Sabres Have Turned Tables & Become Buyers
The Buffalo Sabres have now won 10 games in a row and are in a playoff spot, just two points back of being in a divisional spot. This came after being last in the NHL earlier in the season. With a new GM and what is seemingly a new opportunity, the team is unstoppable and have turned themselves into buyers from sellers.
This doesn't mean that the Sabres don't have to trade some players, but in an attempt to build a successful team that will last and to possibly add a bigger player this season, some roster spots have to be shifted around and money has to move out to make room. The Sabres are sitting at $3.5 million in cap space this season.
The Sabres have injuries to Alex Lyon, Jason Zucker, Jiri Kulich, Conor Timmins, and depth guys Justin Danforth and Tyson Kozak. There's three goaltenders, which the team has to take care of, three high-drafted defensemen in Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Power, and Bowen Byram, where Power has been the weak link and outplayed by Mattias Samuelsson, and a good amount of depth up front.
GM Jarmo Kekalainen wants to drop to a two-goalie system, especially with Devon Levi as another option in the AHL. To clear cap space and create more laid out roles on defense, Power likely has to be traded, which will fetch a nice return. Then at forward, depth is good, but depth to go along with elite talent is better. The Sabres have plenty of value in their prospects and draft picks to be able to pull off larger deals, especially if they're trying to build on what they have and compete right now.
There has been a confidence in the roster since Kekalainen took over and everyone seems to be fighting for their place on the team. A move that's overdue is dumping Jordan Greenway. His cap hit is $4 million AAV and he has a five-team no-trade clause, but he's on the fourth line, has a goal and four points in 24 games, and has a poor xGF% where almost everyone else's on Buffalo is a lot better.
After 14 seasons of missed playoffs, it's time for the Sabres to make the dance again.
Photo credit: © Bob Frid-Imagn Images
