Sabres' Reported Pursuit Of Pettersson Trade A Solid Plan For The Struggling Squad

By just about every metric, the Buffalo Sabres’ season has been a catastrophe. With a record of 18-26-5, they’re the worst team in the Eastern Conference and the third-worst team in the NHL. But despite the fact they’re almost assuredly not going to qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs this year, there’s still an opportunity for the Sabres to drastically change their future – and it all has to do with the possibility of acquiring current Vancouver Canucks star center Elias Pettersson.

A Sportsnet report Saturday night has the Sabres being heavily interested in trading for Pettersson, who along with J.T. Miller has been the center of speculation that Vancouver will be trading one or both of the two star forwards. And indeed, with Pettersson not having no-movement protection until next season, there’s no better chance to deal him than right now.

From a Sabres perspective, landing the 26-year-old Pettersson would give Buffalo the kind of star power they haven’t had much of in quite some time. Now, Pettersson is currently having a down season on offense, with just 19 assists and 30 points in 42 games, but he’s only two years removed from a 63-assist, 102-point season, and last year, he posted 34 goals and 89 points.

Pettersson is also a very well-paid player, with an average annual payday of $11.6 million through the 2031-32 season. But for the Sabres, he’d be well worth the financial investment. And let’s be perfectly clear – given how Buffalo has struggled in the standings for the past decade-and-a-half, a star of Pettersson’s caliber wouldn’t be choosing the Sabres on the free agency market. If they’re ever going to acquire a high-impact player like Pettersson, they’re going to have to trade for him.

What would Buffalo have to give Vancouver for Pettersson? Well, a solid young player like Dylan Cozens would be a starting point, but there’d have to be more assets than that going the Canucks’ way. Defenseman Bowen Byram would also have to be involved, and a high draft pick – not necessarily a first-round pick, but surely, at least a second-rounder – would need to be part of the package.

Related: As Cozens' Pedestrian Play With The Buffalo Sabres Continues, Kulich Seizes His Moment

That amount of assets would give Vancouver help both for now and for the long term, and if Buffalo continues to struggle next season, that pick could be a high one. But the fact of the matter is that the Sabres don’t need any more top draft picks. They need help in the here and now, and that’s what Pettersson would bring them. And having the chance to play with the Swedish star could be a selling point this summer when free agents are considering whether or not to sign with Buffalo.

In sum, there’s next-to-no downside for the Sabres trading for Pettersson. We’re still of the opinion Vancouver is going to trade Miller before they move Pettersson, but the challenge for Buffalo GM Kevyn Adams is clear – put together a trade that the Canucks can’t say 'no' to.

The Sabres not only have to find a way to satisfy Vancouver’s needs but also, to outbid other potential Pettersson suitors. A Pettersson trade is not going to be easy, but for the sake of Buffalo’s long-suffering fan base, it’s a move the Sabres have to be considering.

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