2 Rumored Trade Candidates In Atlantic Division That Aren't Going Anywhere

As the season ticks on and we draw closer and closer to the trade deadline, teams will have started to reveal themselves as buyers, sellers, and in between teams who could do both or neither. In the midst of all these trade rumors, there are players that are mentioned that turn out to be nothing or just don't make sense for a team anymore. Two in particular come from the Atlantic Division.

The Buffalo Sabres have rattled off a 10-game win streak and are in a playoff spot with games in hand. It doesn't appear like they're slowing down anytime soon, so players that may not have been happy with where the team has been for years and could have been looking elsewhere, whether that is looking for a trade or to sign somewhere else in the summer, have possibly had second thoughts about that and are bought in.

Chris Johnston said, "I think (the Sabres) are likely to be buyers quite honestly. The biggest question for them is Alex Tuch. Where do things go with negotiations? But clearly the mandate there is to get into the playoffs." Unless Tuch is absolutely not going to sign and the Sabres can get a good return that can help them for this playoff push, the team will ride it out with Tuch. He hasn't indicated that he wants to leave, and the Sabres will be able to re-sign him to a fair deal if he's willing to stick around.

As for the other team, it's the Boston Bruins, who are two points back of a playoff spot and are three games over .500. They aren't rebuilding, so they aren't just going to throw away contributors at forward, especially with it being their weakest area that needs improvement. Pavel Zaha's name has been in trade rumors, but at times those have been shut down. He is the second line center and playing well. There are multiple other players, whether nearing the end of their contracts or not, that make much more sense to trade.

Frank Seravalli said, "A lot of people have pointed to Pavel Zacha as a trade chip. I think you need more Pavel Zacha, not less. Maybe the guy you try and move is Casey Mittelstadt." Zacha is on a great deal for another year, is the second line center as mentioned above, has 10 goals and 26 points in 40 games, and plays in all positions. The Sabres and Bruins need their top-6 guys when they're competing for the playoffs. It's not so easy to fill players of that calibre.