3 Sabres who could be traded at some point in 2024-25

This is one of those articles that won’t be limited to just players on the Sabres, but also prospects. As we learned earlier this summer, general manager Kevyn Adams is no longer looking to hoard prospects in the system following the Matt Savoie for Ryan McLeod trade. 

But these days, it’s not a bad thing to see prospects go elsewhere if it lays the groundwork for the Sabres to either win now or at some point in the near future. So below, I got three players who could easily be wearing another jersey next season, and yes, some of the names listed below may be shocking. 

But then again, what isn’t shocking when it comes to trades in the NHL, especially as the trade deadline approaches late in the regular season?

Jason Zucker

Whether the Sabres are winning or losing by the 2025 deadline, there’s a good chance Jason Zucker will end up elsewhere if he doesn’t improve upon his 2023-24 performance. Said performance is the main reason I was rather shocked to have seen him sign with Buffalo in the first place, but whatever. He’s in the Queen City now and will be until roughly March at the earliest. 

Should the Sabres find themselves en route to their 14th straight season without a playoff berth, Zucker will go somewhere to provide insurance. If the Sabres look like they’re heading to the playoffs for a change, Zucker will end up with a team that won’t be playing in the postseason, but the real top-six scorer will finally be in Buffalo. 

Noah Ostlund

Hey, if the Sabres are interested in trading for that top-six forward should they find themselves in contention - or even falling out of contention and setting their sights on next season so Kevyn Adams looks like he’s “doing something” - the Blue and Gold need to trade away more than just Jason Zucker. 

Enter Noah Ostlund, who factors in as a prospect that other teams would want in their pipeline, and one the Sabres shouldn’t have too many gripes about moving elsewhere. Fans want to win in 2024-25, but even if the Blue and Gold aren’t winning this season, making a move for 2025-26 would be in Adams’ best interests, and Ostlund makes for perfect trade bait. 

James Reimer

Overall, Devon Levi is the better goaltender here and James Reimer will be the No. 2 goaltender with the big club only because it makes more sense to give Levi more reps in Rochester. That said, Levi will be the No. 1 netminder with the Amerks until the Sabres trade Reimer to some random team to make room for Levi come the latter portions of the season. 

The only way this may not happen would be if the Amerks are fighting for a playoff spot and the Sabres aren’t in contention. But even then, there’s a possibility, especially if Levi is on a roll in Rochester. The entire endgame here is to get one of the NHL’s better one-two combos together, and one featuring Devon Levi and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen would be more than promising.