Jets’ good news on Isak Rosen could be upsetting for Sabres originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

It was the kind of trade the Buffalo Sabres felt they had to make.

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They got two defensemen from the Winnipeg Jets to help their playoff push, Luke Schenn and Logan Stanley.

But to do it, they had to give up promising forward prospect Isak Rosen.

Rosen has already made his debut for the Jets, and ESPN listed Rosen first among its potential top impact prospects traded at the deadline.

“Buried amid the cavalry of young players in Buffalo, the Jets are getting a middle-six player with 20-goal potential based on his AHL production,” ESPN’s Rachel Kryshak wrote on Tuesday. “In fact, there is a very real possibility the Jets end up with the best player in the deal that sent Logan Stanley and Luke Schenn to the Sabres.”

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Rosen had gotten a few chances here and there with the Sabres.

Mostly, he was a proven contributor at AHL Rochester the past few seasons.

“Rosen has some power-play capability, and should get an opportunity to play on the second unit in Winnipeg,” Kryshak writes. “He also brings much-needed speed to the Jets’ lineup, makes good decisions with the puck and has a decent shot. He can dart into the middle where he prefers to attack, but his weakness on the wall will need to improve to earn the trust of his coaches at the NHL level. He lacks strength, but his skill and skating are top tier in the AHL.”

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There’s plenty Rosen still can improve on, too, to reach his full potential.

“He’s the type of player who flashes high-end skill to overwhelm defenders but gets pushed to the outside by more physical opponents,” Kryshak writes. “If he can add strength and improve his hard skill, he has the soft skill to be an impact scorer in the middle six for the Jets.”

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