Buffalo Sabres
· 2026-06-25
The Buffalo Sabres have been active in the NHL offseason, trading key players to strengthen their roster.
General manager Jarmo Kekäläinen traded Bowen Byram and Jordan Greenway to the Chicago Blackhawks.
Byram, a key player for the 2025-26 team, didn't intend to sign a long-term contract in Buffalo.
Kekäläinen said Byram didn't want to negotiate and wouldn't sign with the Sabres.
The Sabres received the fourth- and 45th-overall picks and defenseman Louis Crevier in the trade.
The trade gives the Sabres valuable draft picks, including the fourth overall pick.
The Sabres also traded Alex Tuch to the Washington Capitals, receiving a third-round pick.
Tuch signed an eight-year contract with the Capitals after the trade.
The Sabres have seven picks in the 2026 NHL Draft, including the fourth and 20th overall picks.
The team signed Zach Benson to a seven-year extension, keeping the 21-year-old winger in Buffalo.
The Sabres are currently second in the Eastern Conference with a 50-23 record, having lost their last game 2-3 to the Montreal Canadiens on May 18.
And with free agency opening on July 1, the Sabres will look to make more moves to improve their roster.
But for now, the team is focused on the draft and making the most of their picks.
So the Sabres will look to make a splash in the draft and set themselves up for success next season.
The team's recent trades have given them a strong foundation to build on.
Kekäläinen has made it clear that he wants to sign key players and make the Sabres a competitive team.
The Sabres' fans will be watching closely to see what happens next.
The team's performance will depend on how well they utilize their draft picks and make moves in free agency.