Fans have been waiting for some time for the Sabres to make a big move, and that move might be on the horizon.

The Buffalo Sabres have had an intensely disappointing season. There were high hopes for the club to end their 13-year playoff drought, but those hopes have all but disappeared. They are currently last in the Eastern Conference and a whopping 14 points out of the final playoff spot. It would take a drastic and unprecedented turnaround for the Sabres to end the drought.

Many experts, let alone fans, had concerns for the team entering the year. While they added some depth pieces to their bottom six forward lines, they are lacking in top 6 talent. It's shown that the team is very inconsistent in scoring goals, let alone defending against them. Many felt like they needed to add at least one high-quality forward for them to compete, and it appears they need at least one, if not more.

General Manager Kevyn Adams has failed to bring in more talent, even at one point this season saying that players around the league don't want to come to Buffalo because it lacks Palm Trees. There's probably some truth to that, but ultimately, winning is what matters, and the Sabres have done very little of that over the past 13+ years.

Even if, or when, this season ends with another year of missing the playoffs, the problem of high-end forward talent remains. Their prospects have not developed quickly enough or well enough to rely on. They will need someone with a ton of skill who has a proven trackdx record.

The Sabres may have found that player.

Will Buffalo Sabres Pull Off A Massive Trade?

Rumors have been persistent that the Sabres are interested in Vancouver Canucks star center Elias Pettersson. Pettersson is only 26 years old but has played in 450 NHL games, racking up 443 points. He has scored 30 or more goals in each of the last 3 seasons and averages almost a point per game. He won the Calder Memorial Trophy for Rookie of the Year in 2019.

Petterson is not producing at the level Vancouver expects right now and has had some injury concerns, too. He is in the first year of 8 year over a $100 Million contract, but he does not have a no-movement clause currently. That doesn't kick in until the summer.

To get Pettersson, most experts say teams would have to give up a lot. After all, this is a player who had over 100 points just 2 years ago. The Sabres would have to consider moving players like Dylan Cozens, Bo Byrum, Owen Power, and other highly regarded prospects for Petterson. However, the Sabres are deep at defense, and Cozens, while highly thought of around the league, has very much struggled over the past 2 seasons and might need a change of scenery.

Also, Petterson is a fan and former teammate of Sabres' Captain Ramus Dahlin

Would you make a blockbuster trader for Petterson? Let me know: Pat@WBUF.com

I think they should, yes. This team is broken. There are good players on it, but the Sabres are desperate for a change and the talent isn't good enough to overcome mistakes. This team has been called soft by myself and others, but they are also simply not good enough to win consistently.

I don't believe the Sabres are talented enough as they are, and that should not be a controversial take. Look at their record. I believe they put too much stock in the players they've drafted and need to use them, while others still buy that these players have value, to acquire proven talent. If they were disciplined and mentally tough, they could overcome a lack of talent, but they aren't and need to bring in players that raise the bar in skill so the toughness can hopefully follow.

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Gallery Credit: Brett Alan

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