Sabres Criticized for Deadline Deals, Must Keep Tuch

Buffalo's trades for Jets' defensemen Stanley and Schenn seen as misstep, while retaining star forward Tuch is crucial

Published on Mar. 12, 2026

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The Buffalo Sabres made a mistake at the 2026 NHL trade deadline by acquiring defensemen Logan Stanley and Luke Schenn from the Winnipeg Jets instead of landing the more coveted Colton Parayko from the St. Louis Blues. The Sabres gave up significant assets including prospects and draft picks for the Jets duo, when they could have landed Parayko for a better return. However, the Sabres' biggest priority now is re-signing star forward Alex Tuch, who is set to become a free agent in the offseason.

Why it matters

The Sabres are finally poised to end their 14-year playoff drought and make a deep postseason run. But their trade deadline moves, while aimed at bolstering the defense, may have fallen short of the mark. Retaining Tuch is crucial to maintaining their momentum and core group of talent heading into the offseason.

The details

The Sabres tried to trade for Colton Parayko from the St. Louis Blues at the deadline, but Parayko used his no-trade clause to deny the move. Instead, Buffalo acquired Stanley and Schenn from the Jets, giving up prospects Jacob Bryson and Isak Rosen, along with a second-round and fourth-round pick. This was seen as a lesser return compared to the rumored price for Parayko, which was reportedly a first-round pick and top prospect Radim Mrtka.

  • The NHL trade deadline was on March 12, 2026.

The players

Colton Parayko

A defenseman for the St. Louis Blues who used his no-trade clause to deny a trade to the Sabres.

Logan Stanley

A defenseman acquired by the Sabres from the Winnipeg Jets at the trade deadline.

Luke Schenn

A defenseman acquired by the Sabres from the Winnipeg Jets at the trade deadline.

Alex Tuch

A star forward for the Sabres who is set to become a free agent in the offseason and is a priority for the team to re-sign.

Jarmo Kekalainen

The general manager of the Buffalo Sabres.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

The Sabres need to prioritize re-signing star forward Alex Tuch before he hits free agency in the offseason. They must also continue to build around their core group of talent to make a deep playoff run.

The takeaway

The Sabres' trade deadline moves, while aimed at improving their defense, may have fallen short of the mark. However, their biggest priority now is retaining Alex Tuch, their top forward, to maintain their momentum and core group heading into the offseason and beyond.