The Buffalo Sabres should be in the market for an impact top-six forward after dealing winger JJ Peterka to the Utah Mammoth for defenseman Michael Kesselring and winger Josh Doan. The opening weeks of free agency did not provide GM Kevyn Adams with an opportunity to replace Peterka’s production, and with the two-year deal signed last month with defenseman Bowen Byram, Adams will have to try to acquire a scoring forward with younger players, prospects, and/or draft picks. With just over a month before training camp, the odds are that an addition like that will have to happen during the season. 

Owen Tippett has been mentioned off and on in trade speculation over the last few years. That chatter seemed to calm down after the 26-year-old winger signed an eight-year max deal, but it may begin to percolate after his production dropped from 28 to 20 goals in the first year of the extension. Tippett was originally a Florida Panthers first-round pick, who was acquired by the Flyers in the Claude Giroux deal in 2022. 

Other Sabres Stories

Projecting Sabres Trade Cost - Bryan Rust

Six Former Sabres Who Signed Elsewhere

At 6’1”, 209 lb. Tippett would be a more than adequate replacement for JJ Peterka in the Sabres top-six, and a realistic get since his 10-team modified no-trade clause does not kick until after this season. 

What Would It Cost?

The Flyers are in the midst of a rebuild, but for a young player under team control for another seven seasons such as Tippett, GM Danny Briere is going to expect a comparably aged forward in return, or a young top prospect that is close to being NHL-ready. Philadelphia has reportedly long been interested in Sabres forward Peyton Krebs, but Briere would probably want a Sabres first round pick along with Krebs in a Tippett deal. The Flyers are going to expect a much bigger return for a three-time 20+ goal scorer, which most likely would include Zach Benson or Konsta Helenius.  

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo