If the Sabres want to make a splash this offseason, they might need to trade this forward.
The expectation heading into the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline is that the Buffalo Sabres will aggressively look to improve their roster. After extending their playoff drought to 13 years, it is apparent that the Sabres need more talent.
The Sabres will search for both a top-six winger and a top-nine center this offseason. There is no question that their forward group could use more firepower, so they are expected to be aggressive in both free agency and the trade market.
However, if the Sabres hope to land an impactful player through trading, they will be forced to move at least one of their notable pieces. One specific young player who could be dealt in this scenario is forward Peyton Krebs.
Peyton Krebs
Krebs, 23, came up in the rumor mill leading up to the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline but ended up staying put. Yet, with the Sabres looking to get better, they could be willing to give up the 2019 first-round pick if it means landing an immediate upgrade.
Krebs struggled to produce offensively this past season, posting four goals and 17 points in 80 games. He did not take that next step in his development and struggled as the club’s 3C. Because of this, he could be made expendable for the right price.
Nevertheless, Krebs is a player to pay very close attention to during the summer. As a young forward with upside, he could garner trade interest around the league.