The Buffalo Sabres stand one trade for Connor Hellebuyck and one signing of Patrick Kane away from topping the Atlantic Division.
Goaltending upgrade changes postseason outlook
Buffalo lost Alex Tuch to free agency and traded Bowen Byram to the Chicago Blackhawks, yet the front office kept both first-round picks at the 2026 draft.
Talks for Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck resumed after the draft with Radim Mrtka named as a potential piece the Jets would accept.
The Sabres trio of Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Alex Lyon and Colton Ellis posted a 12.3 shooting percentage allowed during the regular season before their second-round collapse against the Montreal Canadiens.
Hellebuyck at age 33 remains willing to waive his no-movement clause specifically for Buffalo despite recording his worst statistical season.
A bounce-back Hellebuyck would supply the Hart- and Vezina-caliber netminding the current group lacked in the playoffs.
Veteran addition supplies top-six scoring depth
Patrick Kane informed Chris Chelios that Buffalo and Chicago remain the two finalists for his services, with Buffalo favored on the homecoming factor.
Kane would arrive on a bonus-heavy contract at a fraction of Alex Tuch’s cost while still delivering near top-six production.
The Sabres already added defenseman Olen Zellweger from the Anaheim Ducks, creating a young core that reached the second round before these additions.
Together the moves signal ownership views the roster as ready for contention rather than another rebuild cycle.
Kane costs only cap dollars while Hellebuyck requires assets that Winnipeg has so far refused to lower.
Atlantic Division balance shifts immediately
Either acquisition alone would strengthen a team that ended a long playoff drought, but both together alter the Eastern Conference hierarchy.
The Sabres would enter the 2026-27 season with a proven No. 1 goaltender and a future Hall of Fame winger alongside their existing core.
Detroit could lose Kane to Buffalo or see him stay away under Steve Yzerman, while Winnipeg risks losing Hellebuyck without sufficient return.
If the deals close before the July 31 deadline, Buffalo moves from interesting playoff team to division favorite on paper.
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Par Mike Jonderson
Mike Jonderson is a passionate hockey analyst and expert in advanced NHL statistics. A former college player and mathematics graduate, he combines his understanding of the game with technical expertise to develop innovative predictive models and contribute to the evolution of modern hockey analytics.