Why would buffalo do that? We are not taking on over nine million dollars for nothing. Not to mention a ntc that would have to be protect at the upcoming expansion draft!!! Absolutely freaking no way would we do this.

Umm. It's not a NTC and his contract expires before the expansion draft.

Strome was on pace for 70 points and is a 2C... How is that nothing?

It is a no trade clause for smith. It also says 2 years on this sight. Strome is a solid player but his points are from playing with one of the best wingers in the league. Imo he is a 45-50 point player. He had 1 good year and that was playing with panarin. Also he is only signed for 1 year at 5 million. We don’t want or need smith. Drop smith and we could possibly take about strome. We’re not gonna take on 9 million dollars just to get strome

Alexander Georgiev accepts Detroit's offer sheet of $4,227,436 enjoy the 2nd round pick in 2021.

In other words 2.5M is too low.

Buffalo is so bad that Smith could easily slot in as a 3W. He also does not need protection because at the end of next season he willl be a UFA.

If you are going to rag on Strome for being product of another player, you have the same in Reinhart, and probably (but less so) Skinner. No matter how you slice it, Strome would be a perfect fit in Buffalo as 2C until Cozens is ready.

Let me start, that trade fills two holes for Buffalo LHD and #2 center.
Second Buffalo had a lot of bad luck and terrible coaching last year.
How can a GM add Miller, Jokiharju, Johansson and Vesey to a line and do worse than the previous year. Oh yes they also had Montour for the entire year.
Even with sub par GK only 8 teams gave up fewer 5 on 5 goals than Buffalo.
So while they are the gang that could not shoot straight defense is not the reason the team did poorly.
With an overage of about $1,500,000 and just offering decent contracts to the current RFA (letting ALL of the UFA walk) Buffalo would have about $9,000,000 of cap space.
Strome would need to sign for about $5,000,000 or less.
All this being said, I could not pass up that deal if it were offered, if I were the Sabres GM.
Let me add when you said "Smith could easily slot in as a 3W" Buffalo has enough mid six forwards next year, I presume you mean bottom pairing LHD, then absolutely.