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The Buffalo Sabres traded JJ Peterka in a landmark trade to the Utah Mammoth. The Mammoth signed Peterka for five years, and his contract has an average annual value of $7.7 million. In return, the Sabres received Michael Kesselring and Josh Doan from the Mammoth. Peterka has 150 points in 238 regular-season games and is expected to become a crucial element of the Mammoth’s young core.
On the other hand, the Sabers have a vital void to address: a forward at the top of their game, someone who can replace Peterka. Sabres GM Kevyn Adams has not had the opportunity to procure someone like that yet, but could this New York Rangers forward be who the Sabres front office is seeking?
Could Alexis Lafreniere be the Buffalo Sabres’ Next Top Forward?
The Sabres have re-signed defenseman Bowen Byram in a two-year deal with an average annual value of $6.25 million. Adams’ next priority is acquiring a forward that matches Peterka’s potential.
However, any deal of such nature will have to wait. Michael Augello of “The Hockey News” noted, “Adams will have to try to acquire a scoring forward with younger players, prospects, and/or draft picks. With just over a month before training camp, the odds are that an addition like that will have to happen during the season.”
Rangers’ Alexis Lafreniere, the 2020 NHL draft’s first overall pick, has been frequently mentioned in trade rumors. The 23-year-old has accumulated 193 points in 380 regular-season games. Lafreniere’s 2023-24 season was exemplary, marking three career highs regarding the number of goals (28), assists (29), and points (57) overall in the regular season.
In the postseason, Lafreniere shattered all expectations by scoring 14 points in 16 games, leaving an indelible mark on the team and the community. “The former #1 overall pick was rushed to the NHL at 19 years old, but has shown flashes of being a top-end, top-six winger, as he did in the spring of 2024, when he scored eight goals in 16 playoff games to help New York reach the Eastern Conference Final.”
Augello further wrote that trade rumors about the 23-year-old forward received a bigger boost following the phenomenal season. Lafreniere is signed to a seven-year contract with the Rangers with an average annual value of $7.45 million. The contract keeps the forward in the Rangers through his prime and provides him with a stable environment to thrive.
However, the Sabres could potentially look to acquire the forward. His price, mainly because of the rising cap, is not exorbitant. Lafreniere is yet to reach his prime, and his form is already turning heads. Perhaps a deal involving Byram could be the way to go for the Sabres.
