Stanley Cup Silver Lining: How the trades of past Stanley Cup champions have benefited the Sabres

It's hard to find a positive as the Sabres faithful saw not one but six former Sabres joining a long line of former wearers of the blue and gold hoisting the Stanley Cup. Kyle Okposo, Sam Reinhart, and Evan Rodrigues and three others will now win a ring after the Florida Panthers won game seven of the Stanley Cup Finals on Monday.

They join Ryan O'Reilly, Zach Bogosian and Jack Eichel as recent players who left Buffalo for cup glory. If you look in more detail, the trades that took them from Buffalo to the cup, Buffalo has several opportunities to capitalize on the moves.

O'Reilly won the cup in 2019 after being traded to the St. Louis Blues for several players and draft picks including Tage Thompson. In 2022-23 Thompson scored 90-plus points and should be a part of Lindy Ruff's plans moving forward.

Eichel won it all in 2023. The trade has brought in veteran, Alex Tuch to Buffalo. Tuch has become a force for the Sabres both on and off the ice. He has more than 50 points in each of the last two seasons.

More importantly Alex Tuch has become a steady leader

Tuch has led the team in game-winning goals the last two years and was named an alternate captain for two weeks in January. He also spoke very highly about new head coach Lindy Ruff and was among those at Ruff's introductory press conference.

Okposo, who won on Monday after 18 seasons, was traded from Buffalo to Florida in March. The trade was elevated from a seventh-round pick to a fifth-round pick after the Panthers won game seven. Time will tell if the trade pays off for the Sabres.

The Sabres may have the pieces to end their playoff drought and become contenders for the Stanley Cup. Some of the pieces may be in place from these past trades.