Yet Another Branch for the Rick Martin Trade Tree

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I wouldn’t have expected this trade tree to require another update so soon, but former first round pick Ryan Johnson was dealt to the Pittsburgh Penguins, necessitating yet another update.

Options for additional growth continue to dwindle, with Johnson and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen as the two most likely candidates to bring new additions to this trade tree. The best case scenario for Johnson would have seen him packaged in a larger deal, one that might bring about several new names, draft picks or prospects that could really juice the longevity of the tree. His individual value was quite low, as illustrated by the deal that brought back Caleb Jones and Daniel Laatsch, but it wasn’t out of the question to consider him as a throw-in on a bigger offseason trade (think makeweight in the Bowen Byram deal).

This branch isn’t likely to grow further as both Jones and Laatsch are free agents this coming summer and won’t garner much in the trade market as minor league defenders. That leaves Luukkonen, Tage Thompson and 2025 7th round pick Melvin Novotny as the final active pieces on the trade tree. Obviously, Luukkonen’s name has been in trade rumors dating back to the offseason. It’s certainly possible that he is moved in the next two seasons. Thompson is about as close to untouchable as anyone in Buffalo’s system, but the potential for him to move could grow as his contract winds down. He has three years left after this season and he turns 29 in two weeks. He could be much more expendable in a year or two depending on how the roster evolves around him, though he’s still the least likely of the active players remaining on the trade tree to move.

Branches Still Grow on the Rick Martin Trade Tree

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We were awfully close to another blockbuster springing a new branch on the Rick Martin (and Don Edwards) trade tree this summer. Had the Connor Hellebuyck trade gone down as it was reported – with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen as a piece going back to the Winnipeg Jets – the trade tree would have grown a large new branch. While that trade didn’t come to fruition, another deal did add a new piece to this trade tree which can be traced all the way back to March of 1981, when Rick Martin was traded to the LA Kings.

The newest branch was thanks to the signing rights trade of Stiven Sardarian to the Carolina Hurricanes on August 17. There are sill a few opportunities for this tree to grow, though the options are slowly dwindling as draft picks go unsigned and veterans age out.

Kickstart for Next Canalside Development Must Follow Residential Progress

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At long last, the entire North Aud Block site is under construction, marking a significant milestone in the decades-long pursuit of developing Buffalo’s waterfront. 

Now that the increasingly controversial Pennrose project is underway, and Heritage Point has picked up pace, the entire footprint of the former Memorial Auditorium site is on track to be filled. That leaves the East Canal Block – sandwiched between One Canalside and Harborcenter – and the Canalside parcels bounded by Main, Scott, Lloyd and Prime Streets left undeveloped. While the Aud Block was the most prominent development site within Canalside due to the gaping hole that once housed the arena, the remaining parcels may hold the most promise. 

I think it’s important to consider the development of Canalside as a key influence on a larger arena and entertainment district centered around KeyBank Center and the water. Between Canalside, the arena, the Cobblestone District and the river, there is a year-round confluence of activity that goes well beyond the nights the arena is in use. Despite the years of starts and stops, the area as a whole is oozing with potential as a key entertainment destination for residents and tourists alike. With the two residential projects underway and the Golisano Institute set to occupy The Buffalo News building, there is momentum to build upon in and around Canalside. 

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Not Worth A Nickel

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Move over Turdburger, you’ve got company. 

The Bills unveiled their “Nickel City” alternate jerseys on Monday, ending months of leaks and rumors about the design of the jersey and beginning a torrent of negative reviews of the, drab, uninspiring uniforms. 

It’s hard to pick a spot to begin with this uniform. The gray jerseys and pants, paired with a royal blue helmet emblazoned with the red charge from the team’s primary logo is a significant deviation from the team’s primary home and away uniforms. It’s an odd pairing when you see it all together. The all-royal helmet sharply contrasts the drab gray jersey and pants and not in a beneficial way. Nothing about the two elements are complementary to each other. The jerseys are effectively a recolored version of the team’s current home and away uniforms, which are rooted in a very traditional design. Meanwhile, the helmet is a new, dare I say futuristic spin on the team’s primary logo. That makes for a stark contrast between a modern helmet and a traditional jersey. I compared it to pairing an Oregon helmet with Penn State’s uniforms. 

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Bills Are Wise to Reconsider Involvement in Developing Stadium Site

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The future of the former site of Highmark Stadium is in flux as the old stadium comes down. While the initial plan to place parking on the former site was logical as a one-for-one replacement for the lots covered by the new stadium, the evolution of the site has created an opportunity for a more diverse use. 

The Bills have already announced that the former administration building will not be demolished and now the Bills appear ready to join the redevelopment process around the new stadium. This should have been the case all along. The prior lack of development around the stadium has been well documented and there are numerous hurdles in front of both Hamburg and Orchard Park with the new stadium just weeks away from hosting its first event. This is especially true in Orchard Park, a town that has languished without any sort of interesting or useful development within their borders for decades. While the villages of East Aurora and Hamburg have enjoyed a surge in activity, Orchard Park has been largely stagnant with only an Olive Garden-adjacent restaurant to show for their efforts. It’s an uninspiring track record for those hoping that additional development springs up around the new Highmark Stadium. 

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Draft Day Musings After a Busy Week

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The 2026 NHL Draft kicks off this evening and round one will cap a whirlwind week across the league. It’s been a while since we’ve seen a flurry of moves of this magnitude and it’s been highly entertaining to track. Over the last seven days Bowen Byram, William Eklund, Jordan Kyrou, Simon Nemec, Valeri Nichushkin and Brady Tkachuk have changed teams and eight first round draft picks have changed hands. 

The rumor mill has been running at full tilt all week and has shown no signs of slowing down. If things fall the right way, we may even be treated to a few big moves during Friday’s first round. With GMs putting the pedal to the floor on offseason moves, I wanted to offer up a collection of thoughts related to this past week’s action and what is on the horizon for the Sabres and around the league. 

The Robertson Saga

Elliotte Friedman reported on Thursday that Jason Robertson had turned down a sign-and-trade offer that would have rewarded him with an eight-year, $15 million contract with Seattle. Later reports suggested that he had also vetoed an extension with the St. Louis Blues. His rejection of the Kraken was a shocking development considering the massive cap outlay they were willing to commit to and now his future is firmly centered around an apparently shrinking list of suitable destinations and the potential for an offer sheet. 

Robertson is one of the few players who is worth, without question, Buffalo’s newly inherited fourth overall pick. That isn’t to say there are others who would be acceptable additions should that pick be traded, but Robertson is the sort of game changing talent who is worth spending a top five pick to acquire. Logic would dictate that Buffalo may not be in the running for him. If Seattle, a no-tax state for the time being, isn’t an attractive enough destination, it would seem likely that he is aiming for a small list of teams that are firm Stanley Cup contenders, in addition to whatever other regional benefits exist. I would be over the moon if the Sabres managed to acquire him with an extension in place. Robertson would immediately level up the quality of their forward group in a meaningful way. I’m sure his list consists of the usual suspects, but his contract asking price could complicate the process for himself and the Stars. It will be far and away the most interesting story to track in the coming days. 

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Sabres Make a Big Splash With Byram Deal

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The Sabres are on the board. 

It’s been a hectic week of trades in the NHL, with the Brady Tkachuk blockbuster setting off an impressive run of business just days ahead of the 2026 NHL Draft. Jarmo Kekäläinen got in on the fun, landing a hefty package from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Bowen Byram and Jordan Greenway. 

In addition to defenseman Louis Crevier, the Sabres received the fourth overall and 45th overall picks in this week’s draft, bringing their current pick allotment to six selections. This was the second trade of note involving a Sabres defenseman, after Michael Kesselring was packaged with the 27th pick to slide up to pick 20 in Friday’s first round. 

The deals create a great deal of flexibility for Kekäläinen, who not only holds a pair of first round picks he can dangle in trade talks, but an additional $10 million in cap space he previously lacked. The return on Byram is impressive. Fourth overall is a premium asset few teams find themselves possessing unless they’ve endured a miserable season. The pick, should the Sabres keep it, puts them in the position to add a high-end prospect who can instantly shift the strength of their prospect pool and long-term outlook. 

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Sabres Slide to 20th Overall After Kesselring Swap

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File Michael Kesselring alongside Colin Miller, Connor Clifton and Marco Scandella in the collection of forgotten Sabres defensemen. Like the others, Kesselring arrived with the hopes he would solidify Buffalo’s top four as a complimentary piece to the team’s existing defensive foundation. In the end, injuries kept him from establishing himself and he was used sparingly in a disastrous individual season. Now, he’s off to San Jose with the 27th pick in exchange for San Jose’s pick at 20 in the 2026 Draft. 

There isn’t too much to say about Kesselring’s one season in Buffalo. He got banged up in training camp and seemingly never recovered. His lack of playing time compounded with his lingering injuries affected his ability to influence the game, causing him to slide down the depth chart. The best case scenario, had he stayed, would have been playing sheltered minutes on the third pair in a rotation with fellow righties Conor Timmins and Zach Metsa. You can understand why he would welcome a change of scenery. 

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Two in the Mailbox: A Big Offseason Looms

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Two in the Mailbox is the somewhat regular mailbag run on the site. This edition tackles a whole bunch of questions regarding Jarmo Kekäläinen’s first offseason in the Sabres’ general manager chair. Thanks to everyone who submitted questions this time around.

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Ruff Returns on the Brink of Two Milestones

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Lindy Ruff is sticking around. The Sabres announced the head coach has signed a two-year contract extension, a fitting reward for breaking the drought and earning a nomination for the Jack Adams Award. 

The extension puts to rest any concern the Sabres would be conducting an impromptu coaching search, as it was understood Ruff had signed a two-year deal upon his initial return to the Sabres. Had he opted to retire, or the less likely option of seeking a position elsewhere, the Sabres would have been left scrambling to find his replacement. This stabilizes Buffalo’s bench, providing some runway for a successor to Ruff to be identified while presenting an opportunity for Ruff to build upon the success the team enjoyed this season. 

Ruff’s return hasn’t been all positive. The 2024-25 season was nothing short of a nightmare. Most of it was the doing of Kevyn Adams, but Ruff’s hiring, at the time, felt more like a desperate play for some positivity within the fanbase than a well-executed coaching search. This year’s turnaround was nothing short of spectacular and it’s the sort of run that brings home hardware. The in-season turnaround, ending the playoff drought and winning the division ought to overcome the resumes of John Cooper and Dan Muse. Although, there was a fairly heavy push for Cooper to finally win the Adams as a quasi it’s his turn, lifetime achievement manner. 

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