The Buffalo Sabres have a strong roster foundation in place headlined by superstars Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin. A gap still exists between the club's overall talent level and those teams viewed as the NHL's elite, though.
It puts pressure on general manager Jarmo Kekalainen to have an active offseason. This isn't the time to "run it back" with the same group of players, and the need for a couple win-now trades will increase if impending unrestricted free agent Alex Tuch departs the organization.
Those type of moves don't come easily, however, and in some cases — for example, a blockbuster deal to acquire St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas — may require the Sabres to give up three or four meaningful assets in search of that missing piece.
So, what does Buffalo have to offer in those situations? Well, let's take a closer look at the franchise's most valuable trade chips. This list doesn't include those previously discussed in our article about the Blue and Gold's untouchable players this summer.
1. Bowen Byram
Kekalainen expressed interest in signing Byram to a long-term contract extension, and he'll be moved to the untouchable category if that happens in the coming weeks. It's impossible to fault the Sabres for wanting to keep their vaunted top-four defense group in place.
That said, it's unclear whether the 24-year-old blueliner and his representatives will be open to signing a new deal right now. The 2022 Stanley Cup champion can become a UFA in 2027 and he's long expressed interest in the opportunity to become a No. 1 defenseman. That's not going to happen in Buffalo with Dahlin entrenched in that role, which includes serving as the top power-play quarterback.
If it becomes clear Byram isn't going to re-sign and ultimately wants to test the open market, the Sabres will have no choice put to at least consider a trade, even if they decide to keep him as an "own rental," similar to how they handled the Tuch situation.
2. Radim Mrtka
Mrtka, the team's first-round selection in the 2025 draft (No. 9 overall), is probably one year away from being NHL ready. The question is whether that crucial final year of minor-league development occurs with the AHL's Rochester Americans or in a new organization.
Quite simply, it's hard to find a 6-foot-6 defense prospect with his combination of size, playmaking ability and willingness to engage in physical play defensively. The Czech rising star was highly impressive during Sabres training camp last fall.
Mrtka wrapped up his two-year tenure with the WHL's Seattle Thunderbirds by scoring 34 points (one goal and 33 assists) in 43 games to further establish himself as one of the NHL's best defensive prospects. He'll be coveted but Buffalo may very well regret trading him in the long run.
3. Noah Ostlund
Ostlund is one of those players who simply makes his team better. He's probably never going to score 90 points and he doesn't end up on the highlight reel too often, but his on-ice awareness and hockey IQ are off the charts for a 22-year-old forward.
In turn, it's no surprise two of the Sabres' most complete performances from their run in the 2026 NHL Playoffs came when the 2022 first-round pick was on the ice. He returned midway through the series against the Boston Bruins, and the team proceeded to win a pair of road games by a combined score of 9-2. He then suffered another injury early and missed the remainder of the postseason.
Ostlund, who tallied 27 points in 60 games as a rookie, is a perfect middle-six forward capable of playing either on the wing and at center, and he's still on an entry-level contract for next season, making him a low-cost target for a contender that may be dealing with some salary-cap constraints this summer.
4. Ryan McLeod
McLeod was a candidate for the untouchable list leading up to the 2026 NHL trade deadline in March, but his play dropped off significantly since that point. He recorded just six points over his final 16 regular-season games and then struggled in the playoffs, posting five points and a minus-seven rating in 13 postseason appearances.
It was a frustrating stretch for the speedy 6-foot-3 forward, but it's important to remember he'd previously established himself as a high-end No. 3 center with a team-friendly cap hit ($5 million) through the 2028-29 season.
He'll still carry a lot of value if the Sabres opt to shake up their group of centers before next season.
5. First-Round Pick (2026 NHL Draft)
There were plenty of years during Buffalo's 14-year playoff drought where its top pick was the front office's best asset. Of course, the organization's need to rebuild its farm system and find new cornerstones meant it was always better to retain the lottery selection instead.
The Sabres have finally turned a corner, though. Now it'd make a ton of sense to include the late first-round draft choice in a trade for a player who can help them right now. Otherwise, don't be surprised if they use it on a high-risk, high-reward prospect in June.
6. Josh Norris
Norris would obviously be higher on this list if it was based purely on talent and impact upside. Alas, he's held back by a significant history of injuries and a $7.95 million cap hit that rival franchises are going to take into account if he's included in trade talks.
The 27-year-old former Ottawa Senators standout — he scored 35 goals in 66 games for the Sens in 2021-22 — still occasionally flashes that No. 1 center potential when healthy. He's coming off a season with the Sabres where he compiled 13 goals and 21 assists in 44 games.
If Norris is dealt, it'll likely be part of a larger trade where his salary can be offset.
Honorable Mention
Jack Quinn
Quinn has a lot of critics around Western New York, mostly because of his on-and-off compete level over the past four seasons, but he's still a 24-year-old winger with a lethal shot who's coming off a campaign where he posted a career-high 51 points while playing all 82 games.
Jiri Kulich
Kulich's future outlook is clouded after missing a vast majority of the season because of a blood clot. He confirmed surgery was successful and he expects to resume his career in 2026-27, but there will probably be hesitancy from other organizations until he gets back on the ice in a competitive setting.
Devon Levi
It feels like Levi has probably played his last game in the Sabres system. He'd require waivers next season and Buffalo already has three goalies at the NHL level in Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Alex Lyon and Colten Ellis. The goaltending prospect doesn't carry high-end value, though.
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