Favorite Sabres Trades

[Taro T]

We have a pretty cool thread about who we hated to see go out the door the most from the Sabres through the years.

But who were your favorite guys brought in via trade.

Mine were:

LaFontaine.  Couldn't stand Turgeon and absolutely thought LaFontaine was one of the top 5 players in the entire league.  That they pulled that one off was incredible.

Hasek.  Had Chicago played him rather than Belfour against the Pens, they might've been Stanley Cup champs.  Killer pedigree, just could never get the dinosaurs coaching him to give him a break.  Didn't expect him to be the best goalie of all time when the trade was made, but DID expect him to be an all-star caliber goalie.

Hawerchuk.  Couldn't stand Housely and thought Ducks was at least a top 30 player in the league and possibly top 10.  Absolutely loved that one.

Briere.  Thought he was really good as a power play specialist in Arizona.  Never impressed by Gratton.  Loved the thought of what he MIGHT become in Buffalo.  At a minimum, they needed somebody that could help the PP.  And Briere would do that.  Anything beyond that would be (and was) gravy.

Zhitnik.  Thought he was LA's 2nd best D-man and thought his ceiling would be way closer to Rob Blake's than it actually was.  Plus, he had one of the, if not the, best hockey names of all-time.  (Lame reason to love a trade, but still loved it.  Still regret never getting a Zhitnik sweater.)

So who were you stoked to see play in a Sabres uni after watching them play for somebody else?

[Randall Flagg]

Ryan O'Reilly 

[Taro T]

7 minutes ago, Randall Flagg said:

Ryan O'Reilly 

Good f'n call.

[GASabresIUFAN]

Eichel.

[Taro T]

3 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

Eichel.

The Sabres traded FOR Eichel?

Interesting.

[DarthEbriate]

Barnes for Barnaby and Wilson for Warrener (and the pick that became Miller but that was years from becoming anything). Getting Barnes and Warrener for a 4th liner and a 3rd pairing D was fantastic for that '99 run.

[Taro T]

2 minutes ago, DarthEbriate said:

Barnes for Barnaby and Wilson for Warrener (and the pick that became Miller but that was years from becoming anything). Getting Barnes and Warrener for a 4th liner and a 3rd pairing D was fantastic for that '99 run.

2 more great ones.

Was surprised Darcy was able to get Barnes for Barnaby.  Always liked Barnes as a Swamp Cat and a Pen.

[DarthEbriate]

2 minutes ago, Taro T said:

2 more great ones.

Was surprised Darcy was able to get Barnes for Barnaby.  Always liked Barnes as a Swamp Cat and a Pen.

The Concept of Barnaby was very important to the Pens.

[JoeSchmoe]

Getting a 1st rounder for Risto and Gaustad have been my two favourites.

[GASabresIUFAN]

2 hours ago, Taro T said:

The Sabres traded FOR Eichel?

Interesting.

The trading away of Eichel.  It was the day the Sabres turned the corner and began to head in the right direction.  This is not a shot at Jack, but a recognition that sometimes change can be a good thing. 

[The Jokeman]

In retrospect the trades for Satan and then JP Dumont were awesome. 

[Zamboni]

I liked Drury when he came into the league. Followed his career and liked what he brought to the teams he played on. So when the Sabres acquired him, I was pumped! 

[tom webster]

I really loved the trades to acquire Jacques Richard and Real Cloutier trades at the time but obviously neither worked out.

Of course, in retrospect, the Tom Webster for Roger Crozier was my all time favorite.

[Weave]

I loved the Chris Gratton trade.  A 3rd and 4th line center for a big, dynamic, physical 2nd line center to counter Lindros and Holik.  Seemed to be just what the Sabres needed.

Unfortunately, THAT Chris Gratton never quite materialized.

[Night Train]

Getting Rene Robert for Eddie Shack. 

[Cage]

Two come to mind:

1. Skinner for prospect Cliff Pu and a pick.  If not for Kreuger's mismanagement of Skinner (and others), this would be an all-time trade.  Outside of the RK issue, Skinner has been a top line star for the Sabres.  His last two years have erased him from "worst contract" discussions.  It was a resounding win for Sabres

2. Alex Tuch / Peyton Krebs / Östlund + trade.  At the time Adams had was trying to earn his credibility with the fans, Buff media and across the league as a GM that people thought was just given the job to be the owners guy.  Articles and discussion on this board at the time were certain he would get fleeced and end up with limited value from trading Eichel.  Up until Eichel's success in this year's playoff run, the consensus around the league would be that the Sabres won that trade.  Notwithstanding Adams set up as a foundation of the new team culture focusing on players that "want to be Sabres".  Despite LV winning the cup, I don't think anyone would want a do-over on one of the toughest trades (and the ramp-up to it) in team history

Edited July 16, 2023 by Cage

[French Collection]

Hawerchuk.

This guy was an under appreciated player around the league. Housley was Quinn Hughes with even less defense.

[Curt]

Chris Drury - had watched him play for the Avalanche in the playoffs a lot and always really liked him

Ryan O’Reilly - hadn’t watched him much before because he was playing for crap teams, but was super excited when they made the trade to get him to pair with Eichel.

Part of it is that I’m a big fan of this player “type”.  Shutdown defensive centers with the offense of a top-6 center.  

Also, Skinner because that was just a huge W of a trade, and Tuch because it was a good return in a sad situation and all the hometown vibes.

Edited July 16, 2023 by Curt

[RangerDave]

37 minutes ago, Cage said:

2. Alex Tuch / Peyton Krebs / Östlund + trade.  At the time Adams had was trying to earn his credibility with the fans, Buff media and across the league as a GM that people thought was just given the job to be the owners guy.  Articles and discussion on this board at the time were certain he would get fleeced and end up with limited value from trading Eichel.  Up until Eichel's success in this year's playoff run, the consensus around the league would be that the Sabres won that trade.  Notwithstanding Adams set up as a foundation of the new team culture focusing on players that "want to be Sabres".  Despite LV winning the cup, I don't think anyone would want a do-over on one of the toughest trades (and the ramp-up to it) in team history

I liked this, too.  The fact that Eichel won the Cup with LV only helps Adams' reputation among league GM's since it is now a win-win trade.

[Norcal]

Good trades above!

Loved the Hawerchuk  Lafontaine, Hasek, ROR trades and the rest.

Back in the 80s...Danny Gare and Jim Shoenfeld along with Derek Smith went to Detroit for Mike Foligno, Dale McCourt and Brent Peterson.

This trade is memorable to me because when Buffalo and Detroit played that season Lindy Ruff and Gare squared off in a fight.

Also, Mike Foligno and that goal hop were spectacular to my young eyes. 

 

[Pimlach]

12 hours ago, Taro T said:

We have a pretty cool thread about who we hated to see go out the door the most from the Sabres through the years.

But who were your favorite guys brought in via trade.

Mine were:

LaFontaine.  Couldn't stand Turgeon and absolutely thought LaFontaine was one of the top 5 players in the entire league.  That they pulled that one off was incredible.

Hasek.  Had Chicago played him rather than Belfour against the Pens, they might've been Stanley Cup champs.  Killer pedigree, just could never get the dinosaurs coaching him to give him a break.  Didn't expect him to be the best goalie of all time when the trade was made, but DID expect him to be an all-star caliber goalie.

Hawerchuk.  Couldn't stand Housely and thought Ducks was at least a top 30 player in the league and possibly top 10.  Absolutely loved that one.

Briere.  Thought he was really good as a power play specialist in Arizona.  Never impressed by Gratton.  Loved the thought of what he MIGHT become in Buffalo.  At a minimum, they needed somebody that could help the PP.  And Briere would do that.  Anything beyond that would be (and was) gravy.

Zhitnik.  Thought he was LA's 2nd best D-man and thought his ceiling would be way closer to Rob Blake's than it actually was.  Plus, he had one of the, if not the, best hockey names of all-time.  (Lame reason to love a trade, but still loved it.  Still regret never getting a Zhitnik sweater.)

So who were you stoked to see play in a Sabres uni after watching them play for somebody else?

You are missing Robert for Shack.  

[Carmel Corn]

Miro Satan for Millar and Moore was a great acquisition.

[Taro T]

10 hours ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

The trading away of Eichel.  It was the day the Sabres turned the corner and began to head in the right direction.  This is not a shot at Jack, but a recognition that sometimes change can be a good thing. 

Yes, it was.  But had you read the fine print, this thread is for players that CAME to the Sabres via trade, not players that left.  So, the bringing in of Tuch would fit the bill (if in fact that was what you were really happy with).

Edited July 16, 2023 by Taro T

[Taro T]

 

26 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

You are missing Robert for Shack.  

True, but didn't know anything about Robert at the time and Shack was a character.  Ended up ecstatic about the trade, but at the time wasn't overly psyched about it.

[Taro T]

7 hours ago, Zamboni said:

I liked Drury when he came into the league. Followed his career and liked what he brought to the teams he played on. So when the Sabres acquired him, I was pumped! 

Liked the Drury trade, but didn't love it.  Because had always liked Reinprecht and was pretty happy when the Sabres announced they'd traded for HIM.  And then they immediately go and send him to Calgary.  Definitely a mixed feelings trade as would've preferred somebody else going out the door on that one.

But it worked out very well until that fateful day.