Sabres, Buyers at Deadline, Continue Playoff Push vs. Predators

Buffalo adds four players ahead of NHL trade deadline as Nashville makes one move

Published on Mar. 7, 2026

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With the trade deadline behind them, the visiting Nashville Predators and the Buffalo Sabres continue their sprint for the playoffs when they meet Saturday. Buffalo, fighting for the lead in the Atlantic Division and looking like it will end a 14-year playoff drought, was active this week as it added four players. Nashville, trying to hang on in the Western Conference wild-card race, made one move.

Why it matters

The Sabres' trade deadline acquisitions could provide a boost as they look to secure a playoff spot for the first time since 2011, while the Predators' lone move signals their commitment to making a postseason push despite trading away several key players.

The details

The Sabres' new faces include forward Sam Carrick, acquired from the New York Rangers, and defensemen Logan Stanley and Luke Schenn, who came over in a trade with the Winnipeg Jets. Carrick will be Buffalo's fourth-line center while Stanley and Schenn provide defensive depth. The Sabres also traded for Jets forward Tanner Pearson just before Friday's deadline. Meanwhile, the Predators sent forward Michael Bunting to the Dallas Stars on Thursday in exchange for a 2026 third-round draft pick, and earlier in the week traded forwards Michael McCarron and Cole Smith and defenseman Nick Blankenburg for picks and an AHL player.

  • The Sabres made their trade deadline moves this week.
  • The Predators made their lone trade deadline move on Thursday.

The players

Sam Carrick

A forward acquired by the Sabres from the New York Rangers, who had 10 points (4 goals, 6 assists) in 60 games for the Rangers this season.

Logan Stanley

A defenseman acquired by the Sabres from the Winnipeg Jets to provide defensive depth.

Luke Schenn

A defenseman acquired by the Sabres from the Winnipeg Jets to provide defensive depth.

Tanner Pearson

A forward acquired by the Sabres from the Winnipeg Jets just before the trade deadline.

Michael Bunting

A forward traded by the Predators to the Dallas Stars on Thursday.

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What they’re saying

“It's way more exciting to be on this side of it than selling. ... To be honest, no one in this room really cares if we trade a pick or two, so it's nice to get some new faces in here and some new energy. It's fun. It's good for morale, for sure.”

— Mattias Samuelsson, Defenseman (statenews.net)

“We're still there making a playoff push. You see a lot of guys go (in trades) that meant a lot to this team. We're a tight group. We've been through a lot together, even this year with the way that we started and then came back and we battled.”

— Roman Josi, Defenseman (statenews.net)

What’s next

The Sabres and Predators will face off on Saturday as Buffalo continues its playoff push and Nashville tries to hang on in the Western Conference wild-card race.

The takeaway

The Sabres' trade deadline acquisitions demonstrate their commitment to making the playoffs for the first time in over a decade, while the Predators' lone move signals their desire to remain in the postseason hunt despite trading away several key players.