As Bob Dylan once said, "The times, they are a changin'." The NHL, a league people once looked at fondly as one where players didn't create superteams or bail on their clubs when things weren't going great like their NBA peers, has now shifted into an era where players request trades and only have the same group of contenders on their no-trade lists. The Buffalo Sabres haven't made that list yet.
Connor Hellebuyck might've reportedly been willing to join the Sabres, but the goaltender certainly didn't do anything to push his way there. Buffalo could also use a center like Dylan Larkin, but the organization hasn't made his list either, unless a reported team change brings good news for Sabres fans this week. We still don't know Nikita Kucherov's list, but that one also feels unlikely to include the team.
Buffalo's problem for years was that players weren't jumping through hoops to move to Western New York and play. Whether because of the location, weather, high taxes, lack of star power or the recently ended lengthy playoff drought, the Sabres struggled to convince players to join the organization.
A new era of great young players to skate alongside made it feel like things were turning around, and then an Atlantic Division crown last season seemed like the perfect chance for Buffalo to become a destination again. The KeyBank Center atmosphere in the playoffs also didn't hurt the team's chances of getting put on the map.
How close is Buffalo to attracting top free agents and trade targets?
With rumors of Hellebuyck's openness to join the team, the tide shifted, but some of the skaters now asking for trades haven't been jumping at the chance to join the team as quickly. Now, with the Sabres sitting second-last in an ultra-competitive Atlantic Division and plenty of questions about their goaltending situation, the organization risks falling back down the rankings of places where players are willing to play.
Sustained success is the name of the game when you want to become a destination for players. Just look at some of the teams popping up on these lists, such as the Vegas Golden Knights, Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Colorado Avalanche. Plenty of Stanley Cup Finals and championships appear on that list, while the other teams on these lists are competing for Conference Finals and division titles yearly.
The Sabres took a great step in the right direction with the division title and second-round playoff appearance last season. Still, fans need to understand that Buffalo needs a bit more success before it can push its way into the top 10 of NHL destinations.
Buffalo needs at least one or two more key pieces to become a true contender, but where those players come from remains to be seen.
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