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New York Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Could Sabres' Bowen Byram get traded again? 8 teams that should be interested
When the Buffalo Sabres traded Casey Mittelstadt to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for defenseman Bowen Byram, general manager Kevyn Adams didn't know exactly how Byram would fit. The Sabres already had two young, left-handed defensemen anchoring their top two pairs. There wasn't an obvious spot for Byram, another offensively-minded lefty. Advertisement 'We were willing to kind of make that bet and say, 'Let's bring in a really, really good hockey player and see how it shakes out,'' Adams said after the season. The bet was that the Sabres would either end up with another top-end defenseman to strengthen their blue line or they would have a quality trade asset to move later on. In terms of performance, the Sabres have gotten the better end of the Mittelstadt for Byram swap. Byram, now 24, played 82 games last season and was, at times, an excellent defenseman for the Sabres. He looked his best when playing alongside Rasmus Dahlin. When Dahlin and Byram were on the ice together at five-on-five, the Sabres had 54 percent of the expected goals. Together, it was a pair of two elite puck-movers who helped drive play in Buffalo from the back end. His time in Buffalo on that top pair with Dahlin was the opportunity he never had in Colorado — to show he can shake it in more meaningful minutes. The trouble is, when Byram was on the ice without Dahlin at five-on-five, the Sabres had 44 percent of the expected goals. Given the injuries and lack of depth on Buffalo's blue line, that number isn't a complete indictment on Byram, since his other partners included Connor Clifton, Jacob Bryson and Henri Jokiharju. And in his minutes away from Dahlin, he didn't share the ice as often with the Sabres' top forwards, either. Some of those struggles may have been because Byram doesn't make as many puck touches in the defensive end. When he plays with Dahlin, it's his partner who tends to retrieve pucks to help shift play from defense to offense, and then either defender can break out with control and start rushing up the ice. So the big question is whether Dahlin was the driver of Byram's success in Buffalo this year, or if he can carry his own pair (without playing alongside replacement-level defenders). Advertisement The potential is still there for Byram at 24 years old, just entering the prime of his career, according to aging curve work done by The Athletic's Dom Luszczyszyn. The contract situation just adds pressure to the situation. Byram is a restricted free agent. He's due for a significant raise on his $3.85 million salary. An extension in Buffalo, according to Evolving-Hockey, could be as high as eight years, at $7.99 million a year, on average. That would come in above his current market value, which doesn't project his full ceiling, either, since there isn't an obvious path to more power-play time in Buffalo. The other path is a shorter-term contract; a two-year deal, with the Sabres or elsewhere, which would come in around the $5.4 million mark. Some of his top comparables give insight into the player he can become. If he develops like Brandon Montour or Ryan Pulock, he could be worth investing in despite Buffalo already committing big money on long-term deals to Dahlin and Owen Power. But on the flip side, players such as Zach Bogosian, Jamie McBain and Andrej Meszaros show how south things can go. That trajectory, plus the Sabres' investments in their blue line, makes Byram a potential trade candidate, one that would have legitimate value around the league. Now it's decision time for the Sabres. Teams that could/should be interested in Byram: The Flames were better than expected last season, but this is still a rebuilding team. They've avoided tearing down the roster, but adding a 24-year-old defenseman with the offensive skill set Byram has would give them a valuable building block to pair with 2024 first-rounder Zayne Parekh. It would also fit in line with some of management's recent moves to add younger talent, just entering their prime. Byram would be a candidate to run Calgary's top power play. The Flames also have a lot of players who would interest the Sabres, who need a right-shot defenseman. Building a trade around Byram and Rasmus Andersson, who has one year left on his contract before unrestricted free agency, might make sense. Bryam is also from Western Canada and would likely welcome the move. Advertisement The Sharks have the No. 2 pick in the draft, so they're likely going to miss out on getting Matthew Schaefer as a potential No. 1 defenseman to build around. Sam Dickinson, San Jose's first-round pick from 2024, had a fantastic season in junior, but the Sharks could use another top-end defenseman after moving Jake Walman to Edmonton at the deadline. At 24, Byram's age fits into the core San Jose is building. The tricky part about the Sharks as a trade partner is what they have to offer that fits Buffalo's needs. The No. 2 pick is an attractive asset, but the Sabres would need to send more than Byram to get that pick. Mario Ferraro could add some defensive stability to the back end, but doesn't solve the left-handed logjam, either. Otherwise, the Sharks mostly have futures to offer, and the Sabres need to win now. If Ivan Provorov departs as a free agent, Columbus will be in the market for a left-handed defenseman. And the team should target someone more offensively inclined, like Byram. The tricky part is that there isn't a path to the top power-play unit or prime offensive minutes, with Zach Werenski leading the way. But Byram could still add a much-needed boost at even strength. Behind Werenski's 82 points, the next-best scoring defender in Columbus was Provorov at 33. The Blue Jackets have the cap space to sign Byram to a long-term deal. But most returns likely surround future assets, considering how many picks and prospects Columbus has. In the right deal, the Sabres may be able to target Cole Sillinger to add an up-and-coming forward ready to contribute. The Flyers acquired Jamie Drysdale in 2024, but a player like Byram would still be a nice addition to their top pair. Byram's path to being a top-pair player who gets power-play minutes would be clear in Philadelphia, based on how that blue line is constructed. He and Drysdale could even play together, potentially at even strength. The power play is one area that needs a major lift, after ranking last in expected goal generation last year, with an even lower goal rate of 5.14 per 60 to show for it. Philadelphia, another rebuilding team, has some pieces that could interest the Sabres. Owen Tippett doesn't have a no-trade clause in his contract that carries a $6.2 million cap hit for the next seven years. He would bring some much-needed edge to Buffalo's forward group. That could be the start of a trade conversation. A left side of Carson Soucy, K'Andre Miller and Urho Vaakanainen is not going to cut it in New York if the Rangers have any hopes of getting back into the playoff picture. Byram would add much-needed puck skills to the back end behind Adam Fox, whether he slots alongside the Rangers' number one or is tasked with being the driver of the second pair with Will Borgen. He just wouldn't get to quarterback the first unit in New York, and would instead only see PP2 time. The key to the Rangers being in on Byram is a Miller trade, which seems like a real possibility this summer. While the Sabres likely aren't in the market for a lefty, a Miller for Byram trade could make sense, considering how different their strengths and roles are. Otherwise, the Sabres could try to get creative since there aren't many untouchables in New York. Advertisement Speaking of teams that need help on the left, Detroit is high on that list. The depth seriously lacks behind Simon Edvinsson. Byram would be a real step up from a defensive group that includes Ben Chiarot and Erik Gustafsson. The Red Wings' defensive woes have been well-documented, and sometimes, along with their red-hot power play, overshadows their even-strength offensive struggles. Detroit generated 2.38 expected goals per 60 in the regular season at five-on-five, which ranked 25th; the team's actual scoring rate of 2.08 per 60 was second-to-last. Byram could be a spark from the back end to help the team pick up the pace. Whether he could jump onto the top power-play unit is a question mark. It wouldn't hurt to take that off Moritz Seider's plate, considering how much the team leans on him, but that top unit had so much success last season that the team may want to build on. That's if these teams could find a fitting return — the Red Wings' NHL-caliber pieces aren't the most enticing, and the Sabres probably need more than just futures back. The Kings have a need for a younger, puck-moving defenseman on the left side. Whether Byram would have an obvious path to more power-play time would be a question with Drew Doughty and Brandt Clarke there. But for a team that only scored 6.45 power-play goals per 60 in the regular season, the Kings should be willing to mix up their deployment. But Byram would be a top-four defenseman for them, whether he pairs up with Clarke as a more offensive duo, or even with Doughty for two balanced pairs split across the top-four. Since the Kings also have a surplus of right-handed defenseman, Jordan Spence would have the potential to pair with Power on Buffalo's second pair in return. The Hurricanes are positioned to have a big offseason, with a lot of cap space and trade assets at their disposal. While Carolina's top priority may be adding a true second-line center and another top-six winger, there's room for improvement on the back end. Byram could replace Dmitry Orlov in the top six, alongside Jalen Chatfield. While the Canes have two other lefties to choose from in that role, the coaches may prefer keeping Shayne Gostisbehere in a sheltered third-pair role and also might want to ease Alexander Nikishin in. The Canes aren't locked into a No. 1 quarterback on the top power-play unit, either. So there is room for Byram to take over that role. Advertisement The Sabres could swing big and try to scoop up right-handed defenseman Scott Morrow. Or, maybe Buffalo could target center Jesperi Kotkaniemi plus draft capital that can be used in future dealings. — Data via The Stanley Cap, CapWages, Evolving-Hockey, Hockey Stat Cards and Dom Luszczyszyn.
Yahoo
15-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Report: Sabres Now Listening On JJ Peterka
Buffalo Sabres GM Kevyn Adams made it clear at the end of the regular season that he is looking to shake things up after their 14th consecutive season outside of the playoffs and make upgrades to his roster, but one of the moves he is not looking to make is moving on from winger JJ Peterka, but according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman's report on Sunday's 32 Thoughts podcast, the Sabres are now listening to offers in case they are not able to agree on a contract extension. Peterka finished second in team scoring with 68 points (27 goals, 41 assists) in 77 games, playing mostly on the top line with Tage Thompson. Trade rumors began to circulate just before the trade deadline, when he was connected to the NY Rangers, but a deal did not come to pass. Peterka is under team control for another four seasons and could be open to accepting an offer sheet. Advertisement Other Sabres Stories Is Peterka In Prime Position For Big Payday? Sabres Summer Dilemmas - Bowen Byram Sabres Facing An Off-Season Of Change Friedman reported previously that the Sabres had indicated they were not looking to trade the 23-year-old, but in recent days their stance has changed, to being open to listening to offers from interested clubs, because of the reality that Peterka is unhappy in Buffalo and would like to play someplace else. Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff said that multiple teams had put together significant offers for Peterka in the days leading up to the March deadline, but that Buffalo was not biting. The Sabres according to Friedman will be looking for substantial offers for Peterka, and based on what their posture has been over the last couple years, any deal for a youngster with years of team control will have to involve a player of a similar age under a similar amount of control. There continues to be rumors of a potential offer sheet after July 1, which has been a more popular option since the St. Louis Blues acquired winger Dylan Holloway and defenseman Philip Broberg from Edmonton last summer. The difference is that the Oilers were tight against the cap and Blues GM Doug Armstrong took advantage of that. Advertisement Buffalo has over $23 million in available cap space this summer, and Peterka with agent Allan Walsh may not want to risk signing an offer sheet and the Sabres matching, if he truly wants out. Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo
New York Times
09-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
What we learned about the Buffalo Sabres at 2025 NHL Scouting Combine
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Jarmo Kekäläinen isn't ready to ease into retirement. The 58-year-old was recently hired as the Buffalo Sabres' senior adviser, and part of what drew him to the team was the idea of taking an active role in assisting general manager Kevyn Adams. After more than a decade as the Blue Jackets' general manager, Kekäläinen spent the last year and a half waiting for his next job. Advertisement 'The role is important for me, because I didn't want to be looked at as somebody who's retiring or doesn't want to do work,' Kekäläinen said on the Sabres' official radio station Friday. 'I want to be 100 percent in, 24/7, doing everything I can to help Kevyn and the Buffalo Sabres.' Kekäläinen found the right job if he's looking to roll up his sleeves and work. He's now the most experienced voice in Buffalo's front office. And with Adams entering his sixth season on the job, he has some pivotal decisions to make about key pieces on the Sabres' roster. That's why Buffalo has become a team to watch this offseason. JJ Peterka, Bowen Byram, Ryan McLeod and Jack Quinn are among the notable restricted free agents. Alex Tuch is eligible for a contract extension. Adding to the intrigue is Kekäläinen, who developed a reputation for making bold trades and signings during his time as the Blue Jackets' general manager. Maybe that aggressive nature will influence the Sabres' front office this summer. 'It all depends on where the team's at in its development and growth, and then when the window opens, I think you need to be aggressive because the window to win with a team is never open forever,' Kekäläinen said of his aggressive nature. 'It's that certain period of time, your core players' prime, and that's when you need to be aggressive to make sure you surround them with the right mix to win.' Here are some other odds and ends from the NHL Scouting Combine. 1. For the second straight year, the idea of the Sabres trading their first-round pick should be on the table. With pressure to win now in Buffalo, a ready-made player is more valuable than making another draft pick. The tricky part is that the Sabres aren't the only team thinking that way. The Blue Jackets, Canadiens and Canucks, who all have picks in the middle part of the first round, are in the same situation. Of course, the Sabres are picking higher, so their pick might hold more value. But the availability of so many first-round picks changes the supply and demand dynamic. Even Utah seems open to moving the No. 4 pick. There also aren't a ton of teams that are truly committed to collecting draft picks and rebuilding. The one team that stands out is the Penguins, who already have the No. 11 pick in the draft. They would make sense as a trade partner for the Sabres. A veteran like Bryan Rust would be a perfect addition for Buffalo, and the Sabres have the picks and prospects that could interest the Penguins. Advertisement But without many suitors willing to part with a good enough player to warrant moving the pick, the Sabres may end up in a similar spot they were in last summer. The supply and demand equation doesn't seem to be in their favor at the moment. 2. The Sabres were among the teams that met with Czech defenseman Radim Mrtka at the combine. A 6-foot-6 right-handed defenseman like Mrtka is always going to be in high demand in the NHL Draft. Mrtka, who played in the WHL this season, is not known as an overly physical or nasty defenseman, but he had an interesting explanation for that. He said that as one of the bigger players growing up, he took a lot of penalties for his rough style of play, so he tried to tone it down a bit. Now it's an aspect of his game he's trying to build up more as he moves up to higher levels. Given his size and playing strength, it's reasonable to expect that Mrtka can develop into a physical, shutdown defenseman. He's on Buffalo's radar with the No. 9 pick, but there's a chance he goes earlier than that. 3. Brady Martin feels like he might not last until the Sabres' pick at No. 9. He had four different teams take him out to dinner this week: the Bruins, Flyers, Mammoth and Predators. Those teams are all picking from four to seven in the first round, so it's becoming more difficult to imagine him being on the board when the Sabres are on the clock. Martin's combination of physicality and goal-scoring touch makes him an attractive option for those teams picking high in the draft. He also showed off his big personality during interviews this week. 4. Roger McQueen, a 6-foot-5 center for the Brandon Wheat Kings, said the back injury that limited him to 17 games this season is behind him. McQueen said he was dealing with a fracture and then a muscle strain that developed as a result of that fracture. That shouldn't carry the same long-term concerns that other back injuries might. If McQueen is on the board at 9, the Sabres might be in the position to take the risk on a top-10 talent in the draft. 5. The Sabres did meet with Alex Tuch's reps at the combine this week. It's still too early to say what will come of that, but that Tuch is open to negotiating is a start. He's eligible to sign an extension on July 1 and has a ton of leverage coming off one of the best seasons of his career. We outlined his contract situation earlier this offseason. 6. We detailed the JJ Peterka situation over the weekend. He's not someone the Sabres are eager to trade, but teams around the league keep calling. Bowen Byram is the other name to watch this summer. Also a restricted free agent, Byram is another player teams are asking about. The Sabres are still high on him, though. The difference between Byram and Peterka is that Byram is only two years away from unrestricted free agency. He might be reluctant to sign away some of his UFA years without a clear path to a bigger role in Buffalo. Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power eat up most of the top power-play minutes. The one path I see to a long-term solution is Byram playing alongside Dahlin. At times, that has been a dominant pair for the Sabres. But if Adams is looking to make a significant move to shake up this roster, moving Byram is one way to do that. 7. Last year, the Sabres managed to trade down in the first round. That helped them land an extra second-round pick that they flipped for Beck Malenstyn. If the Sabres move back from the No. 9 pick, there are a few names I'll be watching. One is Barrie Colts defenseman Kashawn Aitcheson, who met with the Sabres and has the mean streak they could use in their pipeline. He's left-handed, but that shouldn't hold the Sabres back. Among the forwards, Everett's Carter Bear stands out due to his competitive and physical style of play. The Achilles laceration he dealt with this year is the only concern, but that risk wouldn't be as significant in the middle of the first round. Later in the first round, Jack Nesbitt, who met with the Sabres, is another forward willing to play a hard-nosed game and make plays around the net. His blend of skill and physicality could make him a top-25 pick.
New York Times
07-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
What should the Buffalo Sabres do with JJ Peterka? 4 key questions
BUFFALO, N.Y. — The NHL offseason began in earnest this week in Buffalo with general managers, agents and other league personnel descending upon Western New York for the annual NHL Scouting Combine. And it feels like the Sabres will be at the center of a lot of the NHL's offseason chatter. This is a high-stakes summer for general manager Kevyn Adams as he enters his sixth season on the job. The weight of their league-record playoff drought is getting heavier with every season. But this offseason is about more than just the pressure from the fan base. The Sabres have six restricted free agents, and Alex Tuch is eligible for a contract extension on July 1. That's a lot of moving pieces for a team that hasn't lived up to expectations the last two seasons. Advertisement Of those restricted free agents, JJ Peterka is the one whose situation is most intriguing. The 23-year-old is fresh off a career-best 68-point season one year after he had 50 points. He's a fast, sharp-shooting winger capable of creating offense off the rush. He's everything the Sabres hoped for when they picked him in the second round of the 2020 NHL Draft. And yet he's No. 7 on The Athletic's first offseason trade board. Peterka's name first entered the rumor mill around the trade deadline when the Sabres received interest. Adams said then there was 'zero truth' to any suggestion the Sabres were trying to trade Peterka. He also said he viewed him as a 'core young piece' and would prioritize meeting with his agent after the season to talk about the next step. Adams also acknowledged he would need to explain to Peterka how he plans to make the team better this offseason and going forward. That process continued when the sides met at the NHL Combine this week. The stance from Adams and the Sabres is consistent: They don't have an interest in trading Peterka. But that hasn't stopped teams from calling. If anything, the interest in Peterka has intensified since his name has started to pop up in more trade rumors from league insiders. The Sabres' preferred outcome is getting Peterka locked up to another contract. The key, as The Athletic's Chris Johnston wrote last week, is whether Peterka is willing to make that same commitment to the organization. If he's not, the Sabres' decision-making gets a bit more complicated. Speaking on Sportsnet 590 The Fan this week, Elliotte Friedman said, 'Peterka is clearly trying to make noise to force them to make a move.' If that's the case, Adams has a trickier situation on his hands, and he needs to keep his options open. So, what are the Sabres' options? Peterka is a dynamic player. He would have significant value in a trade, especially because outside of Mitch Marner and Nikolaj Ehlers, the free-agent pool isn't deep with goal-scoring wingers. But the Sabres won't be interested in making their team worse this summer. Trading Peterka for a futures-based package doesn't help Buffalo win now. It needs to be a priority for the Sabres next season. Advertisement But if Adams wants to make a significant change to this roster, Peterka is among the most valuable trade chips he has. The Sabres would love to find a right-handed defenseman capable of playing in the top four. They could also use a top-six forward capable of playing a hard-nosed, two-way game. If the Sabres could address one or two of their needs by moving Peterka, it might be worth considering. But the only way it makes sense is if the haul is a significant one that makes Buffalo a more complete team in 2025-26. It also makes sense if the contract negotiations get messy When Peterka's name has been bandied about in online trade chatter, there is talk about the looming threat of an offer sheet. But how much of a threat is that, really? If Peterka doesn't want to be in Buffalo, signing an offer sheet would be a risk, especially if it's long-term. The Sabres have the cap space to match even an aggressive offer sheet. They would like to have him here long-term. He's a known favorite of owner Terry Pegula. If another team wants to do the negotiating for the Sabres, it would make Adams' life easier. The one caveat to that is if a team gets creative and signs him to a short-term offer sheet with a big cap number. That could make Buffalo's decision a bit more complicated and be a risk worth taking for Peterka. If the Sabres match a short-term offer sheet, Peterka is not locked in long-term and has a bit more control over his future. According to AFP Analytics' latest projections, Peterka could command just about $7.8 million per year on a seven-year deal or $4.6 million per year on a two-year deal. Peterka could have the leverage to negotiate bigger numbers, but that's the ballpark the Sabres will be dealing with. Adams already acknowledged the Sabres need to sell Peterka on the team's vision. Maybe that opens the door for a short-term deal that allows Adams to prove to Peterka that the Sabres can become a winner. It's not an ideal outcome for the Sabres because Peterka would be due for another contract when the cap continues to climb. But it might be a necessary compromise depending on how much Peterka is willing to dig in. The Sabres have four more years of team control with Peterka before he becomes a free agent, so they don't have to move him. Advertisement Central to all of Buffalo's decision-making when it comes to Peterka is properly evaluating the type of player he is and the type of player he can become. His goal-scoring and playmaking ability have been evident during his first three NHL seasons. He had 27 goals and 41 assists last season after 28 goals and 22 assists the season before. According to Natural Stat Trick, the Sabres had 46 percent of the expected goals when Peterka was on the ice at five-on-five, so his two-way game still needs improvement. Peterka also noted toward the end of the year that he's striving to be more consistent and wants to make sure his body language is better during frustrating moments. Peterka has already proven he's a capable top-six winger. He has spent plenty of time on Buffalo's top line and power play, and there's still plenty of upside in his game. After investing so much time and energy into his development, the Sabres wouldn't be eager to see him leave just as he's beginning to enter his prime. But like the rest of Buffalo's offseason, it's complicated.
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Moose Assistant Coach Eric Dubois Leaves Team for Role in Germany
Sabres Add Former GM Kekalainen As Senior Advisor The Buffalo Sabres have been rumored to be looking for an experienced hockey executive to join their management staff since missing the playoffs for the 14th straight season, and on Friday the club announced the hiring of former Columbus GM Jarmo Kekalainen as a senior advisor to GM Kevyn Adams. 2:38 Now Playing Paused Ad Playing
