For the first time in a long time, the Buffalo Sabres are in a position to be legitimate buyers at the NHL trade deadline. Sitting in the top wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, the Sabres have a 79 percent chance to make the playoffs, according to The Athletic’s playoff predictor model. While new general manager Jarmo Kekäläinen has said he won’t mortgage the future for the sake of just making the playoffs, the Sabres’ stretch of winning in December and January is plenty of justification to add to this group.
And the Sabres do need reinforcements in their lineup. We’ve touched on the blue line, which is the team’s most pressing need. But the Sabres should be shopping in the forward market, too. Josh Norris and Zach Benson are both expected to return after the Olympic break, but the Sabres need more depth up front. Another forward who can play in the top nine would be ideal, and it would be great if the Sabres could add a player capable of helping out on the power play. But a heavy forechecking forward with defensive chops that could add some depth would suffice. Playoff experience would be a plus, too, considering the Sabres don’t have many players who have been to the postseason.
There is a wide range of potential options out there for the Sabres. Some make more sense than others. Here’s a look at some of the names potentially available and how they fit.
Robert Thomas, C, St. Louis Blues
Contract: $8.125 million through 2030-31
No-trade clause: Full no-trade clause
The Blues are in seller mode, and Thomas is No. 5 on Chris Johnston’s latest trade board. It would surely take a major offer to pry him out of St. Louis. The 26-year old is an elite playmaking center who can play in all situations and has playoff experience and the leadership teams covet.
If the Sabres were to take the big swing necessary to acquire Thomas, it would require re-thinking what the team looks like now and into the future. It would also require parting with significant assets. Some combination of a first-round pick and prospects Konsta Helenius, Noah Ostlund and Radim Mrtka would need to be on the table. And the Blues might want a young roster player as part of that package. The Sabres would prefer to not break up their top four defensemen, but the Blues have a need there.
Ultimately, this feels like more of an offseason trade. But if the Blues are even considering moving Thomas, it’s something the Sabres should explore. Players like that don’t become available often.
Blake Coleman, LW/RW, Calgary Flames
Contract: $4.9 million through 2026-27
No-trade clause: 10-team no-trade list
Coleman isn’t the most productive point-producer on this list, but he’s made a living as a hard-nosed, two-way winger who plays a game that is built for the postseason. That’s why he has won the Stanley Cup multiple times and would be an attractive addition for any contending team. He has a no-trade list, and you have to wonder if his hometown team, the Dallas Stars, will make a push if the Flames are serious about trading him.
If he’d be willing to come to Buffalo, the Sabres would be smart to pursue it, even with another year left on his contract with that $4.9 million cap hit.
Boone Jenner, C, Columbus Blue Jackets
Contract: $3.75 million through 2025-26 (UFA)
No-trade clause: None
The Blue Jackets have worked their way back into contention, so it may not be realistic to expect them to move their captain. Jenner is in the final year of his contract, though, so if Columbus ends up as a seller, he’s a name to watch.
Jenner could play anywhere in Buffalo’s lineup and was a favorite of Kekäläinen in Columbus. Health is always a question with Jenner lately, but his hard-nosed playing style and leadership would be just what the Sabres need.
Ryan O’Reilly, C, Nashville Predators
Contract: $4.5 million through 2026-27
No-trade clause: None
This one is, admittedly, a bit messy. O’Reilly famously lost his love of the game the last time he played in Buffalo. The ending wasn’t pretty. But given the Sabres’ need for another center and one who could play tough matchup minutes, O’Reilly is an appealing option as a rental. He’s still productive and now has a ton of playoff experience to lean on. It’s tough to say how he might fit in the room, but the on-ice fit is there.
Bobby McMann, LW/RW, Toronto Maple Leafs
Contract: $1.35 million through 2025-26 (UFA)
No-trade clause: None
In the final year of a contract that pays just $1.35 million, McMann will be a sought-after player on the trade market. Elliotte Friedman reported that the Leafs are looking for a first-round pick, and they might be able to get it; McMann had 20 goals last season and already has 19 this season. He’s a big, fast winger who is an effective forechecker and responsible away from the puck. He’s the type of player who can move up and down the lineup and would be a quality addition to Buffalo’s top nine.
Considering the contract, fit and cost to acquire, McMann might be the best option on this list. And the Sabres could keep him around beyond this season depending on the type of raise he’s looking for on his next deal.
Nazem Kadri, C, Calgary Flames
Contract: $7 million through 2028-29
No-trade clause: 13-team no-trade list
Kadri has a 13-team no-trade list and three seasons left on a contract that pays him $7 million per year. Given those factors and the cost it would take to acquire the 35-year-old Stanley Cup winner, this might be a tricky trade fit. He’s a productive player with postseason experience and would bolster Buffalo’s center depth chart.
But does he want to spend the rest of that contract in Buffalo, and could the Sabres make that money work now and into the future? It seems unlikely. The Sabres would have similar issues acquiring a player like New York Rangers center Vincent Trocheck.
Brayden Schenn, C, St. Louis Blues
Contract: $6.5 million through 2027-28
No-trade clause: 15-team no-trade list
Schenn is similar to Kadri in that he has a 15-team no-trade list and two years left on a contract that pays him $6.5 million per year. The term and cap hit are easier to manage with Schenn. He’s also a captain who has won a Stanley Cup. He’d bring exactly the type of leadership qualities the Sabres’ locker room could use for this stretch run, but it would require some planning beyond this season to make it work.
Andrew Mangiapane, LW, Edmonton Oilers
Contract: $3.6 million through 2026-27 (UFA)
No-trade clause: Full no-trade clause
Mangiapane is a long way removed from his 35-goal season in 2021-22. He had a decent season for Washington in 2024-25, but his stint with the Oilers has not gone well. He’s making $3.6 million and has a full no-trade clause. That could be a roadblock to any potential deal. There are less risky bets than this one.
Conor Garland would be an unorthodox trade target with an extension already signed. (Derek Cain / Getty Images)
Conor Garland, winger, Vancouver Canucks
Contract: $4.95 million with a six-year extension worth $6 million kicking in next year
No-trade clause: No clause now, but full no-movement clause on his extension
Garland would be a complicated addition considering he just signed a six-year contract extension worth $6 million per year over the summer. That’s a reasonable number for Garland, who is a strong two-way winger with the grit and playmaking ability to be a nice complementary piece in Buffalo’s lineup.
Are the Canucks willing to move him so soon? Considering their spot in the standings, it’s worth a call. But the Sabres would need to do some future planning to squeeze the contract into their salary cap picture.
Michael Bunting, LW, Nashville Predators
Contract: $4.5 million through 2025-26 (UFA)
No-trade clause: None
Always a pain to play against, Bunting is still producing with 30 points through 57 games. His hard-nosed style would fit the way the Sabres want to play, but his cap hit makes him less appealing than someone like McMann.
Ryan Lomberg, LW, Calgary Flames
Contract: $2 million through 2025-26 (UFA)
No-trade clause: None
Lomberg would just be a depth addition to the fourth line. He’s a speedy, hard-hitting winger who is willing to fight. He won a Stanley Cup in Florida and has the type of competitive spirit that would make him a perfect fit in the Sabres’ locker room. His cap hit is a bit high for the value he provides, though.
Tanner Pearson, LW, Winnipeg Jets
Contract: $1 million through 2025-26
No-trade clause: None
Tanner Pearson isn’t nearly as productive as he used to be, but as a depth winger, he could be useful in the postseason. He has a history of performing in big games and is a capable defensive forward. He has lost some of his offensive pop over the years, though, so this wouldn’t significantly move the needle.