Do you know what makes Buffalo sports so great? Hey, it’s a small market, the weather ain’t always ideal (nor is it in my neck of the woods this winter), and its sports teams just keep coming back even when there’s nothing left.
Yeah, the Sabres are currently letting their opponents do that to them sometimes on a game-by-game basis, but hey, they’ve had their moments. And they can make another one if they moved a pair of players and acquired one in a marquee trade for a Mr. Elias Pettersson.
This one comes courtesy of Lyle Richardson of Bleacher Report, who said, “The Canucks reportedly want a center in return for Pettersson. Cozens doesn't have Pettersson's 100-point abilities, but he would fit in well centering their second line behind Miller. Including Byram in the deal would provide a welcome boost to the Canucks' thin blue line.”
Yeah, this is a trade that every single one of us should endorse without question. If Elias Pettersson came here, oh, Sabres hockey would be back for at least a portion of the season. And it would give us a nice, little preview of what we could expect in the future.
Our own Paul Kasprzak Jr also wrote an excellent piece regarding a trade for Pettersson, and I’m sure there are others in Sabres circles out there who would take this trade without a second thought.
Sabres will be relevant again with Pettersson while moving Byram, Cozens
Here’s what would make me excited if Pettersson came to town for the likes of Byram and Cozens: He’s the kind of player who would make others want to play in Buffalo. Yeah, it would also mean Kevyn Adams probably saved his job in such a scenario, but who cares? Hey, he’d redeem himself in my eyes if he traded for Pettersson, no doubt.
While losing Byram would hurt since he’s been solid after Adams traded for him last year, moving him is just the nature of the beast. It’s an opportunity cost, and it comes with the territory of making such a big trade.
As for Cozens, he needs to go, and I’m sorry I ever thought it was a good idea back when Adams signed him to a long-term deal. Plus, nobody’s getting excited about playing hockey alongside Dylan Cozens, and few are probably ready to place Bowen Byram atop their shortlist.
I like them both; they’re good players, but neither will be elite in the NHL. As for Pettersson, we know he can be one of the league’s best because he’s already driven that point home a time or two. Anyway, we’ll see if the Sabres of all teams can pull off the deal, and if Pettersson could be to the Blue and Gold what Jack Eichel has been to the Golden Knights.
Oh, come on, you know that you wouldn’t mind that comparison if a trade like this happened and the Sabres were hoisting the Stanley Cup in June 2026. I sure wouldn’t, because, barring an unforeseen championship in 2025, I’d be able to literally start saying something like, “Since the Leafs last Cup,” if that were the case.