theathleticuk
The Buffalo Sabres ability to defend their Atlantic Division title just got tougher.
The Florida Panthers swung a blockbuster trade with the Ottawa Senators on Sunday, acquiring Brady Tkachuk for three first-round picks and a second-round pick.
Tkachuk forcing his way to Florida to play with his brother Matthew changes the balance of power in what is already arguably the NHLs deepest division.
Yes, the Senators got weaker.
But the Panthers, who missed the playoffs this season after winning the Stanley Cup two straight years, are going to be back with a vengeance.
An injury-riddled season for Florida allowed for a changing of the guard in the division, but the Panthers will now have an even stronger lineup for at least the next few seasons.
Advertisement So, as we enter the most important two-week stretch of the offseason, what does the Tkachuk blockbuster mean for Buffalo? 1.
Should this change how Sabres view Alex Tuch and Bowen Byram situations? Alex Tuch is now less than two weeks away from being able to hit unrestricted free agency as the top forward on the market in a league flush with cap space.
The door is not closed on Tuch returning to Buffalo, even if the signs have been pointing toward him hitting the open market.
TSNs Darren Dreger reported Monday morning that the Sabres are circling back to re-engage with Tuch about a possible extension.
Deadlines always spur action, and thats the case here.
When the decision approaches, will Tuch decide that staying in Buffalo is the best situation for his family? Will he take a little less to stay with the Sabres as they enter a window of contention? Brock Boeser ended up doing something similar last summer, sticking around in Vancouver after testing the market.
The question, though, is whether the Sabres should bend a bit on their price in light of the Tkachuk news.
There is a world and a price where bringing Tuch back makes sense.
The Sabres are wise to keep that door open and try to find some common ground.
That doesnt mean they should be desperate.
I still think a $10 million cap hit is too much for Tuch on a long-term deal here.
But the Sabres cant be eager to get worse right now.
That same thinking applies to Bowen Byram on a different scale.
It seems like convincing him to sign a long-term extension would require a bit of an overpay.
Who knows if theres a number that would convince him to forego unrestricted free agency next summer.
Maybe there isnt one.
There is always the option to hang onto him and keep him for the final year of his deal.
Getting value would be ideal, but the trade has to make the Sabres better in the short term.
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Should they gear up for a big trade? Jarmo Kekalainen has already been heavily involved in some big trade discussions.
Around the trade deadline, he was close to acquiring Blues defenseman Colton Parayko.
The Sabres were also tied to St.
Louis center Robert Thomas ahead of the deadline, too.
The Sabres have some limitations when it comes to fishing for a trade.
No-trade clauses dont work in their favor the same way they do for Vegas and Florida.
Even a star player like Jason Robertson, who is a restricted free agent, can control his next destination by refusing to sign an extension.
That makes the work harder for Kekalainen and his staff, but not impossible.
Some younger players, like Ducks center Mason McTavish, dont have no-movement clauses yet.
Neither does Leafs winger Matthew Knies.
Blues winger Jordan Kyrou is from Ontario.
Maybe that, combined with the Sabres recent success, is enough to convince him to waive his trade protection.
Not every big-name player is going to need warm weather and low taxes.
But almost everyone is going to need to see that youre a franchise thats serious about winning.
Thats what has accelerated this trend of Vegas and Florida becoming destinations.
Thats why the Sabres cant afford to sit idle and take a step back.
Without those other advantages, consistent winning is going to matter more than ever.
The league got a taste of what Buffalo is like when the Sabres are in the playoffs.
Thats going to be this franchises best selling point.
3.
Should Sabres hold onto their young centers? Konsta Helenius, Jiri Kulich and Noah Ostlund are three names that likely come up a lot in trade talks when Kekalainen is inquiring about the biggest names on the market.
Those three young centers have shown a ton of potential in a small sample of NHL action.
They are some of the most attractive trade assets the organization has.
But unless moving one of them returns a top-line difference-maker, the Sabres have to be selective about putting them in play.
If this trend of star players picking their spots continues, the Sabres need to stay grounded in drafting and developing their own players and convincing them to stick around.
The collective bargaining agreement still gives teams a lot of control when it comes to younger players.
Helenius, Ostlund and Kulich dont have the power that Quinn Hughes or the Tkachuks did.
If Helenius, Ostlund and Kulich all continue to develop, that could put the Sabres in the strongest position over the next few years.
Id be trying to keep at least two of them, if not all three.
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Zach Benson should still be a priority Kevin Weekes reported Friday that the Sabres were close to signing Zach Benson to a seven-year contract extension worth $7 million per year.
Three days later, no deal has been signed yet.
That salary number seemed low to me, but well see what happens this week.
Either way, this should still be the Sabres top priority ahead of the draft.
Its possible the prevalence of no-trade clauses, a weak free-agent class and a rising salary cap push teams to finally utilize offer sheets as a means of acquiring talent.
The Sabres cant risk another team trying to pry Benson away with an offer sheet.
Hes one of their most important players and a big key to them being a real contender the next few years.
5.
What about Connor Hellebuyck? Everyone is eyeing the Team USA stars who are leading the charge when it comes to players taking control of their careers.
Winnipeg goalie Connor Hellebuyck has been in trade rumors since his end-of-season media availability.
He has five years left on a contract with an $8.5 million cap hit.
He has a full no-movement clause, but the Sabres could be an attractive spot for him given their recent success.
The Sabres arent going to be able to accumulate enough star forwards to match the Panthers.
But can they beat them with a strong blue line and an elite goalie? That could be one answer to what Florida is building.
What will be fascinating over the next few years is how the rest of the NHL responds to the star talent converging on a handful of teams.
Carolina has lower taxes and warmer weather, but its not as glamorous a locale as Florida and Vegas.
But the Hurricanes won the Cup because of a commitment to a team identity under Rod BrindAmour and a relentless accumulation of value by general manager Eric Tulsky.
That team won with depth built through finding undervalued players.
It also won with a system that requires a specific set of characteristics that Tulsky and his staff identified in outside additions.
The Sabres can follow that model, but the point is, there will be other ways to win beyond what Vegas and Florida are doing.
Riding an elite goalie to success hasnt been a proven formula in the modern NHL, but the Sabres have a strong roster to support that elite goalie.
If the big trades at other positions dont pan out, maybe Hellebuyck is worth considering.
6.
Why Sabres are fortunate The Sabres have a lot to figure out over the next couple of weeks if they are going to maximize their window.
This is a complicated offseason.
But its not as messy an offseason as the one the Senators and Red Wings are dealing with elsewhere in the division.
The Sabres were in that spot with Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart asking to be traded.
But things didnt get to that point with Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin.
Would another season of losing have pushed Thompson to follow the lead of some of his USA teammates? The Sabres never had to find out.
And as long as they keep winning, they shouldnt have to.
Yes, Tuch and Byram might end up elsewhere.
But the Sabres have Mattias Samuelsson and Owen Power locked up long-term.
They have a wave of young forwards coming.
They have enough talent to open up a window of contention for the next few years.
Thats a better place to be than wondering if your captain is going to request a trade.