The Buffalo Sabres have plenty of off-season business to complete and will likely be looking to shake things up after their 14th consecutive season outside of the playoffs. It is expected that GM Kevyn Adams will be open to entertaining offers on restricted free agent defenseman Bowen Byram, with only two years left before the 23-year-old blueliner can hit the open market, but the chatter seems to be more of a longshot in regards to RFA winger JJ Peterka.
Peterka finished second in team scoring with 68 points (27 goals, 41 assists) in 77 games, playing mostly on the top line with Tage Thompson, but trade rumors have circulated around the 23-year-old forward since the trade deadline, when he was connected to the NY Rangers. Entering the offseason, the winger has been listed prominently on RFA trade lists from Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff and Harman Dayal of the Athletic.
Unlike with Byram, where the Sabres would be looking to be trading from a position of strength with team captain Rasmus Dahlin and 2021 top overall pick Owen Power on the left side, Adams does not have an overload of scoring depth on the wing, and Peterka is under team control for another four seasons.
