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The Buffalo Sabres could be looking to add a significant player or two ahead of the trade deadline. Buffalo has surprised many in the league by becoming a playoff contender in 2025-26. If the Sabres do earn a spot in the upcoming Stanley Cup playoffs, it will be the first time that they played a postseason game since April of 2011. To put it in perspective, Osama bin Laden was still alive at the time.

Although the Sabres are likely to become buyers in the trade market, they are expected to proceed with caution. New GM Jarmo Kekäläinen will likely keep one eye on the future. Because of this, the exec is not expected to take on pricey rentals as they head towards the postseason. Nevertheless, Buffalo can still make a significant deal without mortgaging its future.

Bleacher Report recently claimed that the team’s biggest need is defensive depth. After all, the Sabres are allowing an average of 3.09 goals per game this season. This particular figure ranks middle of the pack among NHL teams. Despite this, the outlet also admitted that Buffalo “could also use some middle-six forward help.” Toronto Maple Leafs winger Bobby McMann may just be the most likely candidate.

The Athletic’s Matthew Fairburn recently skimmed through a list of 10 potential forward targets for the Sabres. While Buffalo would likely be happy with most of the players named, Fairburn believes McMann is the top choice. “Considering the contract, fit, and cost to acquire, McMann might be the best option on this list,” claimed the reporter.

Buffalo Sabres Could Have Advantage in Bobby McMann Chase

GettyBobby McMann is a very popular NHL trade target this season.

McMann is likely to be traded by the Maple Leafs ahead of the March 6 deadline. Toronto is experiencing a shockingly poor campaign and is ready to offload pending unrestricted free agents. The forward currently carries an extremely manageable $1.35 million AAV cap hit. Despite the low salary, McMann has racked up 19 goals and 13 assists in 2025-26.

Because he is cheap and productive, several NHL teams are interested in McMann. So far, the Edmonton Oilers and Colorado Avalanche have been most heavily linked with the star. Although these two teams are seen as true contenders, Buffalo could have an advantage in the race for McMann. ESPN recently rated Buffalo’s prospect pool higher than both Edmonton and Colorado.

According to PuckPedia.com, the Sabres also have more current cap space and future 2026-27 cap room than the Oilers and Avalanche. While all three teams can afford the winger now, Buffalo could give him a substantial raise moving forward. Fairburn specifically pointed to this aspect of the negotiations in his article.

Sabres Actively Trying to Re-Sign Fellow Star Forward

At the moment, the Sabres are still negotiating a long-term contract extension with Alex Tuch. The fellow winger is currently in the final year of his $4.75 million AAV deal and looking for a significant raise. Buffalo could very well pivot towards McMann if an agreement with Tuch seems unlikely.

The details of a deal with the Maple Leafs for McMann would depend on whether or not an extension is in place. The star would obviously cost more if Buffalo feels they will retain him beyond the current campaign.

Christopher Moore Christopher Moore has been a Heavy.com contributor since 2025. With over a decade of experience in the industry, he has published thousands of articles reporting on multiple professional sports. He was previously a sports writer for World Soccer Talk, the Yahoo! Contributor Network, and the Maryland Sports Blog. More about Christopher Moore

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