Some ex-Sabres who are pending unrestricted free agents could be on the move before March 8
Some ex-Sabres who are pending unrestricted free agents could be on the move before March 8
The Buffalo Sabres have a number of players on expiring contracts who could be on the move before the March 8th trade deadline, which is one month from today. Team captain Kyle Okposo, forwards Zemgus Girgensons, Victor Olofsson, Eric Robinson, and Tyson Jost, defenseman Erik Johnson, and goalie Eric Comrie could be shipped out by GM Kevyn Adams based on the level of interest from other NHL clubs, but there are also some former Sabres players could also be on the transaction list.
Pending unrestricted free agents such as Sam Reinhart, Brandon Montour, Nikita Zadorov, and Tyler Myers are likely not to get moved since the Florida Panthers and Vancouver Canucks are legitimate Stanley Cup contenders and are not interested in subtracting from their existing rosters.
Veteran blueliners Marco Scandella ($3.275 million), Ilya Lyubushkin ($2.75 million), and Colin Miller ($1.85 million) are all on expiring contracts on teams currently not in a playoff spot and might be attractive to contenders for a low cost in St. Louis, Anaheim and/or New Jersey would retain salary.
One former Sabre who has been the target of some speculation is defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen. The 29-year-old has three more seasons left on a five-year, $25.5 million deal, but his $5.1 million salary would likely scare off whatever clubs that might have interest since he missed the start of the season with a lower-body injury and does not resemble the right-handed physical blueliner that played eight seasons in Buffalo.
The Flyers would likely have to retain a significant chunk of his salary to move Ristolainen, and still, the term remaining might scare off any suitors.
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