Sabers May Fill Top Six Hole With Patrik Laine – Hockey Writers – Buffalo Sabers

The trade rumor mill turns every day and with the Buffalo Sabers still looking for someone to fill the hole left by Jeff Skinner in their top six exit, they have the perfect player to step in there in Patrik Laine. As a pure scorer with some size and plenty of youth left in him, he fits very well into the Sabres' current scheme, and could be a valuable addition to their roster without significant subtraction. The Columbus Blue Jackets likely won't compete for a playoff spot this season, so since they're in the rebuilding/rebuilding phase, they'll be looking for more prospects and draft picks as they move someone like Laine out. The Sabers have plenty of both.

How does Laine fit into the Sabers system?

Last season, Laine missed most of the year due to injury, and over the past number of years, he has struggled to stay healthy. Last season, he played 18 games and two seasons ago, he played 55 and 56 games. While staying in the lineup has been a problem, productivity has never been, and that's where it really will be. In 2021-22 he scored 26 goals and 56 points in 56 games, and in 2022-23 he scored 22 goals and 52 points in 55 games. Putting the puck behind the net is where Laine shines, and the Sabers could use someone like him to be a big-time finisher on one of the top two lines.

The question is which set of teammates would best suit his style of play. He can be both a playmaker and finisher, as he is incredibly skilled down the wing. Giving someone like Tage Thompson down the middle with Alex Tuch on the wing would open up a nice space, but I feel it wouldn't be the best use of him. Putting him with the likes of Dylan Cozens and JJ Peterka would be the best combination. Cozens drives plays up the middle, and Peterka can make plays happen with both his speed and toughness. Combine those with his playmaking skills, and Laine will have teammates who can both stop him when he's wide open and be able to finish the chances he creates with his playmaking skills. The scoring balance between the three would be incredible, and having Laine as another power play threat could give head coach Lindy Ruff more weapons to work with.

What would it take to find Laine?

If the Sabers were to move Laine, they would likely be giving away one or more of their top prospects, along with a draft pick. Laine currently has about $8.7 million in two more seasons, so the Sabers will struggle with that contract to calm him down if he returns, but if the Blue Jackets want more and are willing to keep some of theirs. at that salary, the deal might look a little different. As for some potential trade options that stick strictly to expectations and draft returns, here are a few options that I think both teams could consider:

• The Sabers traded forwards Jiri Kulich, Prokhor Poltapov, and defenseman Ryan Johnson, along with a 2025 conditional third-round pick (conditional if the Sabers make the playoffs, the pick is upgraded to a second-round pick) for a forward -Laine.
• Sabers trade forward Noah Ostlund, and 2025 first-round pick (unprotected) for Laine
• The Sabers traded forward Kulich, defenseman Maxim Strbak, a 2025 first-round pick (top 10 protected) and a 2025 second-round pick for Laine (50% salary retained).
• The Sabers traded forwards Ostlund and Kulich and a conditional 2025 second-round pick (with the condition that the pick can be upgraded to a 2025 first-round pick if the Sabers reach the second round of the playoffs) for Laine (50% salary saved. )

All these steps consider what Laine is and what she can become; point per game player and 40 goal scorer. With still time left on his contract, the prospect and value of a running back option is evident there. The Sabers then get their top six player, and the Blue Jackets continue to build their franchise. They get good scoring opportunities and solid defensive prospects depending on which deal they like best. With both teams making changes, the Sabers are risking keeping Laine healthy for a full season and hoping to get him back up to speed, but if they can, any of these trades would be worth it.

Should the Sabers Keep Laine Longer?

If the Sabers end up trading Laine, they will have to decide whether to keep him for the remainder of his contract, or beyond. As their young team matures, players like Zach Benson, JJ Peterka, and Jack Quinn will all continue to develop and hopefully become top six forwards. This can lead to a person becoming an unusual person. Laine could be that player if one of the aforementioned players stays on a good development path and can be signed for less than Laine; especially if Laine is as productive as he can be.

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Keeping him long-term is unlikely, but keeping him for a year or two past his current contract would be a very good idea. Giving him a few more years over the remaining two seasons will give the Sabers the ability to continue developing their young players, and will allow them to keep the scoring team together. Consistency up front is a luxury they could definitely use, and Laine being a consistent scoring threat (if healthy) would be a huge help for them. Seeing him in a Sabers uniform for 3-4 seasons would be a breath of fresh air, especially if he hits 40 points at the pace of his prime.