Keeping this paragraph as a starting point if this is your first time reading this series: We will be continuing our journey through this series looking at one team at a time to act as a trade partner. Please keep in mind this should not be viewed in the same way as a comprehensive GM for a day type of post where we are looking to completely overhaul the team in one fell swoop. Each article will “reset” the Sabres roster, so don’t be surprised to see the same players, prospects, and picks used repeatedly in various trade offers.
Our next potential trade partner is located further west, and the first Canadian team we will be looking to make a deal with. The Calgary Flames are in an odd spot this year, playing better than anticipated, and potentially considering a retool rather than a full rebuild. A number of potential targets on the Flames do have full no movement clauses, so I will be avoiding those players and only looking at options that are available to trade.
To Buffalo: Daniil Miromanov, Jake Bean, and Andrei Kuzmenko
To Calgary: Mattias Samuelsson, Noah Ostlund, and Nicolas Aube-Kubel
Not quite a blockbuster trade, but a solid assortment of pieces going both ways. Cap space is not a problem for either team, and largely off-set with the AAVs of the players listed. There may be some mixed opinions on this one, primarily based on your feelings of Mattias Samuelsson and his perceived value and impact on the team.
From Calgary’s perspective, this type of trade fits into the retool vs full rebuild type of mindset. They would get a long term roster player in Samuelsson who offers size and penalty killing ability, a 4th line grinder in Aube-Kubel, and a solid prospect in Noah Ostlund. Calgary continues to look for their centers of the future, with players like Kadri and Backlund getting older, it may be time to start building a pipeline for a changing of the guard.
Why would Buffalo do this trade? Mattias Samuelsson is wearing a letter, and does seem to have a voice in the locker room. With that being said, maybe this is exactly the type of player that needs to be traded to cause a shake-up. There is a lack of consistency of the team, from game to game or even period to period – a leader needs to be held accountable for that prolonged issue. Additionally, Buffalo has two LHD in Dahlin and Power already locked up long-term, with a possible 3rd depending on what happens with Byram. Samuelsson is a prototypical defensive defensemen, but his injury history, extended contact, and less than stellar play this season seems reason to consider cutting ties while he still has value. Under Lindy, Samuelsson has some very poor underlying numbers, and maybe a change of scenery would benefit both him and the team.
Noah Ostlund is a valuable prospect, but not on the same tier as a Konsta Helenius or Isak Rosen. This is an example of the Sabres “weaponizing” their strong prospect pool to bring in more experienced players with value/NHL experience. Aube-Kubel is mostly a thrown in here, maybe he fills a 4th line role for the Flames better than he has for the Sabres, but this helps to open a forward roster spot when acquiring new players.
Kuzmenko is a bit of a wild card, and this may be an opportunity for the Sabres to take a gamble on a player in need of a new setting. The Flames may be looking to shed his contract, and he has been healthy scratched multiple times this season under their current coach. Looking back to previous seasons he was nearly a PPG player for the Flames, and was extremely impressive during his first year with the Canucks. It is possible he could rekindle some of that magic and find a home in Buffalo? If so, maybe a contract extension could follow if he fits in well.
Brought in along with Kuzmenko would be another Russian in Daniil Miromanov who is signed through the 2025-2026 season. Miromanov is a RHD that brings good size at 6’4″ with more mobility than Samuelsson offers, fun note he used to player forward earlier in his development. As an added bonus Miromanov does possess some relatively strong underlying metrics.
Jake Bean is a former 1st round pick that may still offer some offensive upside as he is hitting the prime NHL player age range at 26 years old, but has yet to blossom into the top 4 defensemen when initially drafted. Bean offers speed and creativity, with average size. Can Lindy help round out his defensive game? If Byram does get traded would he be able to fill a top 4 void? He is also signed throughout the 2025-2026 season.
I should note, my initial target on the Flames was going to be Rasmus Andersson, but I wanted to throw something a little different out there for folks to consider.
Side comment: The Flames alternate jersey has to be one of my favorites in the entire league.
Curious to hear everyone’s thoughts on this one. Is it a fair trade? What would you give up to make this happen, or even to try and acquire Andersson? Looking forward to hearing from everyone.
Thanks as always & Go Sabres!