Jets Should Target Sabres' Defenseman

The Winnipeg Jets aren't the strongest on the back-end, but they do have options for next season. With the cap space they have and as they're chasing a Stanley Cup, it makes sense to upgrade now. There are plenty of top defenseman that are in trade rumors like Erik Karlsson, Rasmus Andersson, Mario Ferraro, and even Bowen Byram on the Buffalo Sabres, but there is a different d-man on the Sabres that would fit the Jets better.

Mattias Samuelsson had a rough season, but once again he was on a non-playoff team and many defensemen look worse on teams that aren't all that good. He is injured quite a bit, but David Pagnotta said that the Sabres are open to trading their 25-year-old defenseman with term left on his contract because a buyout isn't happening.

Samuelsson has five years left on his deal, so the years the Jets would have him could appeal to them since it's harder to get players to sign or be acquired through a trade. He would not be in the same role as he is in with the Sabres, and thus, have some relief. The Jets are a stronger defensive team than the Sabres and have an elite goalie to stop mistakes. Samuelsson wouldn't have to be played on the top pairing, but rather on the third pairing and could play his natural side.

The Jets would have the option of playing Samuelsson on either side since he has with the Sabres, but I would take him over Haydn Fleury or Logan Stanley as the 3LD. Unfortunately, the time has seemingly passed for Ville Heinola to get a better look in that spot, so the Jets need to beef up and bolster the lineup everywhere with the space available.

There are a handful of free agents to deal with after next season, so one less could take some stress off and allow the Jets to stay near the top.