Trades are a more realistic route to improve than free agency for the Buffalo Sabres
Lance Lysowski of the Buffalo News: The big contracts Jack Eichel and Jeff Skinner, and the likes of Sam Reinhart, Brandon Montour, Rasmus Dahlin and Casey Mittelstadt to likely to get long-term deals in the next couple years, it may limit their involvement in free agency.
Lance Lysowski of the Buffalo News: Buffalo Sabres GM Jason Botterill during their press conference after signing Skinner.
“We have to continue to improve in a lot of different facets. The easiest one we’ve talked a lot about is continuing to try to add more scoring to our group, especially up front.
“We want to focus on adding to that group, not replacing. That’s what we’ve accomplished with signing Jeff and we are certainly excited about some of our young players going into different roles there, but if we can find a way to add a little bit more depth instead of relying so much on Jeff, Sam (Reinhart) and Jack, I think that’s certainly one of our goals here as an organization.”
Botterill will talk to some free agents but says that trades are a more “realistic” option.
Talks continue with Jason Pominville and a return is possible.
24-year old Rasmus Ristolainen could be a trade chip for the Sabres. Sources say that he does have some value around the league.
Adding a defenseman could be an option as they had several on the blue line that struggled last season.
John Vogl of The Athletic: Buffalo Sabres GM Jason Botterill has said the trade route may be more realistic than free agency.
The Sabres have been linked to Minnesota Wild winger Jason Zucker. The Wild have been looking for scoring in return for Zucker, so that won’t be coming from the Sabres.
The Sabres have defensemen to move, and it might take a third team to get involved. Maybe the Sabres send a defenseman to the Tampa Bay Lightning, who send scoring to the Wild.
Potential players the Sabres could move include Rasmus Ristolainen (has the most trade value), Jake McCabe, Conor Sheary, Zach Bogosian, Marco Scandella, Linus Ullmark, Kyle Okposo, Evan Rodrigues.
Pro prospects: Victor Olofsson, Alex Nylander, Rasmus Asplund, Lawrence Pilut, Will Borgen, C.J. Smith, and Tage Thompson.
Amateur and European prospects: Oskari Laaksonen, Marcus Davidsson and Mattias Samuelsson.
Assets: No. 7 and the No. 31 pick, salary cap space.