Buffalo Sabers did not have a good season. Commercial smoke started flowing out of the KeyBank Center window almost immediately, with many fans focused on Jack Eichel and if he finally asked to come out. The young star did not even smell the playoffs since entering the league, but according to Sabers GM Kevyn Adams did not request a transaction at this time.
Even though Eichel is not moving, the Sabers seem to be preparing for a few busy months. Elliotte Friedman reported on Saturday headlines the fact that Buffalo is “wide open” for business and that he listens to everyone. The insider specifically mentioned Sam Reinhart, but mentioned that nothing is off the table:
… listen to all the options. I think there are a number of things that people think they can do or not do. I heard a lot of questions were asked Sam Reinhart. I heard questions were asked Eric Staal in addition to some of the other names you would expect. Nashville is there, Detroit is there, but Buffalo is the team that is definitely there and again, the word is that it listens to any possibilities.
Four different Sabers players were listed in The Athletic’s recent Big Board trading term: Acorn, Brandon Montour, Casey Mittelstadt and Taylor Hall. Of this group, only Hall has commercial protection in its contract. The former Hart Trophy winner has signed a one-year deal with Buffalo this season, which included a full motion clause to control his destination. Although he was excited about playing with Eichel, Hall has only two goals and 13 points so far this season and was canceled again today in the team’s last loss.
Hall, Staal and Montour are the best free agents waiting without restrictions on the team, although probably smaller names such as Tobias Rieder it could also be of some interest in the long run. It may not be just the conventional sale for a team like Buffalo, who must somehow find a way to completely overthrow the culture and get some excitement in the rink.
There is a little more than a month left before the 2021 trading deadline, but it doesn’t really matter at this point. The Sabers are now 6-13-3 and look completely outdated in the Eastern Division. The playoffs are not a realistic result and the sooner an expired asset trades, the more it could return.