Buffalo Sabres open for business

"This team's in last place right now, everyone can be traded."
--new Buffalo Sabres GM Tim Murray


The NHL has two trade deadlines this season, the traditional one that will take place on March 5th and the pre-Olympic break roster freeze which happens on Friday.

"Everyone can be traded" was a quote from Murray at his introductory press conference, and according to TSN there are more than three Buffalo players who will be of interest.


TSN's Bob McKenzie wrote that the Sabres are "ready to offload [players.]" He mentions defenseman Henrik Tallinder, and forward Drew Stafford in addition to the usual suspects, Ryan Miller, Matt Moulson and Steve Ott. A rather surprising name McKenzie mentions as a possibility is fourth-liner Cody McCormick.

That being said, with the first of two trade deadlines soon to be upon us and the Sabres open for business, we'll take a bit to project which Sabres from the current roster might be on the move.


The Highly Coveted/Very Likely To Be Moved Within the Next Month

Ryan Miller (G):  The Sabres franchise goaltender who first started in 2002 really has no place on a rebuilding Buffalo squad. At 33 yrs. old and headed towards (but not quite there yet) the downside of his career it would be best for the Sabres organization to give him a legitimate shot at a Stanley Cup with a contender (St. Louis.) Although neither side "owes" the other anything, it would be the classy thing to do.

Steve Ott (LW):  The gritty winger with faceoff acumen and the ability to put the puck in the net would slot beautifully in the bottom-six on any team with Cup aspirations. Ott is a seasoned veteran with strong leadership qualities and, like Miller, isn't getting any younger. McKenzie wrote that Ott has more suitors than Moulson.

Henrik Tallinder (D):  Every year playoff teams/Cup contenders look for experienced, affordable depth on defense. And Tallinder fits the bill. "Hank" has 39 playoff games under his belt and would make for a solid third-pairing/depth defenseman on any playoff-bound team. At a $3.3m cap-hit, most teams will be able to finagle a way to slot him in. Although the return will probably be a third-rounder or less, there's a possibility that he'll land a second based upon supply and demand.


The Highly Likely

Matt Moulson:  A three-time 30-goal scorer riding shotgun on John Tavares' wing, Moulson could end up hitting the 25-goal mark on a Sabres team that may end up being the lowest scoring team in modern NHL history. Should he not be moved. McKenzie said that there are "upwards of a double-digit number of teams" considering the sniper. Buffalo may do well in throwing a huge offer to him to re-sign him, but the trade deadline return might be too high for them to pass up.


The Very Good Possibilities

Alexander Sulzer (D):  A depth defenseman/insurance policy for a Cup contender. Buffalo has plenty of young d-men ready to step in making Sulzer available and teams are always looking to bolster their defense for the playoffs.

Zenon Konopka (C):  Playoff teams looking for a defensive-minded specialist who's strong on the dot will take a serious look at Konopka. In addition to his 60% faceoff win percentage, he has grit and will stick up for his teammates. The best teams always make room for a role player.


The Possible

Cody McCormick (F):  McCormick is a versatile bottom-line, defensive specialist who plays a gritty game and will spark the team either by dropping the gloves or getting a bloody nose scoring a goal. He's the type of fourth-liner that would be a very good addition to a Cup-contender. Then again, he might be the type of  low-salary, veteran presence that the Sabres could use going forward.


The Possible, But Not Likely

Christian Ehrhoff (D):  Ehrhoff's offense had been in decline since he signed that 10-year contract in 2011 with the Sabres. But it would seem as if he'd gone through a bottoming out period during last season and the first half of this season. Ehrhoff would be extremely valuable in a second-pairing role on a Cup-contender, or as a minute-eater on a playoff contender looking to reach the next level. He's just starting to get his groove back on offense, and if he's on a team that can create space on the powerplay, he finds that space to unleash a deadly shot that finds the back of the net. Although some may look at his $40m contract as a potential albatross, nearly $22m has already been paid out making him accessible even to frugal teams like Nashville, while one would think that a team like Anaheim could work his $4m cap-hit into their structure. If it were to happen, an off season trade is more likely.

Drew Stafford (RW):  The power forward is another one who's really starting to find his game right now, a game he lost three years ago after signing his 4yr./$16m contract extension. Although teams may want him now, if he continues on this path back to a scoring power forward, he will be highly coveted as a rental next season. That being said, unless there's a significant offer this trade deadline, the Sabres need to hold on to him either as a future piece or a future rental for another team next trade deadline.

Tyler Ennis (F):  The "greazy" jitterbug will be a restricted free agent at seasons' end. Ennis shows flashes of brilliance, but still hasn't found his comfort zone. For this trade deadline, is he were to be moved, Ennis would be more valuable as part of a package deal as opposed to a stand-alone.

Jamie McBain (D):  The puck-mover with a strong, accurate shot and the ability to find open ice will also be a restricted free agent at the end of the season. And like Ennis, he will also be more valuable in a package deal. Both players are more likely to move in the off season than right now, if they do end up leaving Buffalo.


The Probably Not's

Tyler Myers (D):  The gazelle on skates is regaining his Calder-trophy winning form of 2010. Not since then have we seen him skate with this much confidence. There's still plenty of work to be done, but it's a very long climb back up from the abyss he was in the last two seasons. Myers' is a coveted defenseman (even with a minus-26 rating) especially to a team like Edmonton, but if he were to be traded, it would more than likely be in the off season.

Cody Hodgson (C):  Hodgson is the most talented player on the roster right now. And he's constantly working to better himself. Not the greatest skater, Hodgson worked on his skating while being sidelined with a hand injury. And it showed. In the off season he trains with Gary Roberts, and every year he gets better. His 14 goals and 30 points rank second on the team and he's done it in less games than the leader in both categories, Moulson. Although he'll never be a Selke winner (minus-17) teams looking for a top-nine center certainly would do no harm by trading for him. Right Vancouver? He looks to be with the Sabres a long time after signing a six-year contract at a very affordable $4.25 cap-hit last off season.

Marcus Foligno (RW):  Young and inconsistent, the former 4th round pick has been playing better, but still has lots of work to do. Teams might look at his size and his potential to finish and see him as possible 20-goal scorer with tons of grit. They might be willing to trade for that potential, but not at this time in his career nor at this time of year. He's a possible Sabres' building block even if it's merely in a bottom-six role.

Matt "Friggen" Ellis (F):  Ellis is the poster child for hard work and determination and is approaching cult-hero status with the fan-base. When he scores it's a treat, and even when he doesn't, the youngins on the roster could learn a lot from his work ethic. Teams could use him in an energy role for the playoffs and get a ton of worth from his $550k salary. He has one more year on his contract and methinks the Sabres like what he brings.


The If You Want Them, You Can Have Them, But Who Wants Them?

Ville Leino (F):  The worst free agent signing in Buffalo Sabres history, and one of the worst in NHL history. The Sabres gave him a 6yr./$27m contract in 2011. In 116 games out of a possible 180 games he has 10 goals and 30 assists, or .34 points per game while making $4.75m per season. Teams won't trade for him because of that. Or if they see something that most don't, they can wait until the off season when he'll probably be bought out.

John Scott (F):  Scott is one of my favorite Sabres and a very likable teammate (just watch the bench reaction when he scored his only goal of the season.) He's an enforcer and usually those types of role players don't have that much of an impact at this time of year. Not sure anyone would trade for him and if they really want him, he be a UFA this off season.

Mike Weber (D):  Ummmm. He's a minus-29 with no goals and three assists while averaging 17:19 of ice time per game. Weber is a tough competitor and a playoff team with a lot of skill and little sandpaper on the back-end might want him for his physicality. They might even be willing to give up a sixth-rounder for him.

Matt D'Agostini (RW):  A waiver-wire acquisition in late November from the Pittsburgh Penguins, the 27 yr. old is in a reserve role on the Sabres. He had one really good season for St. Louis in a third-line role scoring 21 goals and 25 assists. That was back in 2011. Since then he's looked the part of a depth forward.

Linus Omark (LW):  Omark was the first player that the Sabres traded for under the new Pat LaFontaine regime. He was acquired from the Edmonton Oilers for a conditional sixth-round pick. He small, but is an excellent skater who hasn't quite found his stride in the NHL yet. At 27 yrs. old (his birthday is today) this may be his last chance to make it. The Oilers were in 29th place when they dealt him to the last place Sabres.



In-season Call-ups Who's Type Could Probably Be Found In Any Organization

Brian Flynn (F):  The versatile, bottom-six forward who can briefly fill in on the second line is making a name for himself. He has a great work ethic and has some skill ta boot. 15+ goals is not out of the question on a average and above team for Flynn. And he's proof that determination pays off.

Phil Varone (C):  Potential. That's what we're talking about when it comes to Varone and his seven-game NHL career. There's not much of a book on the smallish center, but he's flashed some quality skills while playing a very solid all-around, two-way game. In those seven games he's got a goal and an assist. Once again, this is not to take away anything from Varone or Flynn, but these types are found in nearly every organization and probably won't be headed anywhere.


As Untouchable As You Can Get

Zemgus Girgensons (C):  "Gus" as he's known in the locker room seems to embody everything that a Ted Nolan-coached team wants. And it would seem to be the type of player that LaFontaine would want to help define the Buffalo Sabres. Girgensons can safely be placed in the Rod Brind'Amour/Mike Richards/Ryan Callahan vein. That gritty, all-around, two-way, heart-and-soul player that every team needs and wants. His will is a force that drives his skill. Every Cup team seems to have a player like him, and Cup-contenders certainly would like to add a player like him. But they better back up the truck. Getting Gus from the Sabres just might take a "first born" type package.