Buffalo Sabres general manager Jarmo Kekalainen will attempt to thread a needle at the 2026 NHL trade deadline. He wants to bolster the team's current roster to maximize its chances of making the playoffs, but he doesn't want to sacrifice too much of the club's future to do it.
Although a blockbuster trade for a star player like St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas is an intriguing option, a high-profile deal like that may have to wait until the summer. The Sabres could settle for more modest upgrades in terms of an offensive-minded forward and defensive depth.
Meanwhile, it's unlikely Kekalainen is going to move any core veteran pieces under contract beyond this season. Perhaps the only exception is defenseman Bowen Byram, but the team's heavy reliance on its top-four defense group makes that another trade better suited for the offseason.
So, the question becomes what assets the Buffalo front office will put on the trade block while trying to navigate that delicate balance of a win-now mindset focused on ending a 14-year postseason drought without putting their chances of building a sustained winner at risk.
5. Noah Ostlund
Ostlund is putting together a rock solid first full season in the NHL. He's recorded 19 points (10 goals and nine assists) across 45 appearances while also tallying 24 blocked shots, 13 takeaways and a plus-five rating to earn the trust of head coach Lindy Ruff.
The 21-year-old Swede, who joined the Sabres as a 2022 first-round pick, has showcased a lot of versatility throughout his development. He's capable of playing center or wing, and he's showed both a bit of offensive flair and the ability to play some lock-down defense.
He doesn't have top-line, point-per-game upside, however, which keeps his trade value a bit lower than Buffalo's top prospects. He's still trending toward a long, successful NHL career as a middle-six forward, and there would be interest if Kekalainen made him available.
4. 2026 first-round draft pick
The Sabres, who've taken up residence in the NHL draft lottery for over a decade, are now trending toward a pick in the late teens or early 20s. That means their first-round selection, while still valuable, won't be as sought after as it was in previous years.
On the flip side, Kekalainen can trade the pick with confidence since it's highly unlikely Buffalo will miss out on an instant-impact, game-changing prospect. He could always add protections if there's concerns his club will miss out on the postseason, though that would reduce its value a tad.
The Blue and Gold could also put their 2027 first-rounder on the table, especially if they're hopeful of taking another step forward next season, but waiting an extra year is always of less interest to rival front offices, so it won't move the needle quite as much.
3. Radim Mrtka
The Sabres selected Mrtka, an imposing 6-foot-6 defenseman, with the No. 9 overall pick in the 2025 draft and he instantly exceeded expectations. He stood out during the club's prospect camp and held his own against NHL competition in the preseason.
That, along with a brief stint in the AHL before returning to junior hockey, showed the 18-year-old Czech defender was further along in his development than most draft analysts believed. There's a real chance he could make a jump to the NHL in 2026-27.
Few things in hockey are more desirable than big, mobile, right-shot blueliners, and Buffalo probably views him as a long-term partner for Rasmus Dahlin. So, it would probably require a blockbuster trade for a superstar for Mrtka to enter the conversation.
2. Konsta Helenius
The same is true for Helenius, who put his dazzling potential on display by scoring three points (a goal and two assists) in just his second NHL game, a Jan. 20 win over the Nashville Predators. A special offer would have to come across Kekalainen's desk to make him part of a package.
Helenius, a 2024 first-round selection, has spent most of the campaign tearing it up with the AHL's Rochester Americans. He's already scored more points this season with the Amerks than last year despite playing over 20 fewer games to this point.
The biggest question with the 19-year-old Finland native is whether he can take his game up another level to ultimately emerge as a bona fide first-line center, or if he'll end up more as a No. 2 pivot. Either way, he'll carry plenty of value for the Sabres barring an unexpected trade.
1. Alex Tuch
Keeping Tuch as an "own rental" feels like the most probable outcome, especially if the Sabres remain on a positive trajectory leading up to the deadline. Nothing can be completely ruled out when it comes to an impending unrestricted free agent.
Purely in terms of asset management, trading the veteran winger for futures (picks and/or prospects), which Buffalo could either keep or flip for another player, is the right move. Losing the Syracuse native for nothing at season's end would be a serious hit.
Yet, the Sabres have to approach things a little bit differently since they want to put the playoff drought in the rearview mirror for good. Giving up a player who's on pace for 32 goals and 37 assists would send the wrong message to the locker room.
So, while Tuch would fetch an impressive return from a Stanley Cup contender, Kekalainen probably shouldn't pull that lever unless it's part of a larger series of moves.