The Buffalo Sabres have had a busy summer, but it wouldn’t be surprising if they were open to making one more move. It’s no secret that they could use another skilled winger before the start of the season, especially after coming close to acquiring Martin Necas from the Carolina Hurricanes earlier this summer.
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Unfortunately, since free agency began a month ago, every big-name player available has found a new home. So, if the Sabres want to add talent, the trade market may be their best bet.
One player the Sabres should keep a close eye on, either this summer or the season, is Calgary Flames winger Andrei Kuzmenko. The 28-year-old is entering the final season of his contract, and the Flames haven’t been afraid to trade players. Since last season, they’ve traded Elias Lindholm, Nikita Zadorov, Chris Tanev, Noah Hanifin, Andrew Mangiapane and Jacob Markstrom.
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Kuzmenko was one of the pieces the Flames acquired from the Vancouver Canucks in the Lindholm trade last season. At that point in the season, Kuzmenko’s production was a bit below his standards, as he recorded eight goals and 21 points in 43 games. However, after being traded to the Flames, he was wonderful, scoring 14 goals and 25 points in 28 games.
In addition to his post-trade production with the Flames, Kuzmenko also proved he can be an impactful top-six forward during his rookie year with the Canucks. In 81 games during the 2022-23 season, he scored 39 goals and added 74 points.
If the Sabres were to acquire Kuzmenko, he would have the potential to give their top-six team and power play a nice boost. Therefore, if the Flames make him available during the offseason or regular season, the Sabres should keep him on their radar.
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