Trade confirmed: Buffalo Sabres - Minnesota Wild

Trade Details
Buffalo Sabres Acquire: Eric Staal · $3,250,000$3,250,000$3,000,000 Sum: $3,250,000$3,250,000$3,000,000 Change: -$1,250,000 Change: -$1,250,000 Change: +$3,000,000	Minnesota Wild Acquire: Marcus Johansson · $4,500,000$4,500,000$4,000,000 Sum: $4,500,000$4,500,000$4,000,000 Change: +$1,250,000 Change: +$1,250,000 Change: +$4,000,000

It’s an encouraging sign for the Sabres that someone has a no trade list without them on it.

Jokes aside, this is a good deal for the Sabres. They get a good player that can play C behind Eichel.

This is interesting for the Wild, though. Does this mean that they are trading for a C, or are they just planning for to take Staal’s spot?

WHAT?!?!?!?!?!

makes zero sense for Minnesota to do this.
- worse player
- higher cap hit
- makes the positional gap even worse

I really don't understand why Minnesota would do this with no pick or prospect compensation. Sure staal is old enough that a drop off is possible, but it's one year and he gets paid less. Just a weird trade.

Congrats Buffalo, you actually won a trade

A *very* strong move for Buffalo.
Eric Staal is older, yes, but he is also $1.25M cheaper and well, a lot better than Marcus Johansson. He's still a top six calibre player that can drive play well, while Johansson has declined significantly over the past few seasons. pic.twitter.com/ojaIQDFRJQ

— dom luszczyszyn (@domluszczyszyn) September 16, 2020

Plot Twist: Eric Staal forgot to put Buffalo on his no trade list and retires

Got a 2C to fill in until Cozens is ready for the guy who was supposed to do that anyway. Don't see how the sabres don't win

Must be something else going on. Guerin could be looking to add a big time 1st line center (Cirelli or Kuzentsov anyone?)

Bill Guerin is visibly bored.

DRAG EM KEVYN

Damn. What a trip that would be

I'm not sure why they did it this way but I'm assuming they just turn around and trade him by the deadline

I would say good move for MIN....6 years younger Johansson that will benefit from playing in MIN and 35y old Staal regresing in BUF.....both will end with 45 Points this Season

Actually thats how you trade someone that you wont sign for the "signing rights" of someone that will be on ice for next 5 years

Cap space ? Like MIN doesnt have it.....

1C ? Söderberg incoming for 3 x 3M

That was my first thought; how/why did Staal have Buffalo on his trade list??

Skinner, Kahun, Jokiharju... Start the trend!

Kevyn Adams - Buffalo's hero.

Not sure why MIN would do that. They are in need of top 6Cs and then go ahead and trade their best C for a middle 6 winger? You get 6 years younger (not that Johansson is young, he will be 30 when the season starts lol), but both players have 1 year left anyway so age shouldnt really be that much of a factor. MIN also takes on extra cap...

Oh, come on. They could've gotten way more for Staal at the trade deadline.

Perhaps Guerin really wants to tank and sees Johansson as someone he can keep for the rebuild? If so, there is some logic to this deal, but Johansson is not someone to build a team around. They should've traded Staal for picks/prospects.

That's quite a surprise and what the hell Guerin?

There's got to be another deal coming. Minny must be looking to get a younger C in the Staal role, because on the surface I don't really get this. Maybe a Dylan Strome?

LMFAO I wonder what us Cap Friendly patrons would say if this trade was even suggested in an Buffalo ACGM. I guarantee that it wouldn’t be pretty.

The only reason I can see behind this trade is if Staal specifically wanted out of Minnesota and Buffalo was the only team MIN was allowed to trade him to, that actually wanted him.

Pretty obvious Marcus Johansson wasn't a good fit in Buffalo. He's a natural winger and when they played him at center he was less effective. Saving cap space and improving on a position of need is a pretty good deal for the Sabres. Wonder why a team with a worse center core than us would do this tho??

I don’t know which player you’re talking about, but I could see that for either player. Staal can be valuable for both the Sabres trying to win, and he can be a valuable trade asset if they miss the playoffs again.

Weird trade...

Doesn’t seem like that’s the case:

Staal found out about the trade 10 minutes ago. Said to be stunned.

— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) September 16, 2020