The Buffalo Sabres have spent much of October trying to steady themselves, and Tuesday’s 2-0 shutout over the San Jose Sharks at least stopped the bleeding. Before that win, the issues had been piling up: slow starts, special teams trouble, uneven scoring, and shaky goaltending. Even with all of that, Buffalo was sitting at .500.
Now the bigger question is whether GM Jarmo Kekalainen is still chasing a major move after missing out on Connor Hellebuyck. Kekalainen was unable or unwilling to match the Winnipeg Jets’ asking price before Hellebuyck wound up in New Jersey last week, but there have been signs the Sabres are still looking to swing big.
One possible target that has surfaced is Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin. Expected Buffalo’s Chad DeDominicis was first to suggest Buffalo should, and has, checked in on Larkin, who is a former teammate of Tage Thompson from Team USA’s gold medal-winning Olympic squad. Larkin asked for a trade after the season and originally gave Detroit a very limited three-team list, though that list has since grown to 10 teams.
That still doesn’t put Buffalo in an easy spot. The teams on Larkin’s expanded list appear to be contenders and playoff regulars: Carolina, Colorado, Dallas, Florida, Minnesota, New Jersey, Tampa Bay, Utah, Vegas, and Washington. Clubs that badly need a first- or second-line center, including Montreal, are not included.
Montreal has made the playoffs in each of the last two seasons, but there is still little indication Larkin would sign off on a move to a Canadian team. Buffalo may have a better shot, but the Sabres’ uneven start after ending a 15-year playoff drought may be working against them.
Larkin’s goal in leaving Detroit, after all, is to give himself a better chance to win a Stanley Cup. The Red Wings have not reached the postseason since 2016.
From Buffalo’s side, the pieces might make sense. Detroit is reportedly looking for young centers, and the Sabres can offer them in Noah Ostlund, Konsta Helenius, and Jiri Kulich. The real issue is whether Kekalainen would be willing to part with one of those prospects rather than players like Josh Norris or Ryan McLeod, and whether Larkin would agree to widen his list even further.
The Devils could also be a name to watch. With Hellebuyck now in New Jersey and the possibility of Quinn Hughes joining his brothers there next summer, they are viewed as a dark horse in the chase for the 30-year-old.
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Sabres Slow Start Has Buffalo Fans Eyeing One Trade Fix
Buffalos uneven start has already pushed the Sabres into an uncomfortable spot in the Atlantic Division standings, and it has the front office looking for help before the early-season hole gets any deeper. At 4-4-3, the margin for patience is not especially wide, so the chatter around the club has quickly turned to whether GM Jarmo Kekalainen can find a scoring winger who fits the roster without forcing a bigger shakeup elsewhere.
Reports from The Fourth Period and TSNs David Pagnotta say Kekalainen is exploring the trade market, though no deal is close and no specific target has been identified. Around the league, the rumor mill has linked Buffalo to a few familiar names, but for now the Sabres are still searching for a possible answer rather than landing on one, which leaves the next move very much up in the air. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres May Already Be Feeling Better About The Zellweger Deal
Olen Zellwegers first stretch in Buffalo has given the Sabres a reason to feel pretty good about the move, even if the deal is still in its early stages. The defenseman has settled in quickly after arriving from Anaheim, bringing more offense to the blue line and looking like a fit in Lindy Ruffs system. He has collected five points in seven games, which is the kind of immediate contribution Buffalo was hoping to get from a player with his upside.
For the Sabres, the part that matters now is whether Zellwegers strong start becomes a trend rather than just a hot first impression. Buffalo gave up prospect Anton Wahlberg and a 2026 draft pick to get him, so the evaluation is already tied to how Zellweger holds up over time. Wahlberg, meanwhile, has been turning heads with the Ducks AHL affiliate in San Diego, which only adds another layer to a trade that could look very different as both sides keep developing. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres Recall Debate Heats Up As Trevor Kuntar Keeps Pushing Back
Trevor Kuntar has made a habit of forcing his name into the conversation in Rochester, and that continued in a recent game where he answered a challenge from Amerks coach Mike Leone with a strong all-around showing. Kuntar, who has become one of the more important forwards on the Americans roster, capped that effort with an overtime game-winning goal, the kind of response that tends to resonate with coaches at both levels of the organization.
For Buffalo, the timing only adds to the intrigue. Kuntars play has put him firmly on the radar as a potential call-up option, and his style has given the Sabres another name to weigh as they look for help up front. The fact that he keeps backing up his standing with meaningful shifts and timely production is exactly why this recall discussion keeps circling back to him. [Read more 🡒]