CONFIRMED: Sabres trade Staal to the Canadiens
Buffalo moves the center for two picks in the 2021 Entry Draft
The dumpster fire continues to rage unabated and now we get to the fun part of the season where the fire-sale starts.
With the trade deadline approaching and quarantine concessions being made so that trades can happen north and south of the border, Buffalo Sabres and the Montreal Canadiens have made the first move.
Eric Staal will join the Habs with Buffalo getting Montreal’s third and fifth-round picks in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. The Sabres will also retain $1.625 million of Staal’s salary.
The veteran centerman played in 32 games for the Sabres, and proved to be an unmitigated disaster for rookie GM Kevyn Adams, scoring three goals with seven assists and barely providing any semblance of leadership in a rudderless team.
Eric Staal had to formally waive to agree to the deal with the Habs. Montreal was among the 10 teams on his no-trade list.
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) March 26, 2021
The 36-year-old was drafted 2nd overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2003 Draft, and since then played for the Minnesota Wild and New York Rangers before landing up in Buffalo this last offseason.
The first domino has fallen as Adams will now look to move as many tradeable assets as he can before the April 12th deadline, more to come.