The Buffalo Sabers have not had a good season. The smoke from the trade started coming out of the KeyBank Center windows almost immediately, with many fans concentrated Jack Eichel and whether he would eventually demand it. The young star has not even sniffed the playoffs since entering the league, but according to Sabers GM Kevyn Adams has not requested any operations at this time.
Even if Eichel isn’t moving, the Sabers seem to be getting ready for a few busy months. Elliotte Friedman reported Saturday headlines that Buffalo is “open” to business and that he listens to everyone. The interior specifically mentioned Sam Reinhart, but noted that there is nothing off the table:
… are listening to all the options. I think there are a number of things that people think they can do or not do. I’ve heard a lot of questions asked Sam Reinhart. I have learned that there have been questions about Eric Staal in addition to some of the other names I would expect. Nashville is out there, Detroit is there, but Buffalo is the team that is definitely there, the truth is it listens to any possibility.
Four different Sabers players were on The Athletic’s recent roster Big Board Trade Deadline: Gla, Brandon Montour, Casey Mittelstadt i Taylor Hall. Of this group, only Hall has some commercial protection in his contract. The former Hart Trophy winner signed a one-year contract with Buffalo this offseason that included a full no-move clause to be able to control his fate. Although he was excited about the idea of playing alongside Eichel, Hall has only had two goals and 13 points so far this season and has been left blank again today in the team’s last defeat.
Hall, Staal and Montour represent the best of the outstanding free agents in the staff, although they may be smaller names such as Tobias Rieder it may also be of interest in the term. However, it may not be just the conventional sale of a team like Buffalo, who will somehow have to find a way to completely reverse the culture and get some enthusiasm back on track.
It’s just over a month before the 2021 trade deadline, but right now it doesn’t matter. The Sabers are now 6-13-3 and look completely superior to the Eastern Division. The playoffs are not a realistic result and the sooner they change an expiring asset, the more they could recover.