Morning Notes: Greenway, Gavrikov, Bear

Although the Buffalo Sabres occupy last place in the Eastern Conference standings and are on pace to miss the postseason for a 14th consecutive season, there is at least one pending unrestricted free-agent forward they’ll look to keep rather than dangle at the deadline. In his recently written edition of 32 Thoughts, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports the Sabres have indicated they’re trying to extend Jordan Greenway.

Due to several injuries throughout his two-year tenure in Buffalo, Greenway likely won’t match or exceed his current $3MM salary on a new contract. It’s likely a driving factor behind the Sabres’ motivation to extend rather than trade him at the deadline. He’s an extremely physical winger, but Greenway’s three-goal, eight-point performance in 23 games this year likely wouldn’t command much return, especially as a rental.

Buffalo and Greenway’s best path forward may be for an internal ’prove it’ deal to see if he can recapture the scoring touch he provided recently as last season. The Canton, NY native scored 10 goals and 28 points in 67 games for the Sabres in the 2023-24 season, which would command a higher return should Buffalo become a seller in a year.

Other notes:

• Friedman also shared that Los Angeles Kings’ defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov has left the Gold Star Sports Management Group to join CAA Sports LLC. It’s typically not terrific news for a player’s current team if he switches agencies, but Friedman doesn’t believe it’s time to ring any alarm bells in Los Angeles. Mutual interest remains between Gavrikov and the Kings on an extension, although it likely won’t get done before the trade deadline. CAA Sports LCC has recently negotiated several extensions, including David Pastrňák’s, Mathew Barzal’s, Dougie Hamilton’s, Filip Forsberg’s, and Lucas Raymond’s.
• Despite being the top team in the Eastern Conference, the Washington Capitals are expected to sell one player from their AHL affiliate, the Hershey Bears. In a short clip from TSN’s Insider Trading, insider Chris Johnston reported the Capitals are looking to accommodate Ethan Bear’s desire to play in the NHL and move him to a team with openings on the blue line. Washington may have a better idea of what that looks like closer to deadline day, but Bear should garner some interest, scoring eight goals and 33 points in 46 AHL contests. He’s in the final season of a two-year, $4.13MM contract and hasn’t suited up in an NHL game since March 13, 2024.