BUFFALO, NY – Kevyn Adams isn’t going to make a move at the NHL trade deadline for the sake of it. He’s not interested in prematurely hitting fast forward on the Buffalo Sabres’ rebuild. And he’s not interested in doing so at the expense of the long-term vision.
Adams has consistently conveyed that message, so any trade talks need that precursor. These Sabers have forced Adams to think harder about those beliefs. They’re in the mix for a playoff spot and if that is still true closer to the deadline, Adams could feel he owes it to the team to bolster the roster.
In the interest of starting some of that discussion ahead of the March 3 deadline, here are some players from The Athletic’s latest NHL trade board who could fit in Buffalo.
Because of injuries and inconsistent play, the Sabers’ defense has not performed well enough this season. They have allowed the sixth-most high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes at even strength, according to Natural Stat Trick. Adding depth to the blue line would help. Jakob Chychrun is both a short and long-term solution since he’s under contract for two more seasons. The Coyotes aren’t going to give him up for cheap, though. They can afford to be patient. The asking price is reportedly two first-round picks and a prospect. The Sabers might need to throw in Matt Savoie or a similar prospect plus a first-round pick to meet that demand. That might be too steep for Adams.
According to The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun, the Ducks have told a few teams that the price on John Klingberg starts with a first-round pick. That’s an aggressive ask for a player who will be an unrestricted free agent after the season. I wouldn’t expect the Sabers to cough up a first-round pick for a rental. But if Klingberg could get back to his high-scoring ways, he would fit in Buffalo’s fast-paced system. The price will need to come down, though.
Ivan Provorov has been a quality, top-pairing defenseman in Philadelphia for a while. LeBrun recently reported the Flyers are listening to offers on Provorov, who has grown frustrated over the past couple of seasons. It’s tough to know what Provorov would cost, but it would likely be a steep ask. The question with a player of this caliber is whether the Sabers can afford to construct a roster with three high-priced defensemen. Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power could end up being worth a combined $20 million when Power is done with his entry-level deal. The Sabers would have to ask the same philosophical question before acquiring Chychrun.
Vladislav Gavrikov is still just 27 years old and makes only $2.8 million this season. He’s an unrestricted free agent this summer, so that number will spike. The Blue Jackets would also likely look for a first-round pick in return. If the Sabers were going to go that route, they would need to feel comfortable in their ability to sign him long-term.
The Athletic’s Michael Russo reported that the Wild aren’t going to trade Matt Dumba while they are still in playoff contention unless it’s a move that helps them this season. For the last six seasons, Dumba’s teams have had more high-danger chances for than against when he’s on the ice at five-on-five. He’d be a nice addition to pair with Owen Power. He’s also going to be a free agent, so that needs to be considered here as well.
For three straight seasons before this one, Dmitry Kulikov was on the ice for more high-danger chances than against. That number has taken a nosedive, but the Ducks have had a rough season. Kulikov’s track record as a consistent, stay-at-home defenseman would make him an option worth considering at the deadline. He only makes $2.2 million, so the Sabers wouldn’t be overextending themselves financially.
Joel Edmundson is 29 years old, has one season left on a contract that pays just $3.5 million and has experience playing in the Stanley Cup Final for two different teams. That seems like the ideal profile of a defenseman the Sabers could add. Montreal is out of the playoff race, so it could be looking to deal.
Shayne Gostisbehere isn’t known for being a lockdown defenseman, so he might not be a huge boost to the Sabers in that regard. He does have an offensive skill set that would fit nicely with Buffalo’s high-scoring offense, though. He also could be a player that would come relatively cheap compared to the names at the top of the list.
Jack Johnson ended up as a key piece to the Avalanche’s run to the Stanley Cup last season by playing reliable minutes on the bottom defensive pair. He’s not a young man, but the Sabers could use more experience to stabilize their defense.
Like Johnson, Luke Schenn would bring a needed veteran presence to Buffalo’s blue line. He won the Stanley Cup twice with the Lightning, so he’s played in plenty of important games. The Sabers don’t have a lot of defensemen who can say that. He’s also a physical, right-handed shot, two qualities the Sabers could use more of.
(Photo: Jamie Sabau / USA TODAY Sports)
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