Trade Deadline Predictions: Where to and how much?
Miller, Eakin, and others may be on the move
The 2022 NHL Trade Deadline is today at 3 PM ET and there will be a decent amount of Sabres pieces that are moved.
The Sabres don’t have many spicy names available during this year’s trade deadline — but who knows. Maybe things will get a little crazy.
By the Numbers 📊
Record: 21-33-8 (50 points) | Division: 6th | League: 27th
5v5 Expected Goals-For Percentage (xGF%): 44.3% (31st in the NHL)
5v5 Goals-For Percentage (GF%): 43.6% (28th in the NHL)
Quick Hits
Buffalo Sabres trade Robert Hagg to the Florida Panthers for a 2022 2nd round pick
Trade Deadline Predictions
So let’s get right into where I think some of the Sabres pieces could be traded to and for how much:
Boston gets: Colin Miller (50% retained)
Buffalo get: 2022 2nd round pick, 2023 5th round pick
I think Colin Miller to Boston makes sense for a lot of reasons. The Bruins were the organization that drafted him and it seems like they are willing to go all-in this postseason as Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand are not getting any younger.
The Sabres will likely have to retain some money here with the Bruins being so close to the cap. However, I do expect the Bruins to make some other moves to free some cap space (possibly a Jake DeBrusk trade).
The return here is exactly what the Sabres paid to acquire Miller from the Golden Knights in the summer of 2019, so I guess you can just call his years in Buffalo a wash.
Colorado gets: Cody Eakin (50% retained)
Buffalo get: 2023 5th round pick
Hey, don’t tell me Cody Eakin can’t be traded when Nicolas Deslauriers was just traded to the Minnesota Wild for a 3rd round pick.
Cody Eakin is very good at one specific thing: face-offs. He’s rocking a 56.1 FO% while the Colorado Avalanche are rocking a 46.8 FO% as a team. The Avs have acquired some players with “bad analytics” to fill in depth roles (Kurtis MacDermind, Jack Johnson), so maybe they are unafraid to add a player like Eakin.
I’d be a little shocked if he is not moved come deadline day. NHL teams seem to love the guy.
Washington get: Vinnie Hinostroza
Buffalo get: 2022 4th round pick
The Capitals are a team that desperately needs depth scoring and do not have much cap space to work with. Maybe they look for more space to acquire a bigger name or maybe they settle for a player like Hinostroza, who has quietly put together a nice season for the Sabres.
I know some fans would like to hang on to Hinostroza, but the Sabres are in no position to fall in love with 28-year-old depth forwards on expiring contracts. Acquire the assets when you can and maybe circle back in the summer to see if he’s interested in returning.
Edmonton get: Craig Anderson
Buffalo get: 2023 3rd round pick
Craig Anderson should be a very appealing piece for any team looking to add some goaltending insurance for the playoffs. Sure, he may be 40 years old, but he has been a reliable backstop, comes at a very low cap hit, and brings a strong veteran presence.
I think the Sabres look to move him in order to get Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (and maybe Devon Levi?) some additional looks at the NHL level. Also, Scott Wedgewood was just traded for a 4th round pick, so the Sabres may look to capitalize on a hot goaltender market.
Staying Put: Victor Olofsson, Mark Pysyk, Will Butcher, John Hayden
Victor Olofsson will be a key trade chip for the Buffalo Sabres as they head into this offseason. He is set to be a restricted free agent this summer and is expected to receive a somewhat sizable cap hit if he goes to arbitration.
I believe that Olofsson will stay put this trade deadline and is more likely to be moved in the offseason when playoff-caliber teams have more cap clarity.
Mark Pysyk is another player who I think stays put. There’s no doubt that there will be a good amount of interest in him as he is a solid right-handed defenseman with only a $900k cap hit. However, they seem to love him in the locker room and maybe (just maybe) he is interested in extending in Buffalo.
Will Butcher and John Hayden are two players who I do not think will garner much interest on deadline day. So for that reason, they are likely staying put in Buffalo for the remainder of the season.
Prospects Update: Jack Quinn goes off; NCAA Tournament field set
Jack Quinn is riding a hot streak down in the AHL with 9 points in his last 3 games, including 6 points in 2 games this past weekend. What he has accomplished in the AHL this season has been nothing short of remarkable:
I do expect Quinn to eventually get some more NHL games with the big club as his production is just far too good to ignore. The Sabres could also use a player with his shot to insert into their middle-six:
The field for the 2022 NCAA Men’s Hockey Tournament was announced this Sunday and all six of the Sabres prospects who played in the NCAA this season will feature in the tournament. Should be a lot of fun hockey next week:
Game Preview: Pittsburgh Penguins @ Buffalo Sabres, 3/20/22
Tage Thompson vs. Sidney Crosby: a battle of two of the NHL’s greatest
Penguins By The Numbers
Record: 38-16-9 (85 points) | Division: 3rd | League: 5th
5v5 Expected Goals-For Percentage (xGF%): 55.2% (5th in the NHL)
5v5 Goals-For Percentage (GF%): 54.1% (10th in the NHL)
Scouting the Penguins
Defend the Rush: the Penguins are one of the top rush teams in the league, the Sabres have to be prepared for counter-attacks
Hot Streak: the Penguins are playing some fantastic hockey right now, going 7-2-1 in their last 10 games and posting the 3rd best 5v5 xGF% (58.8%) in that timespan
Players to Watch
Mattias Samuelsson (BUF): Samuelsson has quietly been putting together some solid defensive performances for the Sabres. It looks like he has finally been given the opportunity to become a full-time NHLer and he has taken advantage of it
Jake Guentzel (PIT): he is certainly not the strongest player defensively, but who watches hockey for the defense? Guentzel is one of the premier rush players in the NHL and is a very fun player to watch on offense
I am so happy the Sabres did NOT trade Eakin, Hinostroza, and Anderson. Adams did a great job !