Trade deadline creates tense days in Buffalo

Without a real hope of the postseason, the Sabres are looking at having a drastically different, and decidedly less veteran roster, by the weekend.

Sabres captain Kyle Okposo speaking with the media in November. (Photo: Joe Yerdon)

Although the NHL trade deadline is a fan’s favorite time of year, for players it can be a truly mixed bag of emotions.

For playoff and Stanley Cup contenders, the questions are always about who might be arriving to help put their team over the top. For teams in the Buffalo Sabres position, the emotions run from anxiety to gloom to disappointment and ultimately to resignation.

Coming to terms about where the team is and about how there may be some beloved players leaving for good is never an enjoyable moment.

“It’s never stress free,” Sabres forward Alex Tuch said. “Doesn’t matter who you are, what team you’re on, it’s never a stress-free situation, honestly. Unless you have a no-move clause, that’s the only time it’s stress-free. Even if you do have a no-move clause and you care about your teammates, it’s still going to cause some stress because you still have to see some friends get traded. Naturally deadline time is always hectic, a lot of articles. Fun for you guys, not so fun for the team, especially when you’re in the place we’re in.”

By now we’ve heard chatter enough from the NHL’s insiders about the Sabres and that they’re sellers in a weird place. They’re not rebuilding, they’re trying to find the correct formula that will make them a perennial playoff team and Stanley Cup contender. They’re young, they have a lot of talent, but also in a place where patience from outside of the organization for them to take the next step ran out years ago.

That combination of factors creates a particular brand of anxiety around the team and the fanbase, one that will lead, ultimately, to seeing some veterans moving on to this year’s contenders to put them over the top, including the current leadership group.

“It’s different, it’s a position I’ve never been in in my entire career, basically,” Sabres captain Kyle Okposo said. “I’ve seen a lot of deadlines come and go and you see guys get moved, you see that it’s part of the business. I’m going to go about my day and be professional and be who I am. I’m not going to change who I am just because of the situation that I’m in. I’m here today and just trying to do the best I can to lead the group.”

Balancing being there for the team now and knowing there might be a new team to be part of by the end of the week is something players have to live with, but it’s something that’s made how tough this season has been that much more difficult to bear.