NHL Rumors: Are The Buffalo Sabres and Edmonton Oilers Talking Trade?
Earlier this week I talked about how the Buffalo Sabres’ defensive depth could bring about a trade with a defensively weak club.
Earlier this week, rumor mongers Eklund and HockeyyInsiderr both claim Sabres general manager Darcy Regier has been having conversations with Edmonton Oilers general manager Steve Tambellini.
Normally information from these guys would and should be ignored by all, but Edmonton does make sense as a trading partner for the Sabres. Despite the bad blood that may still remain from the Thomas Vanek offer sheet fiasco with former Edmonton GM Kevin Lowe during the 2007 offseason, the teams could truly help each other. So, while you can be skeptical about the specifics talked about by the two maligned pot stirrers, speculation on a trade with Edmonton is not completely irrational to think about.
So how can the teams help each other?
At a base level, the Oilers have a plethora of young, skilled top six forwards, where the Sabres have a surplus of top six defenseman.
As it stands, the Oilers top six next season will include any combination of Ladislav Smid, Jeff Petry, Justin Schultz, Andy Sutton, Theo Peckham, Nick Schultz, Corey Potter, Taylor Fedun and Ryan Whitney. Not really a group that strikes fear into the heart of the opposition.
Petry and Whitney are ever improving. Smid had arguably his best season last year. Justin Schultz was not pursued by 20+ teams this offseason for nothing. But there is a lot of room for improvement, especially from a proven, veteran presence.
Edmonton also has more sub-25 forwards on their roster than they know what to do with. There are some obvious non-starters on the roster in Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle and Nail Yakupov, but one has to think everyone else can be had for the right price.
Two names stick out as excellent candidates to head to Edmonton from Buffalo: Jordan Leopold and Andrej Sekera. Leopold or Sekera would be the veteran, offensively-able defenseman the Oilers would love to have on their team.
So who would the Sabres like in return? The easy guess is Sam Gagner, who was all but out the door last season until his magical eight point night in early February. His one year deal earlier in the offseason did nothing to quell the rumors of his impending exit, and as a high-end second line center he’d immediately give the Sabres more fire power up front.
Another potential piece coming Buffalo’s way is Magnus Paajarvi. Paajarvi has had his struggles in Edmonton and has had trouble breaking into the top six despite his talent. A bigger body, but by no means a grinder, Paajarvi would be an excellent compliment to one of the Sabres young centers Tyler Ennis or Cody Hodgson.
Realistically the deal would likely include Gagner and Sekera, with plus pieces or picks coming and going on each side. Playing GM for a day, how does Gagner and a late rounder for Sekera and a second rounder sound?
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Ummm – last time I checked Steve tambelini was gm of the oilers so chances are your sources are wrong if they are saying the teams are talking
Yes, I meant to say when Kevin Lowe was GM.