Buffalo Sabres Dangling Jack Quinn As Trade Bait
That effort may cost them one of their young scorers.
Per David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, the Sabres are dangling forward Jack Quinn as trade bait, and have been shopping the winger since before the draft as they look to reshape the roster.
Why Buffalo Is Shopping Him
Pagnotta reported that the Sabres want a roster upgrade back rather than more draft capital, which lines up with what they have already tried to do.
Quinn was reportedly part of the substantial package Buffalo offered the Winnipeg Jets for goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, a deal that included the fourth overall pick and goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen before the Jets walked away over the asking price.
With that swing having missed, Quinn remains Buffalo's most movable asset.
𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚: David Pagnotta believes the Sabres are shopping Jack Quinn.
— Built in Buffalo (@BuiltInBuffalo_) June 30, 2026
“The Sabres are dangling Quinn as trade bait and have since prior to the NHL Draft. He’s entering the last year of his current contract and is still controllable. If Buffalo can package him in a deal… pic.twitter.com/vwWBenKTGo
The 24-year-old is coming off a career year, posting 20 goals and a career-high 51 points while playing all 82 games in 2025-26, with 40 of those points coming at even strength despite a career-low shooting percentage.
He added seven points in 13 playoff games, including a three-point night in Buffalo's Game 6 road win over Montreal.
The Cap Math
There is a financial component pushing this along.
Quinn carries a bargain $3.75 million cap hit but has just one year left on his contract before he becomes a restricted free agent next summer, when he will be due a significant raise.
The Sabres spent big this offseason locking up Zach Benson to a $52.5 million extension and Beck Malenstyn to a long-term deal, and they may not have the cap space to give Quinn the raise he will command.
Moving him now, while he is young, productive, and cheap for another season, is exactly the kind of profile a contender covets, and it would open a bigger role for cheaper forwards like Konsta Helenius and Jiri Kulich.
What Comes Next
General manager Jarmo Kekalainen has a middle-six forward surplus and is likely to move at least one, perhaps two, of those players before next season.
Quinn's trade value could be best used to land a right-shot partner for Owen Power on the blue line, a need Buffalo tried to fill last summer with Michael Kesselring before injuries derailed that plan and he was flipped to San Jose.
𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚: The Jets reported offer to the Sabres for Connor Hellebuyck:
— Built in Buffalo (@BuiltInBuffalo_) June 28, 2026
-4th overall pick
-Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
-Roster player (believed to be Jack Quinn)
-Possibly another player/pick
(H/T David Pagnotta)#Sabres | #Sabrehood | #LetsGoBuffalo pic.twitter.com/xSwvsNjAyA
The Sabres have also been persistently linked to a renewed Hellebuyck pursuit, and Quinn could resurface as a centerpiece if those talks reignite.
A 20-goal scorer on a bargain deal is unlikely to sit on the market long, and whether he is moved as part of a blockbuster or in a standalone deal, Buffalo appears determined to convert Quinn into an upgrade that pushes them deeper into contention.
