Crazy Season Gets Crazier

It wasn't supposed to be like this. The Sabres looked like a team that would, at minimum, secure a playoff spot. What happened after, that would be up to star talents like Matt Barzal, Nick Suzuki, Chris Kreider and Aaron Ekblad to take the Sabres into a deep playoff run. However, that was to not to be. Instead, Buffalo started the season about as badly as a team could and after 20 games, were in the basement of the RHL standings and nowhere close to even sniffing a playoff spot. Without their 1st round pick this year, and without hope for a lost season, General Manager Stu took a match to the team, blowing it up and not looking back. Since the destruction commenced, the Sabres look far better. Still far outside a playoff spot, as can be expected with the horrible start, they have climbed to a 19-24-6 record, good for 7th in an 8 team division but at least looking like there is some hope. 

One key addition to reversing the Sabres fortunes this season is veteran Nazem Kadri. Kardi came out in a deal with Seattle and took over 1st line center duties, plugging in almost a PPG. That brings us to today where it was announced that Kadri is on the move from Buffalo after a 36 game stint. Heading to his old alma mater the Toronto Maple Leafs who are much better situated in the standings as of now. Seeing Kadri enter and leave the great city of Buffalo is another chaotic change to a chaotic season. One that commenced November 4th, 2023 and has been a whirlwind ever sicne:

The first big trade out of Buffalo was Aaron Ekblad. A talented top pairing defenceman, brought in only last season to fix the problem defense of Buffalo. Ekblad is only one man thought and didn't achieve the success the Sabres hoped. Mr. Ekblad was shipped off to Ottawa in exchange for the giant of the NHL, Tyler Myers, along with top prospect David Reinbacher and a 1st round pick. This trade has worked out decently so far with Buffalo as Myers has proven capable in a defensive dman role. The other parts were obviously a view toward the future.

The second hue trade say Chris Kreider, Seymon Varlamov, WIlliam Carries and a 5th head to Seattle for.... mostly picks (a 1st in 2025, a 2nd in 2024, and a 6th). However, some cap dumps arrived in Buffalo in Brandon Saad, Nick Ritchie and Steve Lorentz. This trade was a clear signal that Buffalo was looking toward the future. Kreider a scoring machine, was not really replaced in this trade and a big hole on the wing.

In potentially the biggest trade of the season, Sam Reinhart, Noah Cates and a 3rd were jettisoned to Toronto for a vriety of "pick em" pieces: Gabriel Vilardi, Ondrej Palat, Kaapo Kahkonen, and then two prospects and two 1sts. Reinhart is the Sabres Franchise all time leader in poins. The Sabres hope Vilardi can fill top 6 shoes and he has done a reasonable job since the trade.

Another big trade occurred where Matt Barzal, Will Borgen, Caleb Jones and Jiri Patera were sent to Seattle for Kadri, Spencer Knight, Arthur Kaliyev and a 2nd came to Buffalo. This one is still out as Barzal is the most valuable part of the trade. Buffalo hopes Knight and Kaliyev can make this a trade not to regret.

Signaling that Buffalo may not be doing a full rebuild, Buffalo snatched up elite Dman Miro Heiskanen and Nic Hague from Vancouver. In exchange, wealth of talent including Adam Boqvist, Tyson Barrie, Reid Schafer, Fraser Mintent and a 1st from Toronto. Also Ondrej Palat who never had the chance to acclimatize to the city of Buffalo.

Further singaling that Buffalo was serious about competing now, Elias Lindholm was traded for, coming from Carolina for Mason Marchment a 2nd and a 4th.

The thirs in a trilogoy of "get better" deals, say JJ Moser come over form the Island in exchange for Radim Simek, Tucker Robertson and Seattle 2nd. At this point, it was fair to wonder what Buffalo's plan was, if there was one. 

Buffalo appeared to be in a spot to fill out their roster and have futures until one day after the JJ Moser trade an absolute blockbuster occurred where Nick Suzuki and a 6th were swapped to Philly for a variety of pieces, including prospect Quentin Musty and a 1st (among other pieces). Buffalo trading a young 1st line center further baffled the Buffalo faithful.

Which brings us to today. Despite all the trades, Buffalo was moving in the right direction, appeared to have chemistry and, god willing, could take a wild out of left field stab at a last playoff spot. However, that prospect took a huge hit as Nazem Kadri, along with Ryan Graves and Aiden Fink were shipped to Toronto for Dante Fabbro, Dillon Dube and picks including a '25 1st. While Kadri is a UFA, he was Buffalo's best player in the turnaround and named captain for his short stint. Dante Fabbro is a mid-20s, once touted prospect who has been meh in his RHL career. The elephant in the room of trading for Dillon Dube was addressed in a conference call with journalists, the General Manager admitted he was on vacation the past couple weeks, on mars, in a cave, upside down, with his eyes closed and his fingers in his ears and therefore was not certian what allegations the journalist was talking about with Dube. 

Overall, the Sabres are a team in two worlds, one in a rebuild and one with enough talent to compete for a playoff spot. It's unclear what the rest of the season holds for these Buffalo Swordsmen but one thing is for sure, it won't be dull.