It was a strange feeling to be a Buffalo Sabres fan on trade deadline day this season. For once, they were not selling, and they weren’t stuck in limbo, wondering if they should buy or sell. Instead, they were just buyers, through and through, adding pieces to their roster that will help them in their playoff hunt and in their very possible playoff run. As the deadline has now passed, it is time to take a quick look back at the players and pieces that were moved in and out of the Sabres’ organization.
Sabres Acquire Stanley and Schenn
The Sabres made their “big splash” early in the morning on March 6, when they acquired defenders Logan Stanley and Luke Schenn from the Winnipeg Jets, in exchange for forward prospect Isak Rosen, depth defenseman Jacob Bryson, a 2026 fourth-round pick and a 2027 second-round pick. While it is a bit of a step down from the rumored trade for St. Louis Blues defender Colton Parayko, acquiring Stanley and Schenn accomplishes a similar goal for the Sabres. It makes them tougher, their blue line bigger, and it allows their already thriving top four defenders to continue the chemistry that they have been clicking with in the last few weeks.
Both players come from good pedigrees as they were both first-round picks in their draft years (Schenn, fifth overall in 2008, and Stanley, 18th overall in 2016). While neither has ever been an offensive force in their career so far, they both bring an element of physicality, grit, and (most importantly) playoff experience to this Sabres group. Schenn has played in a total of 58 playoff games, and that has resulted in winning two Stanley Cups, both with the Tampa Bay Lightning (2020 and 2021). Stanley has less experience with his 17 playoff games, but in his time in Winnipeg, he has garnered enough experience to know what it takes to win and understand how a team can crumble.
Realistically, both will not be playing once they arrive, barring an injury to one of the core defenders, but having an NHL-caliber defender at the ready as the alternate is much more reassuring than needing to call up a prospect from Rochester. The trade fills a need and makes them heavier to play against in an already heavy bracket. General manager Jarmo Kekalainen gets a solid A grade for this trade.
Sabres Deepen Forward Group With Carrick
The second move that the Sabres made was to deepen their forward group, while addressing one of their biggest issues to date: faceoffs. They traded for forward Sam Carrick from the New York Rangers in exchange for a 2026 third-round pick and a 2026 sixth-round pick. Carrick slots in and likely replaces one of the Sabres’ bottom three forwards (more than likely Josh Dunne or Tyson Kozak) and will be one of their key faceoff men when they need important draw wins.
He has won 53.9% of his faceoffs this season and 52% in his career, so with the Sabres having him as an option to win more possessions, expect to see him out on the ice plenty. As a 34-year-old veteran forward, he will be a good presence to have in the room and an anchor forward out on the ice for sure. Perfect pickup that addressed a key problem, and no important assets were dropped for it. A+ grade for this trade.
Sabres’ Final Piece Was to Add Pearson
Much later in the day, the Sabres made a second deal with the Jets for forward Tanner Pearson, when they traded a 2026 seventh-round pick for him. This move gives them more flexibility in their bottom six and another player with good playoff experience in their lineup. He was a big part of the Los Angeles Kings’ Stanley Cup-winning run in 2014 as he contributed a rock-solid 12 points in 24 games, and in his career has amassed 24 points in 59 career playoff games.
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Pearson is a versatile winger that can be used in the Sabres’ bottom-six forward group. Whether he will be used alongside Carrick on the fourth line or elsewhere will remain to be seen, but he can play a Swiss Army knife role and be wherever the Sabres need him to be. For the cheap price that was paid for him, he is an outstanding pickup, but with how solid their forward group has been performing, I am not sure he was completely needed. I give a B for the grade on this one.
Final Thoughts
As a whole, the Sabres had a productive enough trade deadline day. They addressed the holes that they had in their lineup without disrupting the flow of the team they had in hand, and they moved out assets that they will not necessarily miss in the long run. While the biggest piece moved out was Rosen, he ultimately was in need of a change of scenery since he was not going to be able to make it onto the crowded Sabres roster. The Sabres are on their way to making their historic playoff drought end, and exciting times are just ahead.
