Projecting Sabres Trade Cost - Jason Robertson

The Buffalo Sabres should be in the market for an impact top-six forward after dealing winger JJ Peterka to the Utah Mammoth for defenseman Michael Kesselring and winger Josh Doan, but the opening weeks of free agency did not provide GM Kevyn Adams with an opportunity to replace Peterka’s production, either in a swap for defenseman Bowen Byram, or for a package of younger players, prospects, and/or draft picks.

Adams may be relying on the return for Byram to bring back the replacement for Peterka, but if the Sabres choose to keep the restricted free agent blueliner, can they put together a deal for the player they need that would be attractive to another club?

Dallas winger Jason Robertson has been a name very popular in trade speculation since the Stars were eliminated by Edmonton in the Western Conference Final. The 25-year-old has a year left on a four-year deal making $7.75 million, bounced back from an off-year to score 35 goals last season, is arbitration-eligible next summer, and is eligible for unrestricted free agency in 2027.

As with the Sabres, the Stars are not looking for futures, but likely are looking for younger players with cost certainty or control for multiple years, and Byram would not be a good fit, since the Stars are loaded on the left side with Miro Heiskanen, Esa Lindell, and Thomas Harley.

What Would It Cost?

Since the Stars are a contender, they would want an established NHL winger like Alex Tuch (if the Sabres cannot get him signed to an extension), along with a lottery-protected first round pick, since Dallas traded a pair of first-rounders in the Mikko Rantanen deal. If Tuch is a non-starter, it would likely need to be a package of younger forwards that would include Jack Quinn, Zach Benson, or 2024 first-rounder Konsta Helenius.

Any of these possible deals would necessitate the Sabres getting Robertson signed to an extension before the deal was consummated. The big winger does not have any trade protection, so he cannot block a deal to Buffalo, but if they cannot get him extended, they would not give up the younger players like Quinn, Benson, or Helenius, who they have years of control over.