As one of the most disappointing teams in the NHL for many seasons now, the Buffalo Sabres need to make extensive roster changes this summer. And an intriguing target for the Sabres could be an Anaheim Ducks youngster in need of a change of employer — left winger Trevor Zegras.
The 24-year Zegras has stuggled to live up to expectations in Anaheim since signing a three-year contract extension in 2023 that pays him an average annual value of $5.75-million. Zegras posted two consecutive seasons of 23 goals and at least 61 points from 2021-23, but injuries limited him to only 31 games in 2023-24 (when he posted only six goals and 15 points), and last season, he generated only 12 goals and 31 points in 54 games.
But now that he’s entering a contract year, Zegras will have all the motivation in the world to rebound and prove himself at least worthy of the same salary moving forward. And that’s where the Sabres should be looking to pounce. Buffalo can offer Zegras a golden opportunity to rebound, and given that Zegras doesn’t have any no-move or no-trade protection in his current deal, he wouldn’t have any say in where the Ducks deal him.
Zegras hasn’t become an ineffective NHLer because his skills have suddenly left him. But like more than a few young players, a change of teams could be just the thing he needs to revitalize his career. And while the Sabres wouldn’t get Zegras on the cheap in any trade, the risk-reward involved in acquiring him would work in Buffalo’s favor. And the Sabres have long been rumored to be interested in landing Zegras.
Indeed, if Buffalo trades for Zegras and he doesn’t pan out, they’re under no contractual obligation to him beyond the coming season. He’s going to be an RFA at the end of next year, so he’s still under team control for some time to come. And if things go really bad for him, the Sabres could look to deal him at next year’s trade deadline.
Sabres Should Be Focusing On Trading For This Veteran Stanley Cup-WinnerThe Buffalo Sabres are in need of many things this summer — but more than anything else, they need some veterans to come in and establish a winning standard for a new era for the franchise. And while it won’t be a cakewalk to acquire the type of talent that can change things for the Sabres, that doesn’t mean Buffalo GM Kevyn Adams shouldn’t be swinging for the fences in trades and free agency.
Zegras wouldn’t be the first youngster to bounce around early in his playing days, but we’re getting too far ahead of ourselves. The main reason Buffalo needs to explore acquiring him in a trade is because there’s still plenty of time for him to salvage a reputation as someone who can be a key long-term component on a team with legitimate playoff aspirations.
We can debate who the Sabres would have to trade to land Zegras in a deal, but some combination of young player and draft pick would probably accomplish the goal of satisfying Ducks Gm Pat Verbeek’s asking price. And really, the goal for Verbeek should be to get out from under the final year of Zegras’ contract. They can’t expect Buffalo to trade them an elite player, because they’re not necessarily getting one back in Zegras.
Sabres Won’t Land Maple Leafs’ Marquee Free Agents — But They Can Set Their Sights On This Young Leafs Player Via TradeThe Buffalo Sabres have $23.2 million in salary cap space to play with this summer. But for reasons we’ve covered in this THN.com article, Sabres fans can forget about acquiring Toronto Maple Leafs star and UFA right winger Mitch Marner. It’s just not happening, folks. Marner probably isn’t coming back to Toronto, but he’s damn sure not coming to a team that hasn’t made the playoffs in nearly a decade-and-a-half. And the same goes for Leafs UFA center John Tavares, who is going to happily accept a major pay cut from the $11-million he made this year if it means staying with his beloved hometown Leafs.
In any case, Sabres GM Kevyn Adams needs to be a busy guy on the trade and free-agent front this summer, and pinpointing players who are achievable targets should put Zegras on their radar. He may no longer be the surefire difference-maker many believed he’d be when he had his breakout seasons, but Zegras still has enough upside to merit the investment Buffalo would have to make to make him a Sabre.
It’s a matter of making a deal that limits the risk for Buffalo and maximizes the opportunity for a player who has already had a decent deal of success. If Adams can do that and Zegras becomes a player the Sabres can build with, the price Buffalo pays to acquire him will be well worth it.
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