It's understandable Buffalo Sabres general manager Jarmo Kekalainen didn't want to rock the boat after inheriting a suddenly red-hot roster from Kevyn Adams in mid-December. The ensuing 15-2-0 stretch allowed the team to climb back into the Eastern Conference playoff race.
Now the Sabres have predictably cooled off, with Monday's 2-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes marking the club's third defeat in its past five games. It's not the end of the world, but a few key areas of need are becoming obvious (chiefly, an offensive-minded forward and a depth defenseman).
Kekalainen has also watched other teams start to heat up the NHL trade market with big moves — namely, Kiefer Sherwood to the San Jose Sharks and Rasmus Andersson to the Vegas Golden Knights — ahead of the league's roster freeze for the 2026 Winter Olympics, which begins Feb. 4.
Buffalo may not be able to wait until after the freeze to upgrade the roster. It still has nine games before the Winter Games (eight before freeze), and an extended cold spell could sink any postseason hopeful in the ridiculously crowded East.
Sabres fans are also wary of the front office being too cautious after watching Adams sleepwalk through a 13-game losing streak that destroyed the club's 2024-25 campaign without making a single move.
So, pressure is going to quickly mount on Kekalainen to shake things up, especially if the Blue and Gold aren't able to regain their status as one of the NHL's hottest teams in short order.
There were previously rumors the Buffalo was actively shopping for trades, and it was linked to New York Rangers superstar Artemi Panarin, who'd be a perfect fit based on his offensive and power-play prowess, though there are factors (such as his no-movement clause) that create hurdles.
Even if the Sabres aren't able to shoot for the stars with a blockbuster addition like Panarin, bringing in a defenseman who could take some pressure off the Sabres' top four, who've been logging monster minutes in recent weeks, would represent a step in the right direction.
Kekalainen proved during his time with the Columbus Blue Jackets he's not afraid of taking a bold swing, and the clock is beginning to tick on showing off that trait to kick off his Buffalo tenure.
While the fanbase eagerly awaits a deal, let's analyze the newest edition of our Sabres player grades series after they were stonewalled by Carolina goalie Brandon Bussi on Monday.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen shines but loses goaltending duel in Buffalo Sabres' Jan. 19 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes
Sabres player grades
Player | Grade (1-10) |
|---|---|
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen | 8.5 |
Owen Power | 7.5 |
Rasmus Dahlin | 7.5 |
Zach Benson | 7 |
Tage Thompson | 7 |
Jason Zucker | 6.5 |
Ryan McLeod | 6 |
Jack Quinn | 6 |
Konsta Helenius | 5.5 |
Bowen Byram | 5.5 |
Noah Ostlund | 5 |
Alex Tuch | 5 |
Josh Doan | 4.5 |
Mattias Samuelsson | 4 |
Jacob Bryson | 3 |
Beck Malenstyn | 2.5 |
Zach Metsa | 2 |
Tyson Kozak | 2 |
Peyton Krebs | 1.5 |
Buffalo Player of the Game: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Like the Sabres as a whole, UPL's play had faded a bit recently, including a poor performance in Saturday's overtime loss to the Minnesota Wild. So, it's a promising sign that the netminder was able to bounce back with a strong showing against an elite Carolina team.
Luukkonen, who will represent Finland at the Olympics, stopped 26 of the 28 shots the Hurricanes sent his way. Canes head coach Rod Brind'Amour credited him for keeping the game close.
"It wasn't like, for a couple periods, there weren't a ton of opportunities," Brind'Amour told reporters. "But they were all like, that could be the difference, that could be the difference. (Luukkonen) made some good saves, too, so it was kind of a battle there in the net, and obviously our guy came out on top."
Alex Lyon, Buffalo's most consistent goalie this season, is set to return from injury and push the club back into a problematic three-goalie rotation. As it stands, Lyon and UPL should split a lion's share of the work, which could leave Colten Ellis as the odd man out.
It's worth noting Luukkonen has probably boosted his trade value with his terrific run since late November, so that may still be an option Kekalainen considers, especially if it's part of a larger package to upgrade other areas of the roster.
That type of move would likely wait until closer to the 2026 NHL trade deadline on March 6 to see how the Sabres' season is trending, though.
Sabres quick hits
- A mostly muted NHL debut for top prospect Konsta Helenius, but hopefully the Sabres will give him a few more games to see if he can acclimate to the game's speed at the highest level.
- Owen Power has been playing rock-solid hockey lately, though it hasn't translated to the score sheet as often as Buffalo would like.
- Michael Kesselring was scratched as the Blue and Gold attempt to help him manage an ankle injury that's derailed his first season in the organization.
- The Sabres' fourth line and third defensive pair remain a massive issue, which is forcing head coach Lindy Ruff to shorten his bench early and often. It's not sustainable.
- Buffalo (26-17-5) is right back in action Tuesday night (8 p.m. ET) when it continues a five-game road trip with a stop at Bridgestone Arena to battle the Nashville Predators (23-21-4).