NHL Rumors: Buffalo Sabres – Draft, Ristolainen, Trade Route, Vesey, and Nylander
The Buffalo Sabres have shown some interest in Jimmy Vesey
© Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
Sabres tried to move up

Joe Yerdon: Buffalo Sabres GM Jason Botterill said that he attempted to move up from the No. 7 spot but the things turned out just fine for them.

Sabres know teams are interested in Ristolainen they’re happy to have him

John Vogl: Sabres GM Botterill on Rasmus Ristolainen: “We value Risto a lot as a player. … We understand there’s going to be inquiries about him. We’re open as an organization to continuing to trying to find ways to improve our team, but we’re very glad to have Risto as part of our organization.”

Sabres likely going the trade route and not the free agent route

Lance Lysowski: GM Botterill said that they will talk to some free agents, but it’s sounding more likely that they’ll go the trade route: “Yeah, there is certainly some high-end talent , but I don’t think there’s the quantity in there.”

Sabres interest in Vesey … Nylander available? Ristolain talks quiet

Brayton Wilson of WGR 550: The Buffalo Sabres are planning on being aggressive this offseason. Elliotte Friedman has reported they have some interest in NY Rangers forward Jimmy Vesey.

Darren Dreger was on WGR 550 yesterday that the Sabres were one of four or five teams that have some interest in Vesey.

Dreger later said that Sabres prospect Alex Nylander could be available in a deal.

“Whether or not he’d be included in the Vesey deal, the sense I got from my Rangers sources last night was that, I don’t want to oversell Buffalo’s involvement in a trade negotiation with the New York Rangers, Buffalo is one of the teams that is interested in Jimmy Vesey. I didn’t get the sense that Nylander had to be involved in that trade, but when I asked about him, I was told that he could be on the move.”

Since being drafted with the eighth pick in the 2016 NHL draft, he’s only appeared in 19 games.

Trade speculation involving defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen has been quiet.