Jarmo Kekalainen took over as general manager in the middle of December, and since that point, the Buffalo Sabres have been one of the best teams in the NHL. They have largely been able to make the turnaround without any changes to the roster, but with the trade deadline less than two weeks away, that might change.
There is certainly an excitement for the fans in Western New York in terms of what the Buffalo Sabres have been able to do. They are coming out of the Olympic break in one of the two Wild Card positions and in a great spot to end their 14-season playoff drought.
The big question, though, is whether the perception of the Buffalo Sabres goes beyond the fanbase and if they are viewed as a team truly ready to turn a corner. One of the ways this can be measured is if there are any players willing to waive a no-trade clause to come to Buffalo.
Players waiving no-trade clauses to join the Buffalo Sabres has been a rarity in recent memory
It is no secret that the Buffalo Sabres have struggled and more often than not have been going into the trade deadline as sellers. Since the division realignment, they have finished fifth or worse every season and only twice had a points percentage over .500.
They looked like a franchise with no clear direction, and it would make sense for players not to want to join the Sabres; it is one of the reasons players push for no-trade clauses in contract negotiations. One of the last players to waive the no-trade clause was in 2020 when Eric Staal joined the Sabres from the Minnesota Wild.
That trade didn't work out for Buffalo, as he lasted only 32 games before he was traded to the Montreal Canadiens during the 2020-21 season.
Kevyn Adams was not known to make many trades during his tenure as general manager that brought players in, but rather sent top players out in return for prospects and picks. This could partially be due to the acceptance that players were not willing to waive their no-trade clause, which limited options on the trade market.
However, with the recent improvement on the ice and a new general manager leading the roster management, it could open the door to players believing in what is being built in Buffalo this season. A trade that includes a player waiving that clause would be a major sign that the Buffalo Sabres are viewed as a serious contender and a place players want to come to play.