Sabres Notes: Trade Aggression, Goaltending, Hall

Prior to Sabres GM Kevyn Adams speaking with the media on Friday, TSN’s Darren Dreger noted in a segment on WGR 550 (audio link) that Adams has been among the more aggressive teams in terms of trying to make a deal but the trade market as a whole continues to be tough to navigate with trades with Canadian teams being next to impossible due to quarantine concerns.  Just about everything that could go wrong has gone wrong for Buffalo this season between injuries, key players underperforming, and even some players going through COVID-19 which has them in the basement in the East Division.  They sit 14 points out of a playoff spot heading into Saturday’s games and while that’s not an insurmountable gap to make up with all in-division matchups, the likeliest scenario is that those trade talks will soon start to inch towards selling players if it hasn’t already.

More from Buffalo:

• In his press conference, Adams indicated to reporters, including Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News (Twitter link) that the reason he hasn’t made a move to upgrade the goaltending is that there hasn’t been one available yet. Curiously, they passed on Alex Stalock who was coming off a strong season in Minnesota off waivers so it appears they’re setting their sights higher.  Linus Ullmark is still out for several more weeks with a lower-body injury while Carter Hutton is struggling mightily and can’t be relied on in the number one role for an extended period of time.
• It was reported last month that there was mutual interest between the Sabres and Taylor Hall when it comes to a possible contract extension. When asked about it, Hall told Lance Lysowski of The Buffalo News that he’s “open to anything” when it comes to next season.  While that’s not a direct statement of having interest in an extension, the veteran acknowledged that he wasn’t necessarily viewing his time in Buffalo as a one and done situation despite the one-year deal he signed.  His market value is taking a hit so far though as he has just two goals and 11 assists in 21 games, numbers that suggest he’ll be unlikely to make the $8MM he’s getting this season on his next contract.