Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams might choose to stand pat at the trade deadline, but that would be a major misstep.
At the NHL trade deadline, teams generally fall into four categories: buyers, sellers, those who do both, and those who remain idle. Given the Sabres’ current situation, they’re unlikely to be buyers, leaving them with three choices: selling, buying and selling, or doing nothing.
Selling would signal that they’ve given up on the season—an understandable move, considering they’re the only Eastern Conference team with fewer than 50 points. If they take this route, they could at least gain assets in return for players like Jason Zucker, possibly Jordan Greenway, and even Dylan Cozens or Jack Quinn before their value declines. This could set them up for a stronger 2025-26 season and, hopefully, an end to their playoff drought.
Buying isn’t realistic, but a combination of buying and selling might be the best way to lay the groundwork for next season. It could help build chemistry early, carrying momentum into 2025-26. However, given their low point total, pulling this off wouldn’t be easy. While Elias Pettersson remains a speculative target, the likelihood of him staying in Vancouver or going elsewhere seems far greater.
The worst option, by far, would be standing idle. If Adams chooses not to make any moves, it would suggest he believes the Sabres are on the verge of contention when the reality says otherwise. This isn’t the promising 2022-23 season anymore—the results speak for themselves.
While injuries played a role in Buffalo’s struggles, they’d still be a middle-tier team at best. Bleacher Report’s Lyle Richardson even argued that standing pat might be in the Sabres’ best interest, citing Adams’ difficulty in acquiring a scoring forward and the risk of trading young players like Cozens and Bowen Byram for less than their worth.
Sabres would get a solid deal for Dylan Cozens and/or Bowen Byram
Dylan Cozens would assist weaker teams win faceoffs and outmuscle opponents with his aggressive style. And, with 11 goals this season, he isn’t exactly a bad shooter. Not top-six numbers, but not so low that teams would discount Cozens’ ability to score on the third line.
Byram remains a competent two-way player who can contribute a half-point a game. He plays top-four minutes and has previously played for winning teams. He can also bring an aggressive game, which is a must-read in March and April for anyone entering a contender.
I believe that neither Cozens nor Byram would command a high price, but it doesn’t mean teams won’t underbid Adams or the Sabres. Cozens has also had a successful tenure in this league as an above-average scorer, which organizations trying to acquire him will remember.