Heading into the Olympic break, the Buffalo Sabres are not only in the thick of the playoff race but stand a chance of claiming the second spot in the Atlantic Division. As they work to retain the consistency that has been missing all these years, there is another piece that has clearly been lacking: depth defensemen.
Though the biggest issue at hand may be the Alex Tuch contract situation, the Sabres have a clear issue with their bottom pairing. The top four defensemen play the majority of the minutes, perhaps highlighted in the loss against the Pittsburgh Penguins. In that game, Jacob Bryson played under five minutes and managed to cost the team a pair of goals.
If the Sabres are going to sustain their run and make a run in the playoffs, they need more dependable options on that bottom pair. Michael Kesselring needs to get through his ankle injury and start eating the minutes that many predicted he would. That said, a trade is also needed, and these candidates make a lot of sense.
Luke Schenn, Winnipeg Jets
The Sabres have been linked to another member of the Jets, but Schenn could check off a lot of boxes. For starters, he’s a big-bodied, right-shot defenseman that has seen his share of action in the NHL – more than 1,100 games, in fact.
Schenn, 36, effectively protects the front of the net – an issue for the Sabres – and will put his body on the line. Throw in the fact that he is a two-tix Stanley Cup champion, and it is a great fit for the Sabres.
Schenn plays just under 14 minutes per night with the Jets now. If he could do that with the Sabres, it would take the pressure off of Buffalo’s top four, leaving them free to take more chances when they are on the ice. Schenn is a pending unrestricted free agent on a sweetheart deal, so the Sabres could land him for a late pick.
Connor Murphy, Chicago Blackhawks
Like Schenn, Murphy is a big-bodied, strong, experienced defenseman who will also be an unrestricted free agent this summer. Even more promising are Murphy’s defensive numbers even in the face of some less-than-favorable conditions playing in Chicago.
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The same idea behind the Schenn move is prevalent here: get a big, experienced, veteran defenseman that can take a bit of pressure off the top four and gain the trust of head coach Lindy Ruff along the way.
Murphy logs just over 16 minutes per night with Chicago, though he has played far more in the past. If he could eat 15-16 minutes per night, that would be huge for the Sabres. It might also give Kesselring a chance to get over his injury and find his game again.
Braden Schneider, New York Rangers
Schneider is an interesting option. At 24 years old, he still has the chance to grow. When you consider that he’s played for an abysmal Rangers outfit this season, a change of scenery could be what’s needed for him to find the game that made him look promising only last season.
Schneider is a pending unrestricted free agent, which means the Rangers may want a bit more to get him away. The Sabres have plenty of assets to work with, so that shouldn’t be an issue.
Schneider is big, has a heavy shot, and all the tools necessary to develop into a top four option. With a much lower usage rate, he could find his game again and Ruff can hone the skills that once made him a first-round draft pick.
Make a Move is Imperative
Taking a bigger swing is something the Sabres faithful would love to see but making a move for one or two) quality depth defensemen should be a priority. The Sabres top four defensemen have been a strength this season but will be at risk of burning out if they don’t get help.
The Sabres could always use a bit of size and net front presence. If they can find playoff experience (like Schenn), even better. Most of all, they need greater flexibility and that is hard to pull off when Ruff only trusts his top four.
