3/9/2021 Trade-deadline primer: Buffalo Sabres

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Trade-deadline primer: Buffalo Sabres

Zach Leach, Pro Hockey Rumors 3 hrs ago    

Although we’re not even two months into the season, the trade deadline is just over a month away. Where does each team
stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? We continue our look around the league with the Buffalo Sabres.

 
© Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports Taylor Hall might not be enjoying a strong season, but he is a known commodity who can play a top-six role for any team in the league.

No team has received more media scrutiny this season than the Buffalo Sabres. The team is floundering yet again despite
adding the top free-agent forward in Taylor Hall and acquiring veteran center Eric Staal. Not only have Hall and Staal
disappointed, but very few members of the team have exceeded or even met expectations this season. With failing veterans,
stalled youngsters and a number of expiring contracts, the Sabres are stuck and appear primed for a fire sale and resumed
focus on rebuilding.

According to a number of sources, almost anyone on the Sabres could be made available.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports that Buffalo is “wide open” for business, and The
Athletic included four Sabres on its Trade Deadline Big Board. It all sounds very exciting
to the other 30 teams and their fans, doesn’t it? Well, don’t get your hopes too high for
major moves by Buffalo. Considering the constraints of an NHL trade market affected by
a flat salary cap as well as real-life financial struggles, not to mention the restrictions on
Canadian teams due to COVID-19 border policies, making trades this year is no easy feat.
Trading a player such as Jack Eichel in-season seems nearly impossible, even if the Sabres
$3,800.00
wanted to move him, which is unlikely. Add in that rookie GM Kevyn Adams is new to the
Fender Custom Shop '50S
Journeyman Relic Telecaster job and trying to build connections in a quiet market while trying to avoid being taken
Ad zZounds advantage of, and the Sabres suddenly look like a team that might end up playing it safe.
Does Adams really want to move the likes of Sam Reinhart and Victor Olofsson, both of whom are among the productive
minority
© in Buffalo,
2021 Microsoft when the odds of winning such a move seem slim? Does he want to potentially overreact to theTerms of use 
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3/9/2021 Trade-deadline primer: Buffalo Sabres

frustrations of Jeff Skinner and give away major assets to move his contract? Adams has a number of contracts expiring after
this year and next that he can move without much risk of them coming back to bite him. Expect that “wide open” means he’s
willing to move any number of those players, but won’t be too keen to touch anyone else.

Record
6-14-3, .326, 8th in East Division

Deadline status
Seller

Deadline cap space

$410,962 in full-season cap space, 0/3 retention slots used, 44/50 contracts used per CapFriendly.

Upcoming draft picks

2021: BUF 1st, BUF 2nd, BUF 4th, BUF 6th, BUF 7th

2022: BUF 1st, BUF 2nd, BUF 3rd, BUF 4th, BUF 6th, BUF 7th

Trade chips
Hall of course stands out as the top trade chip for the Sabres if you assume that the likes of Eichel, Reinhart, Olofsson and
Rasmus Dahlin are not going anywhere (a safe assumption despite the whispers). The former Hart Trophy winner might not be
enjoying a strong season, but he is a known commodity who can play a top-six role for any team in the league. Hall has
expressed some interest in re-signing with Buffalo, but without any evidence that he is a fit and with a ways to go in Buffalo's
Continue Reading
rebuild, retaining him makes little sense. However, the trouble with trading him is a potential lack of suitors who can actually
afford his $8 million cap hit. A lack of demand couldWITHOUT
SHOW FULL ARTICLES affect"CONTINUE
what Buffalo
READING"is ableFOR
BUTTON to 24receive
HOURS. in a deal, but the Sabres should still

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