After a mostly quiet summer, could Buffalo Sabres general manager Jarmo Kekalainen make a late flurry of moves before the start of the 2026-27 season?
The rumor mill has certainly become a lot more active in recent weeks.
Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck went public with his trade request — the Sabres previously made a push to land the three-time Vezina Trophy winner before the 2026 NHL Draft — and now All-Star winger Chris Kreider is expected to hit free agency after being placed on waivers by the Anaheim Ducks for the purpose of contract termination, per Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet.
Joe Yerdon of Bleacher Report named Buffalo as one of the seven potential landing spots for Kreider, who'd reportedly prefer a return to the Eastern Conference.
"Kreider has experience with Sabres coach Lindy Ruff, who was an assistant with the Rangers for three years while he was there, so that connection is enough to put the Sabers on the radar," Yerdon wrote. "But what Kreider can do at even strength and on the power play are reasons enough for Buffalo to want him regardless."
It's a multifaceted situation.
At baseline, the Sabres already have an overcrowded depth chart at forward, with 16 players expected to compete for 13 spots on the active roster when training camp begins.
Buffalo appears willing to give some of its young forwards, namely Noah Ostlund, Jiri Kulich and Konsta Helenius, an opportunity to earn more prominent roles after the departure of Alex Tuch, who was sent to the Washington Capitals in a sign-and-trade deal.
Yet, there's also the potential of trading one or two roster forwards to the Jets in a blockbuster deal for Hellebuyck, which would clear the logjam and create space for a possible Kreider signing.
The 35-year-old Massachusetts native recorded 50 points (22 goals and 28 assists) across 75 appearances in his only season with the Ducks. He posted 17 of those points on the power play, an area of consistent frustration for the Sabres in recent years.
Kreider spent the first 13 years of his NHL career in New York with the Rangers, establishing himself as a highly effective two-way winger. His most productive season came in 2021-22, when he compiled a career-high 77 points and led the league with 26 power-play goals.
So, while there are other variables in play, the Boston College product makes sense for Buffalo on paper in terms of what the team may be lacking after Tuch's exit.
Buffalo Sabres' Chris Kreider interest likely depends on other moves
Earlier in the summer, the Sabres were heavily linked to the potential signing of another free-agent winger, Buffalo native Patrick Kane. The conversation was much the same: If a Hellebuyck trade materalized, the space for Kane would become available.
Talks between Buffalo and Winnipeg faded away, however, and Kane ultimately decided on a return to the Chicago Blackhawks instead.
It feels unlikely the Sabres will land Kreider unless it's part of a series of moves that creates space for him, while also leaving a potential path to playing time for Ostlund, Kulich and Helenius.
Kekalainen has made it clear since taking over the front office last December that his main goal is building an organization capable of sustained winning. He doesn't want last season's long-awaited return to the playoffs to become a one-off memory.
That's likely why Buffalo has taken a more measured approach to the offseason. If the right addition doesn't become available, the best option is giving young players an opportunity to prove they're going to emerge as future cornerstones.
But if the Jets' asking price on Hellebuyck finally comes down to a more reasonable level and Kreider is still looking for a new home when that happens, it could translate to the sudden infusion of veteran talent fans have been seeking since the club's playoff run ended.
Is it a long shot? Yes. As things stand, the most probable outcome is undoubtedly the Sabres arriving to training camp with their current roster. It would leave around $5 million in salary-cap space for potential in-season trades, per PuckPedia.
Everything could change in the blink of an eye, though. Buffalo has put itself in a favorable position to strike if the conditions are right in the next few weeks.
If nothing else, it adds some intrigue as the Western New York faithful await puck drop on the new season.
Add us as a preferred source on Google