The Buffalo Sabres and Utah Mammoth already linked up on one headline trade this year as goal-scoring sensation JJ Peterka headed west in exchange for winger Josh Doan and defenseman Michael Kesselring. Could lightning strike twice between the teams?
Michael Augello of The Hockey News noted Monday that Mammoth forward Lawson Crouse "would be attractive" to a Sabres squad that's seeking both a top-nine option on the wing and more physicality.
Utah will wait to see if it can stick in the playoff race before making any more big moves, according to Augello, who also pointed out the Mammoth "would likely target" Buffalo defenseman Bowen Byram if the sides did reengage in trade talks during the 2025-26 NHL season.
Is Crouse a good fit for Buffalo?
The answer depends on which version of Crouse shows up this season. Will it be the one who compiled 87 points (47 goals and 40 assists) in 158 appearances across the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons? Or the one who saw his ice time plummet en route to just 18 points in 81 games last year?
His style of play is a perfect match for what the Sabres need, though. They have spent years searching for more physical, hard-to-play-against forwards who aren't afraid to stand at the top of the crease to crease chaos offensively. At his peak, that's what the 2015 first-round pick does best.
Crouse, 28, wouldn't necessarily fill the top-six void created by the Peterka trade. He's more of a third-line winger who can also provide a net-front presence on the power play. But Buffalo is hoping Doan or Jack Quinn can prove worthy of filling that role on the top two lines.
It also helps that Crouse has two seasons left on his five-year, $21.5 million contract. Bringing value beyond 2025-26 makes it more likely the Sabres would be willing to give up a key asset to get him.
Sabres defense questions linger
Buffalo will likely be hesitant to make a Byram trade that doesn't include a veteran defenseman or an NHL-ready prospect at the position. It simply doesn't have a ton of margin for error on the blue line with Jacob Bryson and Zac Jones as its top two deserves.
As it stands, the Sabres should have one of the league's best defense groups. Byram will join Rasmus Dahlin on the top pair, Owen Power should finally have a reliable partner in Kesselring and Mattias Samuelsson could bounce back nicely alongside Conor Timmins on the bottom pair.
If you remove Byram from the equation, however, the dominoes start to tumble. Buffalo would have to go all-in on a No. 1 tandem of Power and Dahlin, which then forces Samuelsson into a larger role he can't handle. Add in Bryson or Jones in the lineup and it's a concerning picture.
As a whole, the situation creates a barrier to making any defenseman-for-forward deals.
Final verdict on a Crouse-Byram swap
An element of intrigue definitely exists here. Byram probably isn't going to remain in Buffalo for the long haul because the team can't maximize his value with power-play minutes since Dahlin and Power quarterback the two PP units.
Meanwhile, a revitalized Crouse (the 2022-24 version) would look terrific next to Doan and center Ryan McLeod on the Sabres' third line. He'd bring the grit and secondary scoring the organization has often lacked amid its active 14-year playoff drought.
Augello suggested the Mammoth may first ask for Zach Benson — Adams would likely hang up the phone immediately — but added even if Byram is the main piece, the Sabres would look for more value in return from Utah to make it work.
Ultimately, this feels more like the baseline of a trade that could happen next summer, when both players are one year away from free agency. It wouldn't be a surprise if it's discussed at the deadline, however, especially if the teams are desperate for a spark in their playoff chase.