Sabres Pursuit Of Scoring Likely To Cost One Of Their Prime Prospects

The Buffalo Sabres did not remedy the offensive gap created by the departures of winger Alex Tuch and defenseman Bowen Byram last summer. The club was minus 44 goals from last season, and appeared to be relying on the internal development of youngsters Zach Benson, Josh Doan, Konsta Helenius, and Jiri Kulich to make up the difference. 

Early returns have proven that to be a miscalculation by GM Jarmo Kekalainen, as these four forwards have combined for just six goals, and before their breakout 7-6 win in Anaheim on Thursday, the Sabres were averaging 2.75 goals per game and were 25th in scoring.  ,are moving forward with goalie Connor Hellebuyck now with the New Jersey Devils, but details continue to filter out as to what the club offered to acquire the 33-year-old Hart and Vezina Trophy winner before the NHL Draft last June. 

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According to David Pagnotta of the Fourth Period, Kekalainen is looking to add some scoring help, but unless Buffalo is looking for a temporary solution, such as a scorer on an expiring contract, it will likely cost the Sabres one of their top prospects. Timing could be an issue for Kekalainen, since teams who may be sellers at the deadline, like the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames or Chicago Blackhawks, are probably not ready to move players until they get overpaid or the calendar is closer to the trade deadline. 

The cost for the Sabres on a rental with an expiring contract would likely be a high draft pick, but if Kekalainen is looking for a forward with term, such as Pittsburgh’s Bryan Rust, it could cost Buffalo a pick and an excellent prospect, such as 2025 first rounder Radim Mrtka, or NCAA prospects Adam Kleber or Brodie Ziemer. 

If Buffalo is looking for a scorer with significant term remaining, such as Vancouver's Brock Boeser, it could cost them a forward like Doan, Benson, or Ostlund, who are younger and also signed to long-term deals, or Helenius, who is 20 years old and in the first year of his entry-level contract.

The need for a move will depend on where the Sabres are in the standings come the end of November, when clubs begin to take stock of where they are.       

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