The Buffalo Sabres aren't shy about making trades.
This time, though, they've got a chance to make a deal for a rising star approaching his prime.
The 24-year old Yegor Chinakhov from the Columbus Blue Jackets requested a trade before the season but hasn't gone anywhere yet.
In a new breakdown on The Athletic, Chris Johnston suggests that the Sabres should be the team that lands Chinakhov in a deal at some point before the NHL's March 6 trade deadline.
"You won’t find anyone in the NHL more familiar with Chinakhov than Jarmo Kekäläinen, the man who drafted him in Columbus," Johnston writes. "With Kekäläinen now in charge of the Sabres front office, it’s not unreasonable to expect him to lean on some known quantities as he starts to put his own stamp on the Buffalo roster."
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Chinakhov hasn't yet been a star, but maybe he could blossom somewhere new.
"Chinakhov is still viewed by some around the league as a strong candidate to break out if given a fresh start," Johnston writes. "His strength and speed are certainly attractive attributes. They’re the qualities that attracted him to Kekäläinen in the first place."
The Sabres do have plenty of tradeable assets. This would likely come down to just what the Blue Jackets' asking price was.
Buffalo could certainly use some more pieces to continue trying to build in the right direction. The Sabres also have good vibes right now thanks to a seven-game win streak this month.
Maybe a deal sooner rather than later could keep the momentum going.
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