By: Chris Nosek

It’s clear Jarmo Kekalainen had no intention of standing pat at the deadline. Despite the Sabres being the best team in hockey over the past two months, he wanted to improve this roster. He tried to take a major swing, but when that fell through, he had to pivot.

Deal Declined

Kekalained was taking a major swing, trying to get Colton Parayko out of St. Louis. Parayko ultimately enforced the no-trade clause in his contract to stay in St. Louis. The exact return isn’t confirmed, but it was clearly significant. The fact that he was even in on such a move should give Sabres’ fans some excitement.

Moves Made:

It’s clear that Jarmo had his eyes set on the team’s upcoming playoff run. While they clearly have enough to get into the playoffs, Jarmo focused on the run they can make. The four additions he made added a combined 144 playoff games, plus the experience of winning three Stanley Cups. Not one player from the current roster was sent out, and all the top prospects were retained. Rosen was selected in the 1st round back in 2021 and has been making solid progress in his development. He’s likely still a couple of seasons away from the NHL. Buffalo also has several other players who can take the same role.

Despite missing out on one of the bigger names, Jarmo Kekalainen still salvaged a great deadline for the Sabres. He added significant pieces to help on their playoff run without parting with high-end assets. After their playoff run, he will be able to reassess the roster for further adjustments. Kekalainen has also established that making the playoffs isn’t the goal – it’s winning Stanley Cups.

Trade Deadline Grade: A-

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