The San Jose Sharks made headlines with their acquisition of Kiefer Sherwood from the Vancouver Canucks - and not just because of who they got, but what they gave up to do it. Two second-round picks and a prospect defenseman, Cole Clayton, is a hefty price for a player on an expiring deal. But it speaks volumes about where the Sharks see themselves: no longer in rebuild mode, but shifting into win-now territory.
That same kind of mindset? It’s exactly what the Buffalo Sabres need to adopt.
Buffalo missed out on Sherwood, a rugged, NHL-ready winger who could’ve slotted in nicely. But more importantly, the deal itself sets a precedent.
The price San Jose paid - multiple picks and a solid prospect - is one the Sabres should be more than willing to match if it means bringing in real help. Because at this point, standing pat isn’t a strategy.
It’s a setback.
Let’s be real: Buffalo’s been stuck in neutral for too long. They’ve got young talent, a deep prospect pool, and yes, they still hold two of their own second-rounders across the next three drafts - 2027 and 2028, to be exact.
That kind of draft capital, paired with a pipeline of promising young players, gives GM Jarmo Kekalainen the flexibility to make a move. And not just any move - the kind that signals Buffalo is done waiting and ready to push forward.
Of course, the challenge is always knowing which prospects to hold onto and which ones you can part with. That’s the art of building a contender.
But the Sabres are at a point in their timeline where it’s no longer about hoarding future assets. It’s about converting that potential into production - now.
There’s talent available on the trade market, players who can step in and contribute right away. And just like Sherwood, some of those players might be more than rentals if the fit is right.
That’s why Kekalainen has to be aggressive. Buffalo doesn’t need to sell the farm, but they do need to start thinking like a team that’s ready to win.
Because that’s what San Jose just did.
The Sharks saw an opportunity to accelerate their progress and took it. That’s the kind of conviction Buffalo needs.
For years, they were the team shipping out veterans for picks and prospects. Now the roles have reversed.
It’s time for the Sabres to be the ones making the bold moves, the ones adding proven players instead of just dreaming on what could be.
Bottom line: Buffalo has the resources. They have the need.
And now, they have the example. The question is whether they’ll follow it - or keep watching from the sidelines as other teams take the leap.