As the news breaks of a potential contract extension for Jeff Skinner, it appears that this is not all the Sabres have planned for this NHL trade window. Further reports suggest that the Sabres will now turn their attention to the trade window, with the team hoping to land a top six winger and a second line center.
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Reports also claim that the Buffalo Sabres have done their research on Jason Zucker, who is fresh from a 42 point season for Minnesota.
Improvement in Tail End of the season needed
The Buffalo Sabres actually had a great start to their campaign, with a 10 game winning streak propelling them to a 17-6-2 record. They sat in the playoff spots for much of the year, but an end season collapse cost them dearly. In fact, at one point, the Sabres were actually at 20-9-5, having only 13 game wins in regulation over their whole final 48 game stretch.
Skinner and Zucker: A good partnership?
A new eight-year deal for Skinner is very important for the Sabres. Although Skinner struggled towards the end of the season, just like the rest of the team, his quality is quite evident. And this new deal perhaps signifies a change of approach for the Sabres- a move away from a team that trades it’s best players to a team that intends keep it’s best players and builds the team around them.
The arrival of Zucker would lend even more weight to this theory. The left-handed frontman would play along with Kyle Okpososo, if he were placed on the second line.
The one to suffer would be Connor Sheary, who would probably be moved to the third line. And given two subpar seasons from the player, it can’t be said that he hasn’t had that coming.