Contenders Boston, Colorado, Florida, and Tampa Bay at weekend home games before March 8
With less than a week to go before the NHL trade deadline, clubs interested in getting a final look at players were at a pair of Buffalo Sabres home games at Key Bank Center on Saturday and Sunday. At the Sabres 7-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights, only three teams were represented, but for their 5-2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets, there were eight clubs in attendance.
Scouts for the contending Colorado Avalanche and Florida Panthers were there for both games, while representatives for the Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, Minnesota Wild, Ottawa Senators, and Tampa Bay Lightning were present on Sunday.
The Jets are likely to be buyers before Friday, which would explain the presence of non-playoff teams like the Ducks (the third team on Saturday), Hawks, Wild, and Sens.
Colorado is rumored to be interested in adding forward depth and has cap space with Gabriel Landeskog on LTIR, which could have them checking in on Sabres team captain Kyle Okposo, winger Victor Olofsson, or possibly former Av defenseman Erik Johnson.
Boston and Tampa are severely depleted due to injury on the blueline and could be looking at Johnson, and could also be interested in forward depth in Okposo or Girgensons.
Both Okposo and Johnson are on expiring contracts and may be considering retirement after the season.
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