What are the Sabres' priorities at the trade deadline?

My thoughts:

1.) Top four shutdown / defensive defenseman

2.) Second or third line forward with a ceiling of scoring 20 or more goals

3.) Create room for younger better players coming up from Rochester (AHL). Think of Olofsson departing.

4.) Address Mittelstadt's future.

I feel like this team is loaded with 2-3 line forwards. What it doesn't have is:

-Legit 1st line C, as usual. Thompson is a solid 1st line wing but his defensive play and 46% on the dot tells the story. He is a shooter...in the Ovie/Hull genre and needs to be such.

-Amen to the defensive D-man. Someone who can PK, block shots and clear the crease. Maybe 2 of them actually....

-Mittelstadt needs to go...not a know on him but the cap and contracts in place make him an issue and he is the only player they'll get value for.

-Address the Goalie position to find a true 1B to keep UPL fresh and win some games.



While there are a couple players in Rochester to come up maybe...they don't need younger. They need more toughness and experience. They don't need more draft picks...they need players. Olofsson, Okposo, Girgensons, Johnson, Comrie....none of them have any real value to anyone. Will be tough to get anything but a mid round pick for any from a contender looking for depth.