Examining Potential Penguins And Sabres Trades

Matthew Fairburn and Shayna Goldman of The Athletic wrote an article outlining 12 potential teams interested in trading for forward JJ Peterka of the Buffalo Sabres. The Sabres are trying to end a 14-year playoff drought and hope to add pieces this summer, while also considering trading one of their best young players, Peterka. The Sabres urgently need veteran help to take the next step and could also benefit from a right-shot defenseman. Enter the Pittsburgh Penguins, who have several veteran players on the trading block, including a three-time Norris Trophy winner who is a right-shot defenseman.

Connecting with the Penguins is achievable, as they intend to get younger this summer and might benefit from a player like Peterka to lead their initial wave of prospects aiming to move up to the NHL next season. Pittsburgh has substantially increased its prospect pool over the past 15 months, but it has concentrated more on quantity than quality and lacks top-tier prospects. Peterka would fill that role as a top-tier player, the oldest among them, and likely act as an informal leader for the Penguins.

The Penguins have multiple draft picks over the subsequent three drafts and might send a bunch of picks to Buffalo; however, the Sabres want roster players, of which Pittsburgh has a few that could meet Buffalo’s needs. Bryan Rust is the most valuable of the Penguins’ available veterans and is probably the one Pittsburgh would prefer to trade the least. Nonetheless, his no-movement clause expires in the next week, and with three years remaining on his contract at $5.125MM per season (according to PuckPedia), he holds significant value. He would be an excellent addition for Buffalo. The 33-year-old just finished a career year with the Pens, scoring 31 goals and 34 assists in 71 games, and remains one of Pittsburgh’s key leaders. He is also a two-time Stanley Cup Champion who has scored crucial goals in important games. While Rust alone wouldn’t fetch a player like Peterka, the Penguins could consider trading Rust along with another roster player or include additional assets, such as the draft picks they have in abundance.

Another potential fit for Buffalo would be Rickard Rakell, who has three years remaining on his deal at $5MM annually (per PuckPedia). Like his teammate Rust, Rakell had a career year this past season, recording 35 goals and 35 assists in 81 games. Rakell has an eight-team no-trade list included in his deal with the Penguins, which could be an issue if the Sabres are on it. Rakell doesn’t bring the same intangible qualities as Rust and wouldn’t come close to netting the Penguins a player like Peterka. Still, when combined with several other pieces, he could be the centerpiece of a trade benefiting both teams.

The last player who could partake in a deal benefiting both teams is Erik Karlsson. The Sabres need a right-shot defender, and with limited options available, Karlsson is a potential target for them. This is the least likely scenario, considering Karlsson has a full no-movement clause and probably isn’t eager to join another team that might miss the playoffs. That said, the Sabres can offer a stronger roster (on paper) than the Penguins and have a more direct path back to contention.

Karlsson remains somewhat productive offensively, posting over 50 points in each of his two seasons with Pittsburgh. However, he carries a $10MM cap hit (per PuckPedia), and the Sabres likely won’t be eager to take on such a hefty salary for a 34-year-old defenseman who struggles defensively. That said, the Penguins have retention slots available and could absorb a significant portion of the deal to facilitate a trade.

Now, there is no chance that Karlsson brings the Penguins a player like Peterka; however, depending on the retention, it could result in them acquiring another RFA, such as forward Jack Quinn. This hypothetical would require many ’maybes’ to align, but it is just another example of how the Sabres and Penguins could find several mutually beneficial moves.

Finally, Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas has said he wants to get younger and find a left-side defenseman. Coincidentally, Buffalo has a player who fits both of those needs in Bowen Byram. The 24-year-old was the fourth overall pick in 2019 and possesses all the skills you’d expect in a top-pair defenseman. However, the gap between his skillset and his on-ice results has often been significant, although last season was better. However, some of his underlying numbers were not great. Byram set a career high with 38 points in 82 games, but struggled when playing alongside anyone other than Rasmus Dahlin. The Penguins don’t have a Dahlin or anyone similar, which could leave Byram exposed on the blueline – probably not advantageous for him or the team.

The Penguins and Sabres are two teams heading in different directions this summer and have been in other places for the past 15 years. While their trajectories might differ, this could be a situation where opposites attract, and perhaps even lead to a trade.

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