Sabres Best Trade Deadline Assets

In limited opportunities with the Sabres, he hasn’t looked out of place and could be ready to challenge for a full-time spot in 2026-27. That said, he is the kind of potential top-line player that could be sent the other way to land a premium asset at the deadline.

2026 First-Round Pick

For the first time in seemingly decades, the Sabres are in a position to realistically deal their first-round draft pick. Given their positioning, even if they don’t make the playoffs, that lottery pick will likely be in the mid-teens. For that cost, it is worth taking a swing that could have a potentially huge impact for the franchise.

In order to acquire a premium player, you have to offer premium assets. More often than not, sellers at the deadline are looking for picks and prospects to stock their coffers. The Sabres’ first-round pick would no doubt be enticing as the team aims to load up at the deadline.

Noah Ostlund

When you’ve been as bad as the Sabres have in recent years, you tend to stockpile quality young talent. The Sabres have several young pieces to their current core but a plethora of young pieces that factor into their future as well.

Ostlund has been an intriguing name in Buffalo circles. The 16^th pick in 2022, Ostlund has become a regular with the parent club this season, scoring 10 goals and registering 19 points in 46 games. He is undersized but a crafty playmaker with the skills needed to be a middle-six forward.

Devon Levi

There has been talk throughout the season that the Sabres have a logjam at goaltender and one of Alex Lyon, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, and Colten Ellis could be dealt to help address other concerns. That said, all three have had their own battles with injuries this season. Trading one could leave the Sabres in a compromising position down the stretch if one of the remaining two is hurt.

That is where Levi comes into the equation. He has often been seen as the goalie of the future, his development has slowed and it remains to be seen what his path to the NHL is. He may hold more value as a focal trade piece that can improve the team at the deadline.

Getting Better is Imperative

As the team closes in on the playoffs for the first time since 2011, there is still some debate as to what to do with Alex Tuch. It seems almost certain that he will remain even without a contract going into the offseason, even if some still think he could be dealt.

The goal is to simply get better. The Sabres don’t need to pull off the blockbuster move of the deadline, but they do need to address depth issues on both ends of the ice. Finding one or two bottom-pairing defensemen would be imperative. A bigger swing than that would be icing on the cake.