The Buffalo Sabres are heading towards a minefield. Sitting in last place in the Atlantic Division, albeit still within striking distance of a playoff spot, does not bode well for the team. The injuries have piled up, while team captain Rasmus Dahlin is dealing with a highly delicate personal situation.
As such, contenders have been calling to inquire about the availability of certain players. One player drawing attention is Tage Thompson. As my colleague Tim Daniels discussed, the Montreal Canadiens and Vancouver Canucks have contacted the Sabres about Thompson.
The news, as initially reported by Marco D’Amico of RG Media, has set off speculation about Thompson’s future in Buffalo. According to the report, Sabres GM Kevyn Adams has said Thompson is a no-go.
But that may not be the case for much longer. At what point does a player like Thompson become increasingly frustrated with the team’s situation? How much longer does ownership put up with the current state of affairs surrounding the team?
The fact of the matter is that the Sabres are caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. That’s why the only way out may be to jump off the deep end and take the plunge. If that’s the case, the Sabres may have no choice but to trade Tage Thompson.
Sabres have their best shot at getting good return for Thompson now
Here’s where things get even more complicated. There’s a shrinking window for a potential Tage Thompson trade. While his skill level is hardly under scrutiny, the circumstances around him could force the Sabres’ hand.
What happens if Thompson wakes up one day and demands a trade? The Sabres may not have much leverage at that point, even if Thompson doesn’t have much trade protection.
Moreover, what happens if other GMs catch a whiff of trouble brewing and decide to lowball Kevyn Adams? What could Adams do to increase his payout?
Perhaps the worst thing that could happen is Thompson getting hurt. What would a serious injury do to the Sabres’ chances of trading the veteran forward?
The fact is that if the Sabres are seriously considering a redo of their roster, their best chance at getting a good return for Thompson is to move now. Some teams, like the Canucks and Canadiens, are getting increasingly desperate.
Think about other teams like the New York Rangers. What if they want to go all-in to salvage their season? The Sabres could extract valuable resources to set the team up for a rebuild.
If Kevyn Adams feels that trading Thompson is not a good idea, then he had better do something to address the Sabres’ current issues. Otherwise, the chatter will only get louder as time ticks by.