3 Sabres trade targets after heartbreaking Game 7 Canadiens loss

The Buffalo Sabres were eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs by the Montreal Canadiens in seven games. After a 15-year postseason drought, Buffalo returned to the postseason and eliminated the Boston Bruins. But their seven-game loss to the Habs shows the need for more scoring. The Sabres are in a premier position for a big offseason trade, and Jason Robertson is one of the biggest names available in the NHL.

The Sabres have a little bit of a salary cap situation to manage this offseason. According to Puckpedia, they have over $12 million in space, but have postseason star Zach Benson to re-sign. Benson is a restricted free agent and admitted Tuesday he has not thought much about his next contract. Peyton Krebs also needs a new deal, as he is a restricted free agent.

The Sabres should make a big trade this offseason, and these are the best options.

Jason Robertson could change the Sabres’ offense

The Dallas Stars are in a serious cap crunch, and it could lead to a trade of Robertson, who is a restricted free agent. If Dallas does trade him, they should be asking for a haul. The Sabres were willing to give the St Louis Blues a haul for defenseman Colton Parayko until he used his no-trade clause to block the deal. They should re-package those picks and prospects to go after Robertson.

In the second round, Sabres forward Alex Tuch was held without a point in the seven games. He will be the top unrestricted free agent on the market, and could get a massive contract from a different contender. But the Sabres should not be in that market, as Robertson is a better player and they have the assets to get him.

The Sabres could trade defensive prospect Radim Mrtka, who was reportedly part of the Parayko deal. Throw in Buffalo’s 2026 first-round pick, forward prospect Brodie Zimmer, and goalie reclamation project Devon Levi, and this deal could get done. Then, the Sabres would have to pay Robertson on a long-term, big-money deal.

Finally make that defenseman trade for Adam Pelech

After the Parayko trade fell through, Sabres GM Jarmo Kekalainen brought in Luke Schenn and Logan Stanley from the Winnipeg Jets. Both of those players were scratches throughout the playoffs and are free agents, so that experiment is likely over. To get the shutdown defenseman with term they desire, the Sabres should call the New York Islanders about Adam Pelech.

The Islanders have a logjam on defense, especially among left-handed defensemen. Pelech has three years left on his deal at $5.75 million per season and has a modified no-trade clause. His underlying numbers were tremendous last year, but he will be 32 years old on opening night. If the Sabres are willing to part with their 2026 first-round pick, which they should be, this could be an easy trade to get over the line.

Last year, the Sabres had a long contract standoff with defenseman Bowen Byram. It ended with a two-year contract that will bring him to unrestricted free agency in July 2027. If tensions are still high, which they may not be, considering the playoff run and GM change, it would be smart to replace him now.

Bring it full circle with Ryan O’Reilly

The Sabres traded Ryan O’Reilly to the St Louis Blues in the 2018 offseason. Just a few months later, he was the Conn Smythe Trophy winner as playoff MVP with the Blues. Now, he is with the Nashville Predators and headed into the last year of his contract. With a new general manager coming to Nashville soon, trading O’Reilly could be the right move.

This would be the least expensive trade of the group. Not only does O’Reilly have just one year left at $4.5 million, but it would not cost a first-round pick to land him. Pairing Tage Thompson, the centerpiece of the first trade, with O’Reilly would be an incredible full-circle moment for Buffalo.

The Sabres have the opportunity to make a big trade this offseason to give themselves a better offense. Their powerplay was a big reason they lost the series to the Habs, and they can make sure it isn’t a problem anymore with the right offseason moves.

The post 3 Sabres trade targets after heartbreaking Game 7 Canadiens loss appeared first on ClutchPoints.