Originally Posted by
The Hockey Writers
The Buffalo Sabres have made some NHL draft-day moves in recent memory, but general manager Kevyn Adams has mostly stayed away from big-name splashes since he took over in 2020. However, this year’s draft could be different.
For the first time in years, the Sabres are in a very good position heading into the NHL Entry Draft and will be looking to do everything they can to continue the upward trend. Their youth movement is burgeoning, and several players could make the jump to the NHL in the fall. As a result, space will have to be cleared, and next Wednesday could be the ideal time. With the draft just a week away, here are three Sabres who could be dealt while management is in Nashville.
Jacob Bryson
Since he made his debut during the COVID-shortened 2021 season, Jacob Bryson has proven himself to be a solid and reliable two-way defenseman but has struggled to stand out against bigger names in Buffalo’s overcrowded defensive corps. He’s not a big offensive contributor, but his strong skating and puck management allow him to move up ice without sacrificing positional play and he rarely takes penalties, which teams could find alluring.
Unfortunately for the former Providence College Friar, the Sabres are overloaded with left-handed defensemen (even more so now that Ryan Johnson has been added to the mix) and might be looking for another right-hander to balance it out. Also, there’s a chance that Adams will bring in an experienced veteran to give direction to the young group.
At just 25 years old, Bryson has considerable upside, but so far he hasn’t factored into Buffalo’s plans; he had to fight to keep his spot in the top-six all season. If the Sabres decide to move him, he could command a decent return and give them more flexibility. With one year and $1.85 million remaining on his contract, he would be an easily affordable piece to help another team add versatility to their blue line.
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