The Buffalo Sabres have been abysmal in the past 14 seasons. They've missed the playoffs during that span and sent star players to different teams. That includes the Vegas Golden Knights (Thank you for Jack Eichel!) and the Ottawa Senators (Dylan Cozens has three goals and six assists in 12 games with the Senators entering Monday).
This season is no different, for they're not a part of a tight Eastern Conference playoff race. Sure, having a plethora of goal-scorers and puck-moving defensemen sounds nice. But 68 points and being dead-last in the Atlantic Division isn't going to cut it. Life is certainly unfair, isn't it?
That means it's time for the annual Buffalo tradition. No, it isn't watching Josh Allen lose to Patrick Mahomes in the playoffs. That's slightly more painful than this. Instead, it's gifting 31 other NHL teams their various superstars. Grab your plate of buffalo wings because it's time to dive into more trade rumors!
Who's on the chopping block this time? Could it be the lanky Tage Thompson, who can scale Niagara Falls in one step? Perhaps it's Rasmus Dahlin and his royally unique facial features. Maybe a "Misfit" reunion with Alex Tuch? The answer: None of the above. Instead, it's a German forward who's 23 years old.
Could JJ Peterka be on the Vegas Golden Knights radar this summer?
According to Heavy.com, a trade proposal was recently brought up regarding JJ Peterka (23 goals and 36 assists this season). The deal would involve significant capital going to the Buffalo Sabres, including three players.
Both Nicolas's would go to Buffalo to possibly start their golfing in April while Jack Quinn and Peterka come to Las Vegas. Both Peterka and Quinn are restricted free agents after this season and aren't arbitration-eligible. Sounds good, right?
After all, Quinn has 14 goals and 20 assists this season. He's also 23 years old and would bolster the wing depth for the Vegas Golden Knights. Meanwhile, Roy's contract goes off the books (depending on salary retention), meaning Buffalo's responsible for him until 2027. As for Hague and Holtz? They're both restricted free agents, with only Hague being arbitration-eligible.
Why the Buffalo Sabres won't budge
Remember when the Sabres set astronomical trade prices for their players during the trade deadline? They wanted a haul for players such as Dylan Cozens, JJ Peterka, and others. That will likely apply here, especially after the franchise didn't forget about the Jack Eichel trade.
Now look at the other side of things. What does Kelly McCrimmon have in the farm system? What about draft picks? There's not as much as fans think there is. For prospects, they're either too young or won't have a role in the NHL. That's the state of the Golden Knights franchise where they're competing for yet another Stanley Cup.
Plus, McCrimmon has stated he's comfortable with the roster's current build. Of course, things can change. However, this looks like it'll stick for the next couple of seasons, sans a few signings. Besides, other priorities loom, including extending Eichel. What good would it do if you got another young superstar and kicked the other to the curb?
Therefore, take this trade proposal with a grain of salt. It would be hilarious to see the Sabres give the Golden Knights yet another young superstar so they can flourish. Imagine Buffalo going another 14 years without sniffing the Stanley Cup playoffs. However, it seems they want to hold onto their young superstar for a while, giving McCrimmon a price he can't even match.