Sabres Add Two Defensemen
Buffalo acquired defensemen Logan Stanley and Luke Schenn from Winnipeg for forward Isak Rosen, defenseman Jacob Bryson, and a conditional 2027 third-round pick. The move signals Buffalo's push to shore up their blue line as the playoff race intensifies.
Both defensemen are pending unrestricted free agents, making this a pure rental acquisition for Buffalo's playoff push. Logan Stanley carries a $1.25 million cap hit, while Luke Schenn's is $2.75 million, though Winnipeg will retain 50% of Schenn's salary for the remainder of the season. The 6-foot-7, 27-year-old Stanley was a first-round pick by the Jets in 2016 (18th overall). He brings significant size to the Sabres' blue line and is in the midst of a career year offensively, with nine goals and 21 points through 59 games. Schenn, 36, is a veteran of over 1,100 NHL games and a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020 and 2021. Known for his physical, stay-at-home style, he led the Jets with 139 hits this season and is the NHL's all-time leader in hits by a defenseman. The move was not without cost, as the Sabres parted with their 2021 first-round pick (14th overall), Isak Rosen. The 22-year-old winger was a highly-regarded prospect known for his speed and offensive skill, having been productive for the AHL's Rochester Americans. This trade came after another reported deal fell through earlier in the week. The Sabres had an agreement to acquire defenseman Colton Parayko from the St. Louis Blues, but Parayko used his no-trade clause to block the move. Joining Rosen in Winnipeg is 28-year-old defenseman Jacob Bryson, a 2017 fourth-round pick who played 289 games for Buffalo. Like the players Buffalo acquired, Bryson is a pending unrestricted free agent.
