Everyone’s attention has shifted from the NHL season to the Olympics. Though they only have two players representing them, success has followed the Buffalo Sabres into the tournament. If Sweden and/or the United States can nab a medal, it would only add to the great success Sabres have had in Olympics past.
Sabres fans, meanwhile, have been focusing on what comes when play resumes on Feb. 25. The Sabres have been linked to a number of names so far, the biggest fish being Artemi Panarin. How serious the talks were is irrelevant given the fact that the Russian forward wound up with the Los Angeles Kings. In the end, it may have been a very good thing that the Sabres didn’t land Panarin.
Too Many Questions
Trading for a guy like Panarin makes sense for the obvious reason. He is an elite offensive performer whose lowest output since the start of the 2021-22 season is 89 points. Panarin is an elite passer and can create his own offense – he scored 37 goals last season and 49 in an explosive 2023-24 campaign.
Adding a guy like that means adding a legitimate top line scoring threat. He is the kind of guy that can theoretically play with anyone. Putting his playmaking skills alongside Tage Thompson’s finishing is about as tantalizing as it gets.
That said, his production has been on a decline. He went from a 1.46 points per game pace in 2023-24 to 1.11 last season. So far, with 57 points in 52 games, he’s on a 1.09 points per game clip. That’s still very good but the trend should be observed.
His age also complicates things exponentially. With very rare exceptions, elite players usually begin to fall off in their mid-30s. Panarin is 34 years old and has been an elite offensive player for almost a decade. Between his age and the slow decline in his production one can’t help but wonder if that decline will be a minor one or a trend of things to come.
Finally, there is the cost. Granted, the New York Rangers got relatively little back for him. That’s what happens when the player is able to choose his destination and handcuff his current team on the way out the door. If he were more open to going elsewhere, the package to acquire him would likely have been quite a bit more. When re-signing him is such a big question, it is tough to cough up significant assets.
Complicates the Cap Situation
The salary cap is going to be a tricky situation to navigate. The biggest issue at present is the contract status of Alex Tuch. He will be an unrestricted free agent in the summer, and the two sides don’t seem to be terribly close to an extension. Signing him is clearly a priority before July 1.
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Trying to fit Panarin and his $11 million-per-year salary would be a tall ask even if it could be done. Considering that’s about what Tuch and his camp are asking for, it would be increasing the degree of difficulty to have both under contract going forward. Tuch simply means more to this franchise than Panarin really ever could, and should take priority.
The Sabres Have Other Pressing Needs
While it would always be nice to add a top line player, the Sabres are performing quite well offensively. They are eight in the NHL in goals per game at 3.37. They get contributions from throughout the lineup. Adding Panarin is a luxury and one the Sabres can’t really afford.
What the Sabres really need is defensive depth, someone to take pressure off the top four defensemen. The Sabres are playing a dangerous game relying so heavily on their top four to eat so many minutes on a nightly basis.
Adding a middle six-capable center would be nice as well, especially given how unreliable Josh Norris has been. Addressing those needs would make the Sabres far tougher to play against than Panarin at this stage.
A Smaller Scale Move is More Ideal
Adding someone like Logan Stanley of the Winnipeg Jets or Bobby McMann of the Toronto Maple Leafs would be more ideal for their current situation. Both have more tenable cap hits and would require less valuable assets to ultimately acquire.
There is little doubt that the Sabres need to act in some capacity. With Panarin off the board, the Sabres are in position to land a more realistic option that will help their team in more subtle ways.
