Buffalo Sabres' Top Trade Candidate This Season

The Buffalo Sabres have a massive amount of cap space to work with this season and they are on the cusp of finally breaking their playoff drought. They have won five games in a row and sit one spot and a few points back of the final wildcard spot.

With just over a month until the trade deadline, the Sabres have set themselves up to be big buyers, not only to help them this season, but down the line as well. They have been linked to some high-level players that they could have under contract for many more seasons that would also help them gain an advantage in the playoff race this season. There isn't any need to move out cap this season, but they will likely be looking to move a player the other way in any big deal they do to free up a roster spot.

So who is the prime candidate to move? The team has three goalies in the NHL which isn't ideal because it takes away from an extra skater and the Sabres can only dress two per game. A need for a goalie like Craig Anderson could become available if a backup gets injured. His .919 save percentage at age 41 is impressive for a team that lacks defensively. A team like the New York Rangers could have a look since their veteran backup goalie Jaroslav Halak has been a disappointment. But Anderson can also be a fallback option for the Sabres too.

The Sabres have made Vinnie Hinostroza available, but no team bit before they inevitably sent him down to the AHL. A young player of interest could be Rasmus Asplund. He has had his moments over the past two seasons, but finds himself out of the lineup and has played just 25 games, scoring two goals and eight points. He's 25 years old and could be given a better opportunity on a rebuilding team if he is part of a package to acquire a better player this season.