With the trade deadline quickly approaching, we will be profiling several players in the weeks ahead that are likely to be dealt by March 1st.
As my PHR colleague Gavin Lee noted in this piece last week, a vast majority of deadline moves won’t qualify as blockbuster deals but every team that considers themselves to be buyers will be searching for marginal upgrades to boost their chances of winning a Stanley Cup. Often times, players who qualify as marginal upgrades are third-pair defensemen or bottom-six forwards who bring additional depth to the lineup. One player who may well be past his prime but is still capable of filling a multitude of roles on a Stanley Cup contender is Brian Gionta.
While the Buffalo Sabres are far from officially eliminated from postseason contention they are seven points out of the second wild card slot and barring a big move up the standings in February the club will likely be a seller later this month. Gionta, with 12 goals and 25 points on the season, is one veteran teams searching for a quality, two-way winger will be intrigued by.
Contract
The 38-year-old Gionta is in the final season of a three-year deal with an AAV of $4.25MM. He does carry a modified NTC which required him to submit a list prior to the start of the 2016-17 season of five clubs he would accept a trade to.
2016-17 Season Stats
51 GP, 12 goals, 13 assists, 25 points, -2 plus/minus rating, 20 PIM’s, 16:53 ATOI, 45.1 CF%
Season Overview
Long gone are the days when Gionta was a top-six winger capable of 25 goals a season. This season the 15-year veteran has settled into a complementary role, mostly as a third-line checking forward. He’s maintained a solid -2 plus/minus rating on a team that overall has a -19 goal differential on the season. His 12 goals and 25 points puts him on a full-season pace of 19 goals and 40 points; production which qualifies as excellent for a middle-six contributor.
Suitors
There should be no shortage of teams interested in adding Gionta, or a player like him, at the deadline. St. Louis, which just lost Robbi Fabbri for the season to an ACL injury could be a fit, in theory. Pittsburgh, who is currently without Conor Sheary for another three-to-five weeks, might have interest and are known for adding veteran pieces down the stretch for the playoff push. The Kings would appear to be in the market for scoring depth and minus the assets needed to make an impact move, could entertain trading for a Gionta.
Likelihood Of A Trade
Best guess is Buffalo would like to begin the transition of leadership away from Gionta and over to younger players such as Jack Eichel. Consequently, an extension to remain with the Sabres seems unlikely and a trade a near certainty. There should be enough interest from contending clubs to generate an offer sufficient to pry the veteran winger away from Buffalo.
Sabres fan here. I can see Gionta going to the kings or blues. He’s always been a quality player, but this may his last good year. He deserves to finish with a contender.
I watch the Sabres almost every game. Kane just arrived 2 years ago in a trade w/Winnipeg. I can’t see the Sabres trading him, since he just arrived, & has 22 goals this season. He has got in the 30’s range w/the Jets, & has the ability to that again this season, & 1’s to come. Give this guy a chance in Buffalo! He may have been accused of 1 crime since here, but so was Ryan O’Reilly w/a DWI here last year. The rest of Kane’s problems were false accusations. Desperate poor women need $, so pick on the rich people. There was never actual proof, like: audio, video, &/or DNA, so women : leave him alone, get a job, or go after your exes or family for $! The Sabres were always accused by the media, by not having a great scoring team, & not tough enough; Kane provides both! Murray should not be like another Regier, & get rid of all the high scorers (Drury, Briere, Vanek, Pominville, & Campbell); he could’ve kept 2 or 3. Murray can sign Kane to a 3 year contract in 2018 (contract expires then), then take the talks from there each season, until someone is willing to trade a good player away for him.
As far as Gionta, Brian made it clear to Murray, he wants to stay, so sign him to 1 year deals.
As far as Kulikov, package him up w/2 prospects (forwards) & a pick for a great offensive D-man, & a minor-leaguer who’s ready to be called up (time-to-time) to provide offensive spark.
Franson to be signed to a 1-3 year deal, in case this offensive D-man fizzles or gets injury-proned. Cody is their next best offensive blue-liner, after Risto. McCabe was suppose to be that, but failed miserably, & turned into a checker. If that new D-man turns out great,, then trade Cody.