Sabres Should Not Be Sellers at the Trade Deadline

While I personally believe the Sabres should have considered trading Cozens and Byram for Elias Pettersson, I understand why Adams didn’t pull the trigger. Pettersson, like Cozens, has had a rough season, but he would still be leading the Sabres in points. Byram, on the other hand, has had a solid season, and it appears the Sabres are keen on offering him a long-term extension this summer. It’s also worth noting that Byram is a restricted free agent (RFA) at the end of the season and will be arbitration-eligible.

Sabres Should NOT Sell Off Assets

The Sabres have had a tough and disappointing season, currently sitting at the bottom of the Eastern Conference, a position they’ve held for much of the season. While it might be tempting for the Sabres to trade some assets to contending teams, it doesn’t seem like they’re planning to go down that path, and I think that’s the right call.

The Sabres’ roster is better than where they currently sit in the standings, and other teams are noticing that. They’re interested in some of Buffalo’s young players, who have been struggling this season. However, Adams is being cautious at the trade deadline, not wanting to part with players like Cozens or Jack Quinn for less than their true value. If those players were to succeed elsewhere, it would reflect poorly on Adams, and he’s clearly being careful not to let that happen.

At this point in the season, it’s probably in the Sabres’ best interest to stand pat, reassess, and work on retooling their roster during the offseason. If the team were to make a big trade, it would have been smarter to do so a few months ago, when they were struggling to win games—specifically during that 13-game losing streak. However, team owner Terry Pegula met with the Sabres in Montreal and decided that making roster-altering trades wasn’t the best move. He expressed confidence in the players already in the locker room, which is understandable, but sometimes, even one trade or shakeup can be helpful.

I had considered the possibility of the Sabres moving Jason Zucker or Jordan Greenway, both of whom are unrestricted free agents (UFAs) at the end of the season. But according to Elliotte Friedman on his latest 32 Thoughts episode, the Sabres and Greenway are working on an extension, which makes me believe Greenway is likely staying put. That said, things can change quickly in the NHL, so you never know.

With all the trade rumors surrounding various Sabres players, I wouldn’t expect the team to make any major moves unless a deal presents itself that’s too good to pass up.

What do you think? Do you see the Sabres making any significant moves at the deadline?