Mattias Samuelsson’s contract has been a disappointment for the Sabres since he signed his extension at the start of the 2022 season. He agreed to a seven-year, $30 million deal, carrying an annual cap hit of $4.28 million. While Samuelsson’s performance hasn’t been poor, injuries have severely limited his availability. He played just 55 games in 2022, 41 in 2023, and has appeared in only 35 of Buffalo’s 54 games this season. Although recently cleared to return, it’s uncertain how much ice time he will receive for the remainder of the year. In just three seasons, he has already missed the equivalent of a full season due to injuries. Given these circumstances, it may be time for the Sabres to move on, and these three trade destinations would make sense for him.
3. San Jose Sharks
The rebuilding Sharks could greatly benefit from adding Samuelsson to their lineup. With young talents like Will Smith and Macklin Celebrini, having a steady veteran presence could provide valuable guidance to their developing core. From Buffalo’s perspective, trading Samuelsson would primarily serve as a salary dump, as they have several talented defensemen due for new contracts. A fair return could be a second- and fifth-round pick, potentially with a prospect like Thomas Bordeleau included. Now in his fourth season with the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda, Bordeleau has been a consistent 30+ point scorer and could be a solid addition to Rochester with the potential for an NHL call-up.
2. Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton could use additional defensive depth, and Samuelsson would be a good fit. Their goaltending is solid but could improve significantly with better defensive support in front of them. If the Oilers can stay under the salary cap—possibly requiring Buffalo to retain part of Samuelsson’s contract—a trade could work out. The Sabres should target at least a third-round pick, along with a player like Kasperi Kapanen, who could contribute to Buffalo’s fourth line. Kapanen was a productive player for the Maple Leafs but has bounced between teams in recent years, landing in Edmonton. His current one-year, $1 million contract would help the Oilers clear cap space while giving Buffalo a veteran forward who could support young players like Peyton Krebs and Jack Quinn.
1. Columbus Blue Jackets
The Blue Jackets, unexpectedly in the playoff hunt despite low preseason expectations, could also be a strong fit for Samuelsson. As they push for a wild card spot, adding a veteran defenseman to complement Zach Werenski and Ivan Provorov would be beneficial. Columbus also has the necessary cap space to absorb Samuelsson’s contract. Buffalo should aim for draft picks along with a prospect—Trey Fix-Wolansky comes to mind. A two-time AHL All-Star, Fix-Wolansky could serve as a reserve forward or slot in on the fourth line. Additionally, with his small cap hit, the Sabres would still free up roughly $3.5 million in the deal.
Ultimately, the primary goal in moving Samuelsson would be shedding salary and offloading an injury-prone defenseman. Buffalo needs financial flexibility to retain key defensemen like Bowen Byram, Jacob Bryson, Dennis Gilbert, and Henri Jokiharju. With those priorities in mind, Samuelsson appears to be the odd man out.