Capitals, Sabres team up for minor trade

The Buffalo Sabres and Washington Capitals have already made one significant trade this offseason, with Alex Tuch going from Western New York to the nation’s capital in a sign-and-trade.

The two Eastern Conference clubs teamed up for another swap on Monday, although one of much smaller magnitude. The Sabres acquired Zac Funk from the Caps in exchange for Tyler Kopff.

Both players are entering the final seasons of their respective entry-level contracts. Kopff went undrafted despite playing at nearly a point-per-game pace for the Coquitlam Express in the BCHL. He spent two seasons at Brown University, scoring 28 points in 32 games in his final year.

He ended up signing a two-year entry-level contract with the Sabres ahead of the 2025-26 campaign, and spent the season split between the AHL’s Rochester Americans and ECHL’s Jacksonville Icemen.

The 23-year-old stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 205 pounds, and will now join the Capitals organization, likely pushing for a roster spot with the Hershey Bears in 2026-27.

He was originally signed by former general manager Kevyn Adams, who has since been replaced by Jarmo Kekalainen.

As for Funk, another undrafted prospect, he’s a former Western Hockey League star. The 22-year-old lit up the league in 2023-24 as a member of the Prince George Cougars, amassing 123 points in 68 games.

He’s struggled to make the same kind of impact with the Bears in the American Hockey League, recording just six points over 26 games split between two seasons.

Funk was limited to just 10 AHL games in 2025-26, and was sent down to the ECHL’s South Carolina Stingrays. He was much better there, finishing the campaign with 19 points in 23 games.

The 6-foot-0, 210-pound winger has yet to play an National Hockey League game, and he’ll now get a change of scenery in Buffalo. Like Kopff, he will likely be battling for a spot in the AHL in 2026-27.

It’s hard to see either player becoming an everyday NHLer at this point, but the pair both seem to have needed a fresh start, which they will get with their new organizations.

The goal for Kopff and Funk will be to have a strong season in the minors to try and earn another NHL contract next summer.