The Buffalo Sabres are in a unique position this season. Heading into the trade deadline, the club is looking to buy rather than sell.
An impressive run has propelled the club to serious contention for a playoff spot. Despite cooling off a bit, the Sabres remain on fire. That situation poses numerous questions about potential deadline acquisitions.
GM Jarmo Kekalainen’s influence has transformed the lack of vision in Buffalo into a crystal-clear path forward. As such, Kekalainen could be looking to turn to trusted faces to help him spark a complete 180-degree turn for the Sabres.
One example of that was bringing in Marc Bergevin as an assistant GM. Kekalainen capitalized on his relationship with Bergevin in helping him build an effective team. That’s why Kekalainen may want to tap into another past relationship, this time with former Columbus Blue Jackets winger Patrik Laine.
Kekalainen got to know Laine from their days in Columbus. The Blue Jackets traded for the former second overall pick from the 2016 NHL Draft in a massive deal that sent Pierre-Luc Dubois to Winnipeg.
Laine got off to a bit of a rocky start in Columbus, but managed to rebound with back-to-back 20-goal seasons. That situation prompted Kekalainen to sign Laine to a four-year, $34.8 million extension in the 2022 offseason.
Kekalainen left the organization in February 2024, with Laine departing that same year. The Blue Jackets traded Laine to the Montreal Canadiens, where he’s had mixed results. Unfortunately, the 27-year-old has seen his last two seasons derailed by injuries.
But Laine is a former 40-goal scorer and could greatly benefit from reuniting with a familiar face in Buffalo.
Kekalainen could help Laine bounce back with Sabres like in Columbus
When Laine landed in Columbus, he was looking to get back on track after a tough exit from Winnipeg. The Jets had selected Laine second overall, hoping he could become a type of franchise savior.
However, things didn’t work out very well. In Columbus, Laine got the fresh start he needed. The Blue Jackets were patient with him, with Kekalainen giving him every opportunity to succeed.
His two 50-plus-point seasons were a testament that Laine had bounced back. Unfortunately, a complicated shoulder injury limited him to just 18 games during the 2023-24 season. The Blue Jackets, clearly rebuilding, didn’t want his cap hit on the books.
Fast-forward two seasons, and Kekalainen is now with the Sabres. As such, there’s a chance that Kekalainen could help Laine rebound once again. This time, it would be in a much lower-profile role than in Columbus, Winnipeg, or Montreal.
The Sabres could allow Laine to get back on track, most likely playing a middle-six role. While he may never get back to his three-straight 30-goal seasons, he could become a solid 20-goal scorer.
The only question would be if the Sabres wanted to trade for him this season or wait until the summer to sign him as a free agent. If the Canadiens are desperate to clear cap space, the Sabres might take a chance. The club has the cap space to do it, that is, assuming he’s healthy enough to play.
Laine’s been on the shelf since October after playing just five games. If Laine could come back this season, he could be a welcome addition to the team’s first playoff appearance in over a decade.
Otherwise, Laine and the Sabres may work out a deal over the summer, giving the Finnish forward another kick at the NHL can.