What It Will Take To Acquire Sabres' Erik Johnson At Trade Deadline

The Buffalo Sabres are going to have a tough time getting pack in the playoff race this season as they are nine points back of the final wildcard spot and have zero games in hand. They had a tough start and haven't looked like the team from last season. It appears as though they will be sellers at the trade deadline that is quickly approaching, and there are some pieces to move. One player to keep an eye on is Erik Johnson.

The veteran defender was brought in as a free agent on a one-year deal to help the younger defenseman on the team. He is a solid defender and with all of the talent on the team, it is tough to see him signing another contract with the Sabres before the trade deadline and sticking around longer. That means the Sabres will be smart to move him for what they can get. According to Jason Moser, Buffalo might get a third-round pick if they opt to move Johnson.

Johnson is definitely nearing the end of his career at age 35 and he is playing just over 14 minutes a game for the Sabres. He has gotten into 41 games this season, and for a contender in need of depth, a veteran like Johnson who has hoisted the Stanley Cup is the perfect target that shouldn't cost a ton. Some teams are just looking for a couple minor upgrades and a third is worth the cost to ensure if someone goes down in the playoffs, the team isn't going to collapse from the back-end.