NHL Trade Rumors: Flyers & Sabres Looking Like Trade Partners

The Buffalo Sabres and Philadelphia Flyers will be two of the teams to watch as we hit trade season this summer. Buffalo has been on the brink of several big moves for a while now, and did, in fact, ship off Dylan Cozens at the deadline.

The Flyers started to turn over their roster this past season, trading the likes of Scott Laughton, Joel Farabee, Morgan Frost, and Andrei Kuzmenko. In addition, they have a new head coach in Rick Tocchet, and are looking to take a big step forward in 2025-26.

In fact, according to insider Anthony Di Marco of Daily Faceoff, those two teams make for likely trade partners, with a couple of Buffalo names on the Flyers' radar.

According to Anthony San Filippo of the Snow the Goalie Podcast, the Flyers have been in communication with the Buffalo Sabres – most notably regarding forward JJ Peterka and defenseman Bowen Byram.

The Flyers are interested in Buffalo's JJ Peterka

Di Marco confirms that the Flyers do like Peterka, though they'll probably have to get in line on that one. Peterka is one of the top restricted free agents this summer, and if he isn't scooped up with a humongous offer sheet, there will be many clubs calling up Sabres GM Kevyn Adams about a Peterka trade.

The burgeoning 23-year-old forward recorded a career-high 41 assists and 68 points this past season to go with 27 goals, just one shy of the previous year. He also logged a career-best 18:11 ice time per night, as a top-line winger. He's an RFA, but does not hold arbitration rights.

The Sabres are holding a high price on Peterka, and Di Marco notes that, "the Flyers are hesitant to give up a significant haul for wingers given their desperate need for help down the middle of the ice". That said, he admits that the left-shot left-winger would fill an important need for Philly, both in the top-six and on the power play.

Would Flyers give Bowen Byram a big payday as RFA?

As for Byram, he, too, is a restricted free agent, and Di Marco confirms that Philly likes him, but that they are concerned about the big money he's looking for on his next contract.

"Speaking with a team source," writes Di Marco, "the Flyers have some trepidation about the potential contract demands of Byram." Those demands are expected to be in the $8.5 million AAV range. He's coming off a two-year bridge deal with a $3.85 million cap hit.

The insider suggests that former first-rounder Owen Tippett would be a party of interest for Buffalo in any trade talk with Philly.