While the Sabres season has not gone as planned, there continue to be rumbling about moves involving a potential Dylan Cozens trade, with multiple suitors, as well as a potential deal with the Detroit Red Wings in an attempt to shake up their rosters.
With the trade deadline coming up, and with many wondering where to go from here with the roster, let’s take a look at some ideas the Sabres could make going forward.
Trade Deadline: Michael Rasmussen and Carter Mazur to Buffalo for Jack Quinn and Henri Jokiharju
With all these rumors about something brewing with Buffalo and Detroit, in terms of trying to figure out what that is, I think I may have figured it out after examining the roster.
A lot of people may jump and say it’s something around Dylan Cozens. I just don’t see a trade that works out for both sides, and the trade ideas that could work would piss both fan bases off. Fans don’t make trades, GM’s should never listen to fans, but point is, if a Cozens trade happened between these two teams, you won’t be happy.
For example, I think the trade would center around Nate Danielson, and probably Marco Kasper. I can’t imagine either fan base would be thrilled here for different reasons. For Detroit, those are prospects you really like, and for Buffalo, picks and prospects on a sell low.
However, when looking at these rosters, I think Detroit does want a couple more young guys with upside, while Buffalo would like to add more experience and veterans.
In terms of Cozens, I feel like a lot of GM’s see him as a great third line center right now on a good team, with the upside as a very good top six center. So far, his season two-years ago has been an outlier.
For me, the contract is the concern more than the player, and this is what a lot of Sabre fans forget when talking about Cozens: his contract is a major risk is he doesn’t pan out, and if a team wants to take that albatross of a deal off my hands, that could end up being a win.
But, for me, the problem here is, the fact that so many teams are still interested speaks volumes, not to mention his production at the worlds two years in a row where he was one of Canada’s best players speaks volumes.
Having said that, I think what it comes down to is the support. Instead of moving him, I’d rather try to go out and find players that can play with him and elevate him. At a young age, he’s shouldered a large burden on this team, and I think the team needs to find a way to get him some help, rather than sell low.
In terms of the Red Wings and Sabres, I think a shake up could be in order, but not Cozens. I do think however that Jack Quinn could be that guy.
While injuries have been a problem, and he has gotten off to a slow start, he has started to heat up in December as a scorer, but play away from the puck is still lacking. He’s been injury prone, but he’s still very young and the upside is there, and if the Wings trade Patrick Kane, Quinn could serve as a long term replacement.
The Red Wings also could have a need for a veteran right shot defenseman, and I do think Henri Jokiharju makes sense here going the other way.
For the Sabres, I have them picking up 6’5 center/wing Michael Rasmussen. After this season, he is signed for two more years at 3.2 million and he brings a more physical style to the lineup, and is a steady player in his own end. He essentially replaces Jordan Greenway, and bring a little more offensive ability and can play both center and wing.
I also have them adding prospect Carter Mazur, who is a feisty, physical forward, who is a hard working, hard nosed winger, who is great at agitating and pissing his opponents off. He can play on a fourth line right now, but he could be another Tyler Bertuzzi as a ceiling.
For the rest of the season, if I acquire Rasmussen, I’m probably elevating Jiri Kulich or Zack Benson the top six for the remainder of the season, more likely Kulich, while also placing Ryan McCloed as third line center on a line with Rasmussen and Benson for the remainder of the year.
The Sabres need to get harder to play against, and Rasmussen checks a lot of boxes here.
Trade Deadline: Jordan Greenway for Vincent Deharnais
Vancouver has been enamored with Greenway for quite some time, and I have no doubt that they would be interested in him as a deadline acquisition for a playoff run. On Buffalo’s end, while I like the player a lot, I have a harder time finding a fit in the bottom six, especially after acquiring Rasmussen.
On the flip side, Deharnais is a towering right shot defenseman at 6’7, who is has not found the right fit in Vancouver. He was a valuable player to Edmonton in their Stanley Cup final run. He is acquired to take a look at him as a bottom four defenseman as a change of scenery candidate, and brings a hard play against element this team doesn’t have enough of, especially on the back end.
The only issue here is, while I love Deharnais, and he brings that physical, intimidating element to the defense and the team, he does overlap with Connor Clifton does well on the third pair. Both players have one year left on their deals after this year.
But for the rest of the season, Clifton probably gets more minutes here, and Deharnais gets a look on the roster.
Offseason Trade: Acquired RHD Michael Kesserling from Utah for 2025 second round pick, 2026 third round pick, and RHD Connor Clifton
The Sabres could be on the prowl for a partner for Owen Power. Mike Kesserling could be an option as the physical, towering, top four defenseman has handeled a bigger role quite well this season, but with significant money committed to Sean Durzi and John Marino on the right side, Kesserling could be an option to look at via the trade route.
Kesserling has played an elevated top four role this year in Utah with both Sean Durzi and John Marino out. The team is also well stocked with former first rounder Maveric Lamoureux showing quite capable of playing in the NHL. Kesserling has one more year on his deal, and then is arbitration eligible in 2026.
Kesserling is a physical, 6’5 towering defenseman with a booming right shot, who isn’t afraid to drop the gloves either. He’s been fairly reliable for Utah this season with her defensive injuries.
I’m sending Clifton out in the final year of his deal, with the hope that I’m swapping out a third pair defenseman for a top four defenseman, and this scenario will use Deharnais in that bottom pair spot.
Summer UFA, Robby Fabbri, one year- 4.5 million.
Fabbri is a veteran forward who can play a middle six role, and when healthy is a dangerous player on the ice. Injuries are an issue here, in fact, they are a major issue.
But, he is a player who can score at a 20 goal pace, and comes in on a one year deal to add some experience to the middle six.
Re-sign Jason Zucker, one year- $5.75 million
I have no desire to move Zucker at the deadline unless someone offers a first round pick for him.
To me, Zucker is simply too important to the roster this season from a leadership perspective, and as an example setter.
We need more players like him, not to subtract a player like him.
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