HUGE BOOST: Buffalo Sabres unexpectedly make No. 11 available in trade talks consigning huge deal

The NHL Draft is less than a month away in Las Vegas, and we’ve already seen the Chicago Blackhawks and New York Islanders trade picks in anticipation of the event.

On today’s episode of Daily Faceoff Live, Frank Seravalli discusses the possibility of the Buffalo Sabres making their No. 11 pick available for trade ahead of a crucial off-season.

Tyler Yaremchuk: We talked earlier this week about the Devils potentially making their No. 10 pick available. Is there a sense of urgency in Buffalo, and do you think the No. 11 pick could be up for grabs?

Frank Seravalli: I recently spoke with Kevyn Adams on the Frankly Speaking Podcast about the team’s ongoing rebuild. The Sabres are five years into their rebuild with little to show for it, enduring the longest playoff drought in professional sports since 2011. Adams acknowledged the need for progress, not necessarily to become a Stanley Cup contender immediately, but to at least be a playoff contender. It’s notable that if the team had matched their previous season’s 91 points, they would have made the playoffs via a tiebreaker. Given this, the No. 11 pick, which might take 3-5 years to develop, may not hold as much value for Adams if he wants to keep his job. If the right deal presents itself to improve the team now, that’s what the franchise needs.