Six ex-Buffalo players will play in the Stanley Cup Final between Florida and Edmonton on Saturday
The Stanley Cup Final between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers has a decidedly Buffalo feel to it, as six ex-Sabres (Sam Reinhart, Brandon Montour, Evan Rodrigues, Dmitry Kulikov, Kyle Okposo, and Evander Kane) will be playing for the NHL’s ultimate prize.
The performances of some former Sabres players have made their fanbase bemoan their departure, but the circumstances surrounding their trades and the return that they garnered have to be considered whether, in the end, they were beneficial or not.
The only ex-Sabre playing in the Cup Final starting tonight is Panthers defenseman Dmitry Kulikov. The 33-year-old blueliner spent his first seven seasons in Florida, but was dealt to Buffalo in June 2016 in a flip of draft picks and defenseman Mark Pysyk. Kulikov’s Sabres career lasted one injury-riddled season, and after 47 games, he signed a three-year deal with Winnipeg, playing for Paul Maurice.
Post-pandemic, Kulikov has been a journeyman, playing in New Jersey, Edmonton, Minnesota, Anaheim, and Pittsburgh, before returning to the Panthers on a one-year deal.
With the Cup Final beginning on Saturday, we wrap up our look at each player’s departure with the most recent trade of veteran winger Kyle Okposo to the Panthers.
Kyle Okposo – traded in March, 2024 to Florida for Calle Sjalin and a 2024 conditional seventh-round pick
The trade was more of a favor to Okposo for eight years of loyal service. After Buffalo had pretty much been counted out of the playoff race, Sabres GM Kevyn Adams spoke to their team captain about being traded to a contender and obliged him with a deal at the deadline for minor leaguer Calle Sjalin and a conditional draft pick.
Okposo has played mostly a fourth-line role and has two assists in 11 playoff games. Sjalin played nine games for the Amerks but did not get into the lineup in their loss to Syracuse and is a restricted free agent this summer. Buffalo will get a 2024 fifth-round pick instead of a seventh if the Panthers win the Cup.
