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Winnipeg Jets defenseman Logan Stanley celebrates his goal against the Nashville Predators (James Carey Lauder-Imagn Images)

How the Sabres Should Approach the 2026 Trade Deadline

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers | By Zach Berta | Last updated Feb 26, 2026 8:45 AM ET

The NHL roster freeze is officially over, allowing teams to start making roster moves again. This includes trades through the trade deadline on Fri, March 6.

There will be clear buyers and clear sellers, but what about some other teams? Teams that are competing for a playoff spot but aren’t quite Stanley Cup contenders, like the Buffalo Sabres.

The Sabres sit in the first wild card spot in the Eastern Conference with a record of 32-19-6 (70 points) and are looking to make the playoffs for the first time since 2011.

The Sabres have a few decisions to make, one being whether they keep pending unrestricted free agent Alex Tuch and risk him walking in free agency this offseason, or trade him to get some assets back.

The other decision is whether to stay put and not add any roster pieces, or add a player or two to help the Sabres get into the playoffs. So they need a plan. What should it be as we get closer to the trade deadline?

Acquire Blue Line Depth

The one place where I feel the Sabres should add a player or two is on their blue line. However, not in the top four, but rather their bottom pair. Their bottom pair has seen Michael Kesselring, Zach Metsa, and Jacob Bryson all get some time. Kesselring, whom the Sabres traded for during the 2025 offseason, has dealt with injury issues all season, and his performance hasn’t been great. Metsa started the season in the American Hockey League (AHL) and was recalled earlier in the season due to injuries on the blue line.

Bryson has served as the team’s main seventh defenseman, stepping in when injuries occur or getting playtime when someone needs a game off on the bottom pair. When he’s played, he has been less than stellar, to say the least.

The Sabres are one injury to a player in their top four from needing to play a defenseman there that really has not earned that spot. I mean, when the Sabres get into tight games, they seem to play only the top four for most of the game, which can hurt the team in the long term.

Winnipeg Jets defenseman Logan Stanley, or even Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Connor Murphy, are two names that the Sabres have been linked to on the blue line. Also, two players who won’t cost a ton. Adding one of those players I just named really puts the Sabres in a much better situation heading into the final stretch of games, where they’ll be making a playoff push.

Murphy, for example, has been one of the best defensive defensemen in the NHL. According to Evolving Hockey, he ranks in the 96th percentile on defense. That’s exactly what the Sabres need on the bottom pairing.

Adding One More Forward May Not Be a Bad Thing

If there’s one area where I don’t think the Sabres necessarily need to add, it’s their forward group. However, they could use a cheap piece that will cost very little to acquire, or they could send the house and see what the cost is for a player like St. Louis Blues forward Robert Thomas.

Either way, players like Brayden Schenn, Andrew Mangiapane, Nazem Kadri, Bobby McCann, and the list goes on in terms of forwards. I know I mentioned Thomas, who has four years left on his deal and would be a great addition to the team, but that seems more far-fetched.

Adding to the team’s bottom six would be a great move if Sabres’ general manager Jarmo Kekalainen decided to do so. They’ve dealt with some inconsistencies and injuries, too. Jordan Greenway has been in and out of the lineup most of the season.

Whereas the fourth line has seen moments of productivity, heading into the Olympic break, they struggled to find their footing. Now, none of the guys I named are fourth-line players, but acquiring Kadri or McMann could help bolster the third line and expand the forward depth even more. The Sabres have to look at every possible option come the trade deadline.

Just Don’t Overpay

The Sabres will have to be cautious about not giving up too many assets for one player. Obviously, it depends on the player’s situation. Factors that go into how much a team would be willing to give up for a player include contract term and cap hit, injury history, performance, and more.

We’ll see how the trade deadline plays out, but I do expect the Sabres to be aggressive in adding to their current roster to help them make the playoffs.