The Buffalo Sabres are already at a bit of a crossroads. The Sabres are off to another slow start despite winning their first game of the year in emphatic fashion against the Ottawa Senators. Unfortunately, that win has not rid the team of its issues to this point.
The Sabres struggled to score before their win over the Senators. Including the Ottawa win, Buffalo entered play on Saturday with 10 goals this year. However, all but two of those goals came in their win. They were shutout in the season opener before scoring one goal in each of their next two games.
The Sabres are certainly encouraged by their win. However, they understand there is a lot of work to do. They need to score more goals on a more consistent basis. And they need to support their goaltenders by keeping the puck out of the net.
Before the Senators win, one writer threw out an interesting idea. The Athletic’s Matthew Fairburn suggested the team swing a trade for Pittsburgh Penguins star Rickard Rakell.
“He had career highs with 35 goals and 35 assists last season. He also had 19 power-play points, so he could help there. Rakell’s flexibility to play center and wing would give Ruff some lineup options, too. And it helps that Rakell has a 52 percent on-ice expected goals share for his career, so he can be counted on defensively,” Fairburn wrote.
Penguins’ Rickard Rakell Could Be In-Demand
Mike Mulholland/Getty ImagesPittsburgh Penguins star Rickard Rakell could be an in-demand trade candidate.
The Penguins are in a bit of a unique situation. Though they, like the Sabres, have missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs in recent years, Buffalo is looking to take a step forward. Conversely, Pittsburgh is willing to trade veterans and take a slight step back.
Rakell trade rumors are nothing new. The veteran forward, currently playing his fifth season in Pittsburgh, has been a candidate for at least a year. As Fairburn noted, he scored a career high 35 goals last season. And he has two goals in five games thus far in 2025-26.
Pittsburgh elected not to trade Rakell last season in a seller’s market. It’s hard to predict how things will turn out this year. If a seller’s market develops again, the Penguins certainly could receive a haul in any trade.
Sabres Facing Pressure To Take Step Forward
A Rakell trade for a team like the Sabres may seem a bit head-scratching. Buffalo does not appear to be a playoff contender at this time. Trading future assets for a veteran forward does not make to much sense in that context.
But there are other factors at play. One is injuries, with Josh Norris out long-term, while Zach Benson and Jordan Greenway have also had some issues. Beyond this, Buffalo hasn’t made the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 14 seasons. The fanbase doesn’t want another season without playoff hockey, and the front office can’t afford it.
As a result, the Sabres could swing a trade for immediate help. If they do, Rakell certainly makes sense. Whether they can make a deal work with the Penguins remains to be seen, however.
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