The Buffalo Sabres have fought their way back into the playoff picture with four wins in a row and seven of their past 10. It is still going to be a hard road to qualify for the playoffs this season with the competition ahead of them, but they’re not nearly out of it yet. At this point, seeing how the team is eight points back with four games in hand on the Washington Capitals, it may not be the best idea to go all in on a high-end rental this season.
Related: All Blue Jackets’ Players That Will Be Traded This Season
But a player with term or a mid-level rental shouldn’t be off the table. Keep in mind, if they can pull off a sign-and-trade for someone like Timo Meier or Bo Horvat, that would be the best-case scenario. Let’s take a look at who the Sabres should add before the trade deadline for a playoff push.
Anthony Duclair
The Florida Panthers won’t be able to keep one of their players when Anthony Duclair comes back from the LTIR. They are playing with less than the ideal amount of players on the roster as is to be able to stay under the cap. Duclair is the obvious choice since he’s really the only player the Panthers can deal that doesn’t have a lot of term left and has the necessary cap hit to keep them under the salary cap.
Duclair hasn’t played a game this season but has been very effective for his cost since joining the Panthers. In two seasons, he has recorded 41 goals and 90 points in 117 games with a cap hit of just $3 million for this season and next. He would be a perfect fit in a young Sabres lineup in the top-nine at a very affordable cap hit. The Sabres can catch the Panthers in a vulnerable position and get Duclair at a reduced price. He’s a player worth targeting for this team right now as they are within striking distance of the playoffs.
Jakob Chychrun
The defence of the Sabres isn’t exactly great. They may be ranked first in the NHL in goals per game with 3.94, but also rank 22nd in the league in goals against per game with 3.44. That’s a combination of inexperience, weaker defence, and goaltending. What could help them mend the problem is adding a defence, not only for this season, but for a few.
Jakob Chychrun is quite possibly the best defenceman available this season and has been a force since returning to the Arizona Coyotes’ lineup. He has three goals, 13 points, and is a +8 in 16 games this season and playing top minutes once again. He is offensively and defensively capable and is under contract for two more seasons at the low cost of $4.6 million AAV. When the Sabres start really spending money, that discount is going to be well worth the cost to acquire him. The Sabres are on the brink of competing and the time is now to start adding pieces to help them reach that goal.
James Reimer
The Sabres definitely need help in net seeing as Eric Comrie is injured and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen isn’t quite NHL ready yet. At 41 years old, there’s only so much of the load that Craig Anderson can carry and will need help. James Reimer has proven he can still put up strong numbers on a weak defensive team over the past two seasons and is a cheap rental.
Reimer likely won’t cost more than a third round pick to acquire, and the Sabres are at the point where a third round pick is even worth it for a rental goalie while not being secured in a playoff spot. It will help build a winning culture if the team can get more saves every night while still giving the team a better chance at climbing up the standings more.
Give your thoughts below as to who the Sabres should add this season.
