The Buffalo Sabres have been one of the more intriguing teams in the Eastern Conference this season-capable of turning heads when they're clicking, but still showing enough cracks to remind us they're not quite a finished product. Heading into the Olympic break, the Sabres hit a bit of a skid, dropping three of their last four. That stumble came at a time when momentum had been building, and now, with the NHL’s trade deadline looming on March 6, it’s clear that GM Jarmo Kekalainen has some decisions to make.
With the Olympic roster freeze temporarily halting transactions, Buffalo has a window to reassess. And once the freeze lifts, don’t be surprised if the Sabres jump into the trade market with purpose.
The needs are pretty clear: a top-six forward and defensive reinforcements. And according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, that second part-help on the blue line-is already on Kekalainen’s radar.
“I could see them adding a beefier blueliner, if possible,” Friedman noted. That’s not just a throwaway line. It’s a reflection of what we’ve seen on the ice.
Right now, Buffalo is leaning heavily on its core of Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Power, Mattias Samuelsson, and Bowen Byram. That’s a talented group, no doubt, but they’re logging big minutes because the depth behind them hasn’t held up. Michael Kesselring, Jacob Bryson, and Zach Metsa have struggled to deliver consistent play, and Conor Timmins remains sidelined with an injury.
That’s left head coach Lindy Ruff with limited options. The top four are carrying the load, and it’s not sustainable-especially with the postseason in sight. Adding a veteran, defensively responsible blueliner could go a long way in balancing the workload and giving Ruff more flexibility when it comes to matchups and minutes.
So, who fits that mold? One name that’s surfaced: Luke Schenn of the Winnipeg Jets.
Schenn checks a lot of boxes for what Buffalo needs. He’s a physical presence-6-foot-2, 220 pounds-with a game built for playoff hockey.
He’s logged 1,114 NHL games and dished out nearly 3,800 hits. That’s not a typo.
He’s been a tone-setter his entire career, and he’s got the playoff pedigree to back it up, including back-to-back Stanley Cups with Tampa Bay in 2020 and 2021.
Financially, he’s a manageable piece. Schenn carries a $2.75 million cap hit and is set to become an unrestricted free agent after this season. That means Buffalo could add him without compromising their long-term flexibility-something that’s clearly part of the plan under Kekalainen.
And don’t overlook his impact on the penalty kill. With Timmins out, the Sabres’ PK has taken a noticeable dip.
Schenn ranks 23rd among 138 NHL defensemen (minimum 50 minutes) in expected goals against per 60 minutes on the kill, per Natural Stat Trick. That’s a valuable asset for a team trying to tighten things up defensively down the stretch.
Now, Schenn’s not going to light up the scoreboard-he’s got just six points (one goal, five assists) in 42 games this season-but that’s not what Buffalo would be bringing him in for. The offense is already flowing from the blue line thanks to Dahlin, Power, and Byram. What the Sabres need is someone who can grind, block shots, clear the crease, and bring a little sandpaper to a group that could use more of it.
Slotting Schenn into the third pairing would allow Ruff to spread out the minutes more evenly and keep his top four fresher for the grind of the postseason. It also gives Buffalo a more reliable fallback option in the seventh defenseman role-whether that’s Kesselring, who’s battled injuries and inconsistency, or Timmins once he returns. Either way, it’s a more stable setup than leaning on Bryson or Metsa in high-leverage situations.
And here’s the kicker: the Sabres likely wouldn’t have to give up much to get him. With Winnipeg sliding out of the playoff picture, Schenn could be had for a mid-round pick. That’s a low-risk move for a team still chasing its first playoff appearance since 2011.
No, Schenn isn’t a game-changer. But he’s the kind of addition that can help stabilize a roster and give it the edge it needs in tight games-especially when the stakes get higher.
As the Olympic break winds down and the trade deadline approaches, this is the kind of move that could make a real difference for Buffalo. The Sabres have shown flashes of something special this season.
Now it’s about shoring up the weak spots and giving this group the best chance to finish what they’ve started. Luke Schenn might not be the biggest name on the board, but he might just be the right fit at the right time.