with dependable players like Ryan McLeod entering the lineup.
Nazem Kadri, Calgary Flames
Disclaimer: This is a highly unlikely scenario, but a potential trade involving Nazem Kadri from a Calgary Flames team that has been selling a lot is not impossible. That said, I wouldn’t be surprised if Kadri was a “surprise” trade at some point over the next two months, even if I also wouldn’t be surprised to see him remain in Alberta.
But with this Flames team rebuilding and the Sabres showing us they’re more than willing to trade prospects this time around, bringing him to Western New York also isn’t entirely out of the question. And perhaps I spoke too soon on saying who the ideal player was in this piece - Kadri “only” has 81 goals over his past 235 contests and 218 points.
He’s someone the Sabres can bring in and also place onto their first line, giving them a formidable trio and an intriguing second line. Again, there will be quite a few obstacles to bring him in, including a full no-movement clause.
(Statistics powered by Hockey-Reference)