It may be a new season for the 32 teams in the National Hockey League, but it’s the same script for the Sabres. Through four games, the Sabres are 1-3-0, scoring just 10 goals, tied for the third-fewest in the league. That’s already bad on paper, but eight of those goals came in their most recent game, an 8-4 victory over the Ottawa Senators.

You could write a movie about the Sabres – call it Groundhog Day 2. After contending for about a decade in the late 1990s and 2000s, the Sabres won their last series in 2006-07. They’ve been to the postseason twice since, making the 2010 and 2011 playoffs, but their current postseason drought now stands at 14 seasons, by far the longest in the league.

The closest the Sabres have gotten to making the playoffs was in 2022-23, when they finished with a 42-33-7 record with 91 points, just one behind the eighth-seeded Florida Panthers. Since then, it has been two years of regression, culminating in a 39-37-6 record in 2023-24 and a 36-39-7 record in 2024-25.

It’s becoming clear that this core can’t get it done. If the Sabres blow it up in an attempt to draft Gavin McKenna, who could they offer?

Tage Thompson

If Tage Thompson becomes available at any point during his contract, the Edmonton Oilers have to do whatever they need to do to land him. Last season, the 27-year-old scored 44 goals and 72 points in 76 games. It was the second time Thompson had reached to 40-goal mark, scoring 47 goals and 94 points in 78 games in 2022-23.

Coming into this season, Thompson has 158 goals and 290 points in 303 games over his past four seasons. Those 158 goals are tied for 10th-most in those four seasons, behind players like Auston Matthews, Leon Draisaitl, David Pastrňák, Alex Ovechkin, Connor McDavid, and other talented players. He’s a bona fide scorer playing on an awful team.

What’s better is his contract. No matter who the Oilers bring in before the 2026 trade deadline, it’ll be a money-in, money-out type of situation. Thompson makes far less annually than he’s worth, with an annual cap hit of about $7.143 million.

It would cost a haul, but Thompson would give the Oilers another superstar forward.

Alex Tuch

One player who has been linked is Alex Tuch. Appearing on Sekeres and Price, Jeff Marek of Daily Faceoff’s The Sheet noted that there has been noise about Tuch and the Oilers.

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Tuch is on an expiring contract worth $4.75 million annually, which is a lot easier to fit at the trade deadline than Thompson. Of course, the Oilers wish to add players with term on their contract, but Tuch is worth it as he’s a goal-scorer.

Last season, the Syracuse, New York native scored 36 goals and 67 points in 82 games. It was the second time he’s reached the 36-goal mark, with a handful of 20-goal seasons when he’s stayed healthy.

A right-winger, imagine Tuch beside Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl? Unlike Thompson, trading for Tuch seems possible, and if they can’t get him through a trade, they can sign him in the off-season.

Rasmus Dahlin

Although the Oilers are primarily looking for a forward at the deadline, the Sabres could have a handful of defencemen available.

On a recent episode of 32 Thoughts, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman noted that Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin want the Sabres to be better this season. That doesn’t mean that they have or will ask for a trade, but knowing the Sabres, they tend to trade superstars.

Dahlin would easily become the Oilers’ best defenceman, but there are a handful of reason a trade to the Oilers seems unlikely. First is his cap hit of $11 million. While he’s well worth the price, adding that during the season is nearly impossible for the Oilers.

Another reason is that acquiring Dahlin would take a haul, a haul that the Oilers can’t afford. Additionally, the Oilers’ defence is still strong, and they have a whole bunch of left-handed defencemen as it is. Granted, Dahlin can play on the right and becomes their best defenceman

It’s nice to think about, but if the Oilers somehow had the assets to pull this trade off, it’d have to come in the off-season.

Owen Power

Remember when Owen Power went first overall in the 2021 draft? I don’t. Another left-shot defenceman, Power scored a career-high seven goals and 40 points in 79 games last season.

He hasn’t truly broken out, but standing at 6’6”, 226 lbs, there’s a lot of potential in the 22-year-old defender. Power is in the second year of his seven-year deal and makes $8.35 million annually.

Unlike Dahlin, Power wouldn’t be the Oilers’ best defenceman, and their assets should be used elsewhere. Such as a goaltender.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

Of the five players listed in this article, Tuch and netminder Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen seem like the most plausible players the Oilers can add before the trade deadline.

Last season was a rough one for the 26-year-old netminder, as he posted an .887 save percentage and 3.20 goals against average in 55 games. That said, he had a strong 2023-24 season with the Sabres, posting a .910 save percentage and 2.57 goals against average in 54 games.

Luukkonen is also on a good contract, as this is the second year of his five-year deal that carries a cap hit of $4.75 million. It’s not inconceivable to see a world where the Oilers and Sabres exchange starting netminders as both could use a change of scenery.

The Sabres also have Devon Levi waiting in the wings. Last season in the American Hockey League, Levi had a .919 save percentage and 2.20 goals against average in 42 games. He hasn’t found the same success in his 39 NHL games, but the 23-year-old is ready to stay on the roster.

Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Oilersnation, FlamesNation, and Blue Jays Nation. Follow her on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

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