The Buffalo Sabres are still searching for consistency this season. They sit at the bottom of the Atlantic Division with a 14-14-4 record, but signs of life are starting to show. Buffalo is coming off a 3-1 win over the Seattle Kraken on Sunday and has now put together three straight victories as it tries to steady its season.
Still, the rough start has fueled speculation about potential roster shakeups. That chatter has now reached the very top of Buffalo’s lineup, with Hall of Famer Chris Pronger weighing in on rumors involving the Sabres’ $88 million All-Star defenseman.
Chris Pronger Doesn’t See Sabres Trading Its $88M All-Star Defenseman
As trade rumors swirl, NHL analyst Russ Joy suggested that Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin could be a potential target for the Philadelphia Flyers. Dahlin is in the second year of his eight-year, $88 million contract and would represent a massive upgrade to any blue line.
“If Rasmus Dahlin becomes available, I expect the Flyers to make a strong offer,” Joy wrote on X. “$11M AAV thru 2031 and would be an immediate upgrade to the blue line. The real question: When will Buffalo decide to field offers and how much does the Hughes deal affect the price? #LetsGoFlyers”
Joy raised the question of how recent blockbuster deals around the league could impact Dahlin’s trade value, pointing to the surprising move by the Vancouver Canucks to send captain Quinn Hughes to the Minnesota Wild on Friday.
That trade delivered Vancouver a hefty return of young talent and a first-round pick, setting a new standard for what a true franchise defenseman might cost and prompting speculation that any Dahlin deal would need to resemble it.
Chris Pronger, however, was quick to pour cold water on the idea. The Hall of Fame defenseman responded directly to the speculation by challenging the logic behind it, asking, “Why would BUF trade him exactly?”
And there are good reasons for that skepticism. Dahlin is a three-time All-Star, carries a full no-movement clause, and remains a cornerstone of Buffalo’s long-term plans. He’s also delivering on the ice, posting 25 points in 29 games this season while logging heavy minutes.
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While the Hughes trade proved that even franchise players can be moved under the right circumstances, there’s little indication Buffalo is ready to go down that path.
For now, Dahlin remains central to the Sabres’ rebuild as the team looks to build on recent momentum, starting with its next matchup against Philadelphia on Thursday.
