The Sabres have made an enormous trade, sending Tyler Myers, Drew Stafford, Joel Armia, Brendan Lemieux and a first-round pick to the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for Evander Kane, Zach Bogosian and goalie prospect Jason Kasdorf.
Kane has been at the center of trade rumors since his run-in with his Jets teammates, resulting in his track suit being thrown into the showers. Kane, only 23-years-old, scored ten goals and 12 assists in 37 games this season. He’s done for the year after undergoing shoulder surgery, which may be ideal for the tank-minded Sabres. His best year came in 2011-2012, when he scored 30 goals and 27 assists.
Kane fills a hole the Sabres have at wing, since the team has focused heavily on drafting centers as of late.
Bogosian was in the same draft class as Myers. He’s scored three goals and 10 assists in 41 games this season. He’s played just under 30 games more than the former Sabres defender, scoring 24 points.
Also coming in the deal is goalie Jason Kasdorf, a 22-year-old goalie currently playing at RPI. He’s posting a 2.94 goals against average and a .900 save percentage. He missed a majority of last season with a shoulder injury.
To get these three the Sabres gave up quite the haul. It starts with Myers, who has been at the center of trade rumors all season. Myers brightest moments in Buffalo came in his rookie season, in which he scored 11 goals and 37 assists as well as won the Calder Trophy. However, he never fully returned to that form. He’s play seemed to improve as of late, but would often make head scratching mistakes.
The Sabres gave up two of their more promising prospects in Armia and Lemieux. The Sabres first-round pick in 2011, Armia has impressed many in Rochester this season. He’s scored 10 goals and 15 assists in 33 games with the Americans this season, developing into a strong-bodied winger. He got his first taste of the NHL this season as well, playing on the top line in his one game.
Lemieux was one of three second-round picks this season, and the only player in the trade that Tim Murray drafted personally. The 6’0″ winger has 35 goals and 15 assists in 46 games with the Barrie Colts of the OHL.
Stafford is a pending free agent, and one of the parts most expected Murray to move at the deadline. He’s been on the Sabres longer than anyone else on this team, outliving many from the “old core.” Stafford scored nine goals and 15 assists in 50 games this season.
The first-round pick will be the worst of the three, so either the Blues or Islanders pick, according to reports.