​The Buffalo Sabres face a crossroads as the NHL moves deeper into trade season, coming on the heels of the draft and the opening of free agency. With the departures of winger Alex Tuch and defenseman Bowen Byram, GM Jarmo Kekalainen will be looking to bolster the lineup and recoup the 44 goals they lost with those exits. In the coming weeks, we’ll explore a slate of potential options for the Sabres. Some of these moves may not replicate Tuch’s production, but any addition could relieve some of the pressure on the team’s rising young talents—Konsta Helenius, Jiri Kulich, and Noah Ostlund—as they shoulder the burden to close the scoring gap.
Among the possibilities, Kekalainen would ideally try to recapture as much of the 60-to-70 points Tuch contributed as possible, and another avenue could be a player who brings more sustained offensive punch, such as Detroit Red Wings winger Alex DeBrincat. The 28-year-old just completed a career-best 85-point season with Detroit, yet his contractual situation and the direction of the franchise may have GM Steve Yzerman weighing a trade that brings back representational value. DeBrincat was a second-round pick of the Chicago Blackhawks in 2016 and has been consistently productive over nine NHL seasons, recording at least 20 goals eight times and posting a career-high 41 goals in multiple seasons. The right-shot winger led Detroit with 15 power-play goals and could fit nicely into the Sabres’ top unit, filling the role Tuch vacated.
Detroit may be at a pivotal moment, with team captain Dylan Larkin reportedly seeking a trade and the possibility of restructuring around younger core players like Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond as Patrick Kane departs for elsewhere. DeBrincat is entering the final year of his four-year deal with a $7.875 million average annual value and carries a 16-team no-trade clause—factors that could influence the return Yzerman can command from other teams. The likelihood of obtaining NHL-ready assets improves if DeBrincat is moved before the season begins; deals closer to the deadline could yield more futures, which would align well with Buffalo’s current need to offset the loss of Tuch and Byram’s scoring punch. A move of this nature could also hinge on the status of Kane, who has previously been DeBrincat’s linemate in both Chicago and Detroit, and whose signing with Buffalo could affect DeBrincat’s willingness to relocate.
If Kane signs with Buffalo, there’s a plausible scenario in which DeBrincat would waive his no-trade clause to join the Sabres, or the reverse could occur. Unlike other free agents such as Anthony Mantha or Chris Kreider from Anaheim, DeBrincat’s acquisition would not come cheaply. Yzerman’s urgency to reset the Wings might prompt him to ask for young players such as Konsta Helenius or Noah Ostlund, though Kekalainen could pivot to constructing a deal around a player like Jack Quinn, who is under contract for the next season at $3.3 million, potentially delivering a favorable balance of immediate impact and long-term value for Buffalo.
In any case, the Sabres’ plan will need to address the gap left by Tuch’s and Byram’s departures. While a blockbuster like DeBrincat would represent a clear step forward, there are multiple routes to shore up the scoring and relieve the pressure on Buffalo’s younger forwards as they continue their development. The next few weeks should reveal whether Kekalainen pursues veteran scoring help, leans on a strategic swap with Detroit, or identifies a complementary asset who can contribute in a way that preserves the Sabres’ future cap flexibility and roster depth.