Despite Late-Season Resurgence, Sabres Sellers at Trade Deadline
Can the Sabres make a playoff push anyway, though?
Welcome to The Hockey Writers Buffalo Sabres newsletter, with all the latest from our team of Sabres writers.
In today’s edition, we feature two articles about the Sabres’ trade deadline trades, three pieces previewing and predicting the Sabres’ trade deadline (which has obviously since passed — check in to see how accurate our writers’ guesses were!) and an article detailing the Sabres’ playoff chances. Please share this free substack with your hockey and Sabres fan friends and family so they can subscribe and enjoy all the latest.
For those catching up on all of the trade deadline drama, the Sabres made three moves: sending Casey Mittelstadt to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for young defenseman Bowen Byram, sending captain Kyle Okposo to the Florida Panthers in exchange for a conditional seventh-round pick and prospect Calle Sjalin, and moving Erik Johnson to the Philadelphia Flyers for a 2024 fourth-round selection.
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Let’s get into the good stuff…
Flyers Acquire Erik Johnson From the Sabres
March 8, 2024 by Kyle Gipe
The Philadelphia Flyers have acquired defenseman Erik Johnson from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for a 2024 fourth-round pick. This is the second time in his career that the 35-year-old veteran defenseman has been traded. He was previously flipped from the St. Louis Blues to the Colorado Avalanche at the 2011 Trade Deadline.
3 Mock Deadline Deals for the Sabres
March 8, 2024 by Harper Cotie
Here we are on NHL trade deadline day (March 8), and we’ve seen a flurry of activity around the league already. On Wednesday (March 6), the Buffalo Sabres were right in the middle of it, with a one-for-one hockey trade that sent Casey Mittelstadt to the Colorado Avalanche for Bowen Byram. You don’t see this kind of deal very often, but the Sabres were able to get it done, and still be left with business to take care of before 3 PM EST on Friday. Here are three mock trades for Buffalo.
Sabres Shake up Roster in Byram for Mittelstadt Trade
March 7, 2024 by Harper Cotie
We have a hockey trade, and a big one at that between the Buffalo Sabres and the Colorado Avalanche. On Wednesday afternoon (March 6), the Sabres acquired defenseman Bowen Byram from the Avalanche in exchange for forward Casey Mittelstadt. On Monday, Elliotte Friedman of 32 Thoughts noted that with some convincing, Sabres general manager (GM) Kevyn Adams could make a bigger deal now, rather than waiting until the summer. Well, here we are so close to Friday’s NHL trade deadline (March 8), and the Sabres have done exactly that.
Can the Sabres Realistically Make a Late-Season Playoff Push?
March 8, 2024 by Matthew Morris
As has been said ad nauseam, the Buffalo Sabres were expected to be a playoff team this season but have spent the majority of it looking like nothing of the sort. And with the schedule now in its last full month it seems that the team’s dreaded postseason drought is destined to continue. Or is it?
Trade Deadline Preview: Buffalo Sabres
March 5, 2024 by Harper Cotie
Every year around this time, there are clear buyers and sellers, and then there’s everyone in between. As we inch closer to Friday’s NHL trade deadline (March 8), the Buffalo Sabres could be categorized as one of the “in-betweeners,” if you will. The Sabres missed an excellent opportunity to move up in the Eastern Conference standings this past weekend, with teams ahead of them (Pittsburgh Penguins, New Jersey Devils, and Washington Capitals) losing games.
3 Trade Deadline Targets for the Sabres
March 1, 2024 by Harper Cotie
Even though the Buffalo Sabres have won three of their last four games, they’re still far out of a playoff spot. As the franchise approaches its 13th straight season without playoff hockey, general manager Kevyn Adams must try to add significant help for his young group ahead of the March 8 trade deadline. The Sabres’ loaded prospect pool is well documented and the best in the NHL, according to The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler, but there simply won’t be enough room for all of them on the NHL roster.
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