Imagine, for a second, if the Buffalo Sabres traded JJ Peterka, Alex Tuch, and Bowen Byram all in a single offseason. If you’re having flashbacks to the whole Jack Eichel, Sam Reinhart, and Rasmus Ristolainen fiascos a few years back, even if they weren’t all offseason trades, it’s fine.
We know how things turned out for Eichel and Reinhart, and it looks like the latter’s about to win his second straight Stanley Cup if the Florida Panthers keep trouncing the Edmonton Oilers. So, does the horror show continue if the Sabres pawn off Tuch, Peterka, and Byram?
I’m sure few would bat an eye at Byram going elsewhere, even if he’s proven to be a valuable commodity. Byram’s the second-best defenseman on the Sabres, even if Owen Power may pass him up at some point.
Still, he’s young and developing well, and losing him would be a punch to the gut. At least on the surface.
Losing Alex Tuch and JJ Peterka via trade would also hurt…seemingly
We’ve heard Alex Tuch’s and JJ Peterka’s names thrown around, and with Eric Staal and Jarmo Kekalainen joining the front office, you know massive changes are around the corner. That said, it’s evidently wise to speculate that Tuch and Peterka, along with Bowen Byram, signal another Sabres rebuild.
But, that’s not the case. There’s no more “tearing it down and building it back up” unless the Sabres are interested in taking their playoff drought to hit 20 seasons. I highly doubt that’s in ownership’s, the front office’s, and definitely the fans’ minds. That said, you won’t see any of the above traded for draft picks, prospects, and one NHL-ready player, which was the case in 2021.
You will see a trio of blockbuster trades that could make the Sabres better off in 2025-26. I once mentioned a trade involving Peterka and Byram to Vancouver for Elias Pettersson, a first-round pick, and a still-unsigned Brock Boeser. If the Sabres made this trade during the NHL Draft, they’d have enough time to extend the pending unrestricted free agent in Boeser.
Alex Tuch would also warrant a valuable return even if it’d be tough to see him go
Hey, regarding Alex Tuch, I get it. He’s from the area, fans were ecstatic when the Sabres acquired him, and you can argue he’s loved every moment of being a Buffalo Sabre, despite the on-ice results. But it hasn’t been Tuch’s fault, as he’s gone above and beyond for this franchise.
Still, Tuch’s in a contract season and he only has a five-team no-trade clause. Given his production and the fact he’s, at worst, a second-line winger, the Sabres can pawn him off for a surefire blueliner. Heck, a defensive defenseman who can play first-pairing minutes would be excellent compensation here.
Or, do you package him in a deal and try to trade for Jason Robertson? Sure, the Dallas Stars need more than just Alex Tuch, so why not add someone like Zach Benson to the deal and a draft pick in 2026?
Should these hypothetical trades pan out, the Sabres would acquire Elias Pettersson, Brock Boeser, and Jason Robertson (or a strong blueliner) in a single offseason. In a way, you can argue they upgraded, even if it would cost a lot to bring in the above names. I don’t know about you, but I’d be excited for the upcoming season.
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