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The Buffalo Sabres will be worth watching as the March 7 trade deadline approaches.
GM Kevyn Adams has attempted to bolster his roster but has been unsuccessful so far. Meanwhile, center Dylan Cozens, right winger Alex Tuch and defenseman Bowen Byram have surfaced in the rumor mill as trade candidates.
Lance Lysowski of The Buffalo News believes the upcoming NHL trade deadline will be among the notable storylines for the Sabres. He indicated that Adams wants to make a hockey trade like the one he made last season when he acquired Byram from the Colorado Avalanche for Casey Mittelstadt.
The Sabres aren’t interested in offers of draft picks and prospects. However, Lysowski believes they might have to accept those returns for Jordan Greenway and Jason Zucker if the UFA-eligible forwards aren’t re-signed by March 7.
Lysowski and Mike Harrington felt the Sabres should re-sign Byram. The 23-year-old defenseman is an RFA this summer with arbitration rights. Harrington thinks he could earn an average annual value of at least $9 million on his next contract.
Harrington also thinks the Sabres should retain Cozens. He indicated that the high number of calls they’re getting from other clubs suggests the type of player he could become.
Related: NHL Trade Deadline: Could A Change Of Scenery Benefit Four Notable Players?
Meanwhile, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman’s recent report claiming Detroit Red Wings forward Vladimir Tarasenko could be available caught the attention of MLive.com’s Ansar Khan. He doesn’t see the Red Wings selling at the deadline, but they could move a player for one who could help them now.
Tarasenko, 33, signed a two-year contract last summer with the Wings. The average annual value is $4.5 million and includes a full no-trade clause for this season. He’s struggled to score, with just seven goals and 15 assists in 53 games.
Khan cited a subsequent report by Friedman suggesting a reunion between Tarasenko and the Florida Panthers. He helped them win the Stanley Cup last season after being acquired from the Ottawa Senators before the trade deadline.
To make that happen, Khan believes the Wings must retain salary. He doesn’t see them packaging Tarasenko with a draft pick or prospect to move him. It’s doubtful the Panthers will try to bring him back as their blueline depth is a more pressing need. He could also become a contract buyout candidate in June.
Related: Detroit Red Wings’ Trust In The Young Talent Fuelled Their Revival
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