The Buffalo Sabres are staring down a pivotal stretch in what’s shaping up to be their most meaningful season in over a decade. Fourteen years removed from their last playoff appearance, Buffalo enters the NHL’s Olympic break holding onto the top wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. That’s the good news.
The not-so-good? Some cracks have started to show, and with the roster freeze lifting on February 22 and the trade deadline looming on March 6, GM Jarmo Kekalainen is going to be under the microscope. The Sabres are in the mix, but staying there - and doing real damage come playoff time - may require some reinforcements.
It’s no secret that Buffalo is in the market for an offensive-minded forward and some added depth on the blue line. And that means some tough decisions are coming, both in terms of who they bring in and who they may be willing to part with.
Let’s take a closer look at a few names that could be in play as the Sabres gear up for what could be their most important trade deadline in years.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen: A Hot Hand with a Complicated Future
Not long ago, it looked like Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen might be headed out of town. After a breakout 2023-24 campaign, his numbers had dipped, and with three-plus years left on a five-year, $23.75 million deal, the Sabres would’ve likely welcomed serious trade interest.
But hockey moves fast - and so does UPL when he’s locked in.
Since mid-December, Luukkonen has been lights out, posting a .922 save percentage over a 10-start stretch that helped fuel Buffalo’s rise in the standings. It was his best run in two years, and it couldn’t have come at a better time - or a worse one, depending on your perspective. An injury kept him from representing Finland at the Olympics, but it also kept him rested heading into the final push.
Now, the idea of trading Luukkonen feels like a non-starter - or does it?
Alex Lyon has been solid in his own right with a .912 save percentage across 27 games, showing he can carry the load in the short term. And Buffalo’s goalie pipeline is crowded. Colten Ellis and Devon Levi are both knocking on the NHL door, and at some point, the Sabres are going to have to make a choice.
If Luukkonen’s level dips again down the stretch, his trade value could plummet. That puts Kekalainen in a tricky spot: do you ride the hot hand and hope he’s the guy in April and beyond, or do you sell high while the market’s buzzing?
It’s a gamble either way, but if the Sabres don’t see UPL as the long-term solution in net, this might be the window to act. That said, moving a red-hot goalie during a playoff push is a bold move - and bold can backfire fast.
Zac Jones: Productive in Rochester, but Stuck in the System
Zac Jones has done everything you could ask of a defenseman in the AHL. Since joining the Sabres organization last July after five years with the Rangers, the 25-year-old has been a standout for the Rochester Americans. He leads the team with 40 points - seven goals and 33 assists - and has been a stabilizing force during a season that’s seen the Sabres dip into their AHL depth due to injuries.
Despite that, Jones hasn’t gotten much of a look at the NHL level. Instead, the Sabres have leaned on Jacob Bryson and Zach Metsa while navigating injuries to Michael Kesselring and Conor Timmins. Ryan Johnson also got a short stint with the big club.
Jones isn’t likely to headline any deal, but he’s the kind of player who could be a valuable throw-in - a solid depth option for a team looking to bolster its blue line with a reliable No. 7 defenseman. He’s also a restricted free agent after the season, giving any acquiring team some cost control moving forward.
In short, Jones deserves an NHL shot. But with Buffalo’s current depth chart, that opportunity may have to come elsewhere.
Maxim Strbak: A Trade Chip with Real Value
When it comes to prospects, Maxim Strbak might be Buffalo’s most intriguing trade asset - at least in terms of players the team could afford to part with.
Strbak, a 20-year-old Czech defenseman, has been steady and productive at Michigan State this season, notching 15 points in 28 games. He projects as a potential second- or third-pair NHL blueliner, and that kind of upside makes him attractive to teams looking to build for the future.
The Sabres, though, are already stacked on the back end. Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Power, and Mattias Samuelsson are locked in long term.
Michael Kesselring could join that group if he can stay healthy. And when you factor in younger names like Radim Mrtka, Adam Kleber, and Luke Osburn - all recent high picks - it’s clear that Buffalo’s blue line pipeline is deep.
That makes Strbak a prime candidate to be included in a bigger deal, especially if the Sabres are eyeing a top-six forward ahead of the deadline. He’s got enough value to help sweeten a trade package, and moving him wouldn’t create a major void in the organization’s long-term plans.
Looking Ahead
The Sabres are in unfamiliar territory - and that’s a good thing. For the first time in a long time, they’re not sellers at the deadline.
They’re buyers. Contenders.
A team with a shot.
But with that comes pressure. Pressure to make the right moves.
Pressure to not disrupt the chemistry that’s gotten them this far. And pressure to finally, finally get back to the playoffs.
Kekalainen has options. Whether it’s moving a goalie, a prospect, or a depth piece, the Sabres have the assets to make something happen. Now it’s just a matter of whether they’re willing to push their chips in.
Because in Buffalo, the window might finally be opening - and it’s time to decide whether to climb through or wait for a better view.