The Buffalo Sabres are still the center of attiention in many markets due to the potential work future of RFA defenseman Bowen Byram. And there are many potential trade partner fits for Sabres GM Kevyn Adams. We've decided to cover many of them, including the Vancouver Canucks, Los Angeles Kings. and St. Louis Blues.
And in this file in the series, we're examining another potential trade fit partner for the Sabres -- in this case, the San Jose Sharks. Let's get to the important details.
TEAM: San Jose Sharks
CAP SPACE: $23.8 million
FREE AGENTS: None
NEEDS: More experience on 'D and at forward; more high-end talent throughout the roster.
SABRES FIT? The Sharks have been a reclamation project for many years now. But under the watchful eye of San Jose GM Mike Grier, the Sharks have been quietly building a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. And there could be a fit between Grier's Sharks and the Sabres.
There's no question the Sharks are angling to get into the playoffs next year. But Greir is a realist, and he understands it's going to take another couple years before San Jose makes it into the post-season. So patience is going to be a virtue for the Sharks.
That said, there have been rumors connecting San Jose to Byram, as they've almost completely made over their defense, adding veteran Blues defenseman Nick Leddy via waivers, and signing former Hurricanes blueliner Dmitry Orlov and John Klingberk to amp up the veteran knowhow.
Sabres Could Be Facing Ticking Clock With ByramThe Buffalo Sabres situation elected to go to salary arbitration with restricted free agent defenseman Bowen Byram last week, eliminating the possibility of another NHL club going the offer sheet route, but the yet to be scheduled hearing could be a deadline of sorts for Sabres GM Kevyn Adams to get the best return possible for the Stanley Cup winner.
We're not prepared to say the Sharks are a playoff team just yet, but San Jose almost certainly isn't going to be as easy a pushover as they were this past season. Bringing in so many veterans to firm up their back end is a clear strategy to improve his group, while also potentially trading away some of these veteran D-men by the trade deadline if they can bring invother high-quality young players in return.
Who would the Sabres want from San Jose in exchange for Byram? Well, there's the rub -- and the reason a deal probably won't happen between Buffalo and the Sharks: the Sabres don't really need the players the Sharks will want to make available in a Byram trade, and the players the Sabres do want, the Sharks probably want to keep.
Is There Anything Left For Sabres To Pick Up In Free Agency?The NHL's free-agent frenzy has colmed down considerably, with most of the available talent now off the market. And the Buffalo Sabres still have approximately $13.6 million in salary cap space to utilize. So, is there anything left for Buffalo to spend on the open market, or is the only road to improvement via trades?
To wit -- Sharks center William Eklund would clearly intrigue Adams, but Grier isn't going to move a 41-assist, 58-point season while making only $863,333 next season. So it's very difficult to envision the right set of circumstances that will lead to a Buffalo/San Jose trade happening in the foreseeable future .
Ultimately, both teams want to be buyers, and each team only has a couple legitimate trade chips, so don't imagine you'll be seing a Sabres/Sharks trade anytime soon.