Sabres Getting Strong Season From Trade Candidate Zucker

While the Buffalo Sabres could turn things around and fight for a playoff spot, a team that just had a massive losing streak doesn't often muster that kind of hockey up and go on to have success. The Sabres sit last in the Eastern Conference and are seven games under .500. It doesn't look good and moves have to be made.

All of the attention is on whether Dylan Cozens is going to be traded and where, but Jason Zucker has more quietly had a good season and is elevating his trade value. His physical style of hockey combined with his offensive ability that is on display this season is intriguing for a playoff-bound team.

As many know, the games get a lot more physical and tight checking in the playoffs, so Zucker is a player any team would love to have somewhere in their lineup.

Zucker is one of three Sabres forwards who will become UFAs after the season. The veteran has a $5 million AAV cap hit and has nine goals and 23 points in 35 games. He is keeping up with the young guns/top Sabres this season. He is tied for third in goals and tied in fourth in points on the team.

The Sabres should have veterans in the mix, but there are also a lot of young players trying to break in and move up the lineup. So much has been done and so much losing has happened to get the Sabres to this point and the team is still struggling greatly and taking steps backwards.

Zucker hasn't won a Stanley Cup and most likely wants to have more chances before his career is over, especially at his age and with the strong season he's having. If he isn't going to re-sign with this team that is highly unlikely to make the postseason, then the Sabres' best option is to trade him and get something in return. That is the likely outcome we will see closer to the deadline unless Buffalo has some trades cooking early.