The Sabres are reportedly shopping for help up front.
Buffalo’s rough opening to the 2025-26 season has only sharpened the need. After finishing last year at the top of the Atlantic Division, the Sabres have stumbled out to a 4-4-3 record, dropped their last three games, and now sit at the bottom of the division standings.
According to The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta, the Sabres are working the trade market for another scoring winger. “Sabres GM Jarmo Kekalainen is believed to be exploring the trade market for some additional goalscoring, TFP’s David Pagnotta reported on TSN 690 in Montreal during his weekly Tuesday appearance,” The Fourth Period wrote.
The timing tracks with how Buffalo reshaped its roster in the offseason. After moving on from Alex Tuch in a major sign-and-trade with the Washington Capitals, the Sabres are now in the market for another forward who can bring skill and finish to the lineup. Another winger could help deepen the top nine and give the group a needed boost in scoring.
Pagnotta did not name any targets, but there are plenty of wing options floating around the rumor mill. Chris Johnston of The Athletic recently listed Jake DeBrusk of the Vancouver Canucks, Rickard Rakell of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Dmitri Voronkov of the Columbus Blue Jackets, and Ivan Miroshnichenko of the Washington Capitals on his latest trade board.
Other possible fits mentioned in the same conversation include Brock Boeser of the Canucks, Bryan Rust of the Penguins, and Joel Farabee of the Calgary Flames.
In Other News...
Sabres Are Being Linked To A Center Move They May Struggle To Make
Buffalos 2-0 win over the San Jose Sharks offered a rare pause from the frustration that had built during the losing streak, but it also did little to quiet the bigger roster questions hanging over the organization. The Sabres still need more up the middle, and that has naturally pushed the front office into the center market as it looks for a way to accelerate the teams timeline.
One name now floating around is tied to Detroit, though any pursuit comes with obvious complications. The buzz around Buffalo is that Jarmo Kekalainen would like to explore a deal for a proven center, but the Sabres are working against a crowded field of suitors and the reality that the player in question has already narrowed his options elsewhere. For a team trying to turn a promising core into a consistent winner, it is the kind of trade idea that sounds easy in theory and becomes much harder once the negotiations actually start. [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 🡒]