Scouting Sightings At Sabres – Blue Jackets As Deadline Approaches

14 NHL clubs taking in Buffalo – Columbus contest on Friday

With less than two weeks to go before the NHL trade deadline, clubs interested in adding players are getting their final looks at teams looking to sell players on expiring contracts. At the Buffalo Sabres 2-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday, 14 NHL teams had scouts in the press box at Nationwide Arena.

Similar to the large throng of scouts at the Anaheim – Buffalo game last Monday, contending teams had an opportunity to double dip and view two clubs who will definitely be sellers before March 8.

Multiple scouts from three clubs (the Vegas Golden Knights - 3, Boston Bruins - 2, and Florida Panthers - 2), along with representatives from the Anaheim Ducks, Calgary Flames, Carolina Hurricanes, Los Angeles Kings, Minnesota Wild, New York Islanders, Philadelphia Flyers, Seattle Kraken, Tampa Bay Lightning, Vancouver Canucks and Winnipeg Jets.

This is the second straight game in which the Golden Knights have had multiple scouts at a Buffalo game, and Vegas is expected to be busy in the trade market since they are without both center Jack Eichel and winger Mark Stone, and will have the ability to add players since Stone potentially could be on LTIR until the postseason.

Sabres forwards Zemgus Girgensons, Victor Olofsson, Kyle Okposo, Eric Robinson, defenseman Erik Johnson, and goalie Eric Comrie are on expiring contracts.

The Golden Knights, Panthers, Lightning, and Canucks are all rumored to be checking in on the defensive market, which could have them interested in Johnson, a physical, right-handed blueliner, who won a Stanley Cup in 2022.

Several other contending clubs could be interested in one of the Sabres four pending free-agent wingers if they agree to retain salary as part of the deal.

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