Oh yes, it is rumor season, and none other than Leon Draisaitl is in the rumor mill. And with the legendary Lindy Ruff back behind the Sabres bench, is there anyone better for general manager Kevyn Adams to try and pursue with more reckless abandon than Draisaitl?
Acquiring someone like Draisaitl would almost certainly break the Blue and Gold’s 13-year playoff drought, as could you imagine him manning the top line alongside, say, Alex Tuch and Zach Benson? Both forwards would benefit from Draisaitl’s presence, especially Benson.
Meanwhile, Tage Thompson can drop to the second line and Dylan Cozens, to the third. Line Tage up to center Jack Quinn and JJ Peterka, and either promote or acquire wingers to go alongside Cozens, and your top nine is basically there. And if you’re currently asking me, “Wait, where’s Jeff Skinner?” The answer is, well, Skinner’s the subject of a buyout unless something changes.
Supposing the Sabres buyout Skinner’s contract - and there’s a good chance they will have once you read this article, they will have even more cap space with which to work, as paying the remaining two-thirds balance of his contract would encompass six years.
Sabres must do all they can to try and acquire Leon Draisaitl
Now comes the fun part: The trade. Personally, I would have made Skinner part of this trade package, but considering the circumstances, it’s not happening. Anyway, Connor Clifton and Jordan Greenway can be part of the deal, which would bring a pair of defense-first, physical presences to Edmonton.
Players like Codi Ceci could be out the door, so Clifton would make for a viable replacement, and the Oilers could more than use a physical presence like Greenway. Both were Don Granato guys and since Granato is no longer in town, why not get rid of them in a deal like this?
Obviously, the Oilers would want an eventual replacement for Draisaitl, so Isak Rosen, Jiri Kulich, Matt Savoie, or even Anton Wahlberg would also make a great addition to this trade (just one of them, to be clear), and the Sabres can also send that No. 11 pick over.
And if the Oilers want more than that, then by all means, adhere to their demands. Do all you can to acquire one of the NHL’s premier players, and since the Florida Panthers are a division rival, he’ll have a few reasons to make Buffalo his next home.
Like I said, it would have been a good idea to include Skinner in a trade like this, but whatever. The Sabres still have enough assets to make this work, and they also have the cap space.
Update: Article was posted before the Oilers parted ways with Ken Holland.