Report: Buffalo Sabres Trade Deadline Plans Looking Different Than Expected

Dylan Cozens. Bowen Byram. Alex Tuch. So much of the talk leading up to the trade deadline this week has centered around those names and the Buffalo Sabres. The team is having another hugely disappointing season, and are about to extend their NHL record for consecutive seasons missing the playoffs to 14. Big changes have been expected for a couple of months now.

But a funny thing has happened on their way to the March 7th deadline: The Sabres have yet to make any earth-shattering moves. Insider Pierre LeBrun explains in The Athletic:

The Sabres are sellers … albeit sellers wary of selling distressed assets below market value. They’ve received plenty of interest in 24-year-old forward Dylan Cozens and 23-year-old defenseman Bowen Byram but haven’t found a suitor willing to make an appealing player-for-player deal involving either. The same goes for veteran winger Alex Tuch... Unless something bigger comes together, though, Buffalo is most likely to move out some rentals.

JJ Peterka is one of the notable pending UFAs that have garnered plenty of interest on the market lately, though Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli has noted that the Sabres have rejected calls on him thus far.

LeBrun mentions a couple of other names of the rental variety that GM Kevyn Adams could look to deal, including Jordan Greenway and Henri Jokiharju.

With Greenway, we also heard talk last week that the Sabres were looking into signing the pending UFA to an extension. And for the player's part, he truly wants to stay in Buffalo:

“My experience here has been unreal,” Greenway said. “I love this group. I love the direction that Kevyn, Lindy (Ruff), the direction they’re trying to go. I’m all in. Being an older guy trying to help the young guys do what it takes, let them know, show them what it takes to make the playoffs and this and that, it’s inspiring. I really enjoy it. The city, playing here, it’s been truly a great experience. I would love to be here next year.”

The sizeable (6'6", 230 lbs) winger has shown his mettle since returning from an injury that kept him out for two months.

Both Gudas and Johnston try to take out Greenway. Both fail miserably

pic.twitter.com/dcLJuUfgEs
— 2 Goalies 1 Mic (@2Goalies1Mic) February 26, 2025

As for Jokiharju, he was scratched over the weekend, and a trade is very likely in the offing.

Henri Jokiharju is a scratch for the #LetsGoBuffalo tonight. Not sure if it's specifically for trade related purposes, but the Sabres are trying to move him.
— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) March 1, 2025