Veteran forward scored 27 goals with St. Louis last season
The Buffalo Sabres face a season where accountability will be stressed under head coach Lindy Ruff and areas of need will have to be addressed by GM Kevyn Adams for the club to snap their 13-year playoff drought. Over the next few weeks, we will take a look at players who could be potential trade targets this summer in advance of a year that has to be considered playoffs or bust.
Pavel Buchnevich – Forward (St. Louis Blues)
Contract status – signed through 2024-25 at $5.8 million
The Sabres are well-positioned to make a major roster upgrade going into next season, with nearly $23 million in cap space, one of the NHL’s best prospect pools, and all their draft picks. Last summer, Adams was not willing to deal his first-round pick or youngsters such as Matthew Savoie, Jiri Kulich, or Isak Rosen for defensive upgrades rumored to be on the market like Noah Hanifin or Brett Pesce.
After acquiring Bowen Byram from Colorado, and the Sabres offense and power play declining, the thought is that Adams will be looking for a difference-maker to play in the top six. This could become even more necessary if Buffalo buys out the final three years of Jeff Skinner’s contract.
Buchnevich has been a consistent producer ever since being dealt to St. Louis by the Rangers in 2021 for salary cap reasons. The 29-year-old has scored 83 goals in three seasons with the Blues and is eligible for a contract extension in July, but there has been some doubt whether he wants to re-sign with St. Louis or if the Blues, who have missed the playoffs the last two seasons, are willing to pay him.
Ruff was an assistant with the Rangers during the big Russian winger’s first three years in New York, which means that there would be some familiarity. Buchnevich’s short-term remaining may be something that the Sabres are not concerned about since young wingers J-J Peterka and Jack Quinn are still on their entry-level contracts and the next deals would not kick in until after next season.
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