The vibe around the KeyBank Center has shifted. It’s weird, honestly. For a decade, January in Buffalo meant looking at mock drafts and wondering which prospect might finally save the franchise. But right now? The Buffalo Sabres are the hottest team in the NHL, and the buffalo sabres hockey rumors flying around aren't about "rebuilding." They are about winning.
As of mid-January 2026, the Sabres have won 14 of their last 16 games. They’ve turned their home ice into a total fortress. New General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen—who took the reins from Kevyn Adams just last month—is suddenly a buyer. That’s a sentence Sabres fans haven't heard in a long time.
But with success comes complicated math. The roster is clicking, but the trade deadline is March 6, and some massive decisions are looming.
The Alex Tuch Dilemma: Stay or Go?
If you want to know what’s actually dominating the buffalo sabres hockey rumors mill, it starts and ends with Alex Tuch. He’s a Syracuse native. He loves Buffalo. He’s basically the heartbeat of that locker room. But he’s also a pending Unrestricted Free Agent (UFA), and the contract talks have hit a bit of a wall.
Rumor has it Tuch is looking for something in the neighborhood of $10.5 million annually for eight years. That is a massive number. Kekalainen is a tough negotiator, and while the Sabres have the cap space—nearly $22 million according to current projections—dropping a double-digit million-dollar contract on a 29-year-old power forward is a legacy-defining move.
Insiders like Chris Johnston and Pierre LeBrun are already connecting the dots. If Buffalo can’t get him under contract by late February, they might be forced to trade him to avoid losing him for nothing. The New York Rangers and Los Angeles Kings are the names coming up most. The Rangers have the cap space this summer and a desperate need for a heavy, playoff-style winger.
The twist? Tuch is playing so well right now that the Sabres might treat him as an "own rental." Even if they don’t sign him, they might keep him for the playoff push and just live with the risk. It’s a gamble that would make most GMs sweat.
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Targeting a Top-Six Forward
Buffalo’s biggest need is pretty clear: they need a top-six scoring forward who can actually fix the power play. While Rasmus Dahlin has been carrying the man-advantage lately, the overall efficiency isn't where it needs to be for a deep run.
Kekalainen is reportedly "aggressively shopping," and his past connections are providing the breadcrumbs.
- Artemi Panarin: The "Breadman" played for Kekalainen in Columbus. He’s in the final year of his deal with the Rangers and has 50 points through 46 games. It sounds like a dream, but Panarin has a full no-movement clause. Would he move to Buffalo? It’s a tough sell unless he thinks this Sabres team is a legit contender.
- Alexis Lafreniere: This is the name getting more traction lately. He’s struggled under Mike Sullivan in New York, recently getting demoted to the lower lines. He’s a former first-overall pick who probably needs a fresh start. Buffalo has the young assets (like Noah Ostlund or even a defensive prospect) to make a move like this happen.
- Yegor Chinakhov: Another Columbus connection. He’s an RFA this summer, so he wouldn't just be a rental. He fits the age profile of the Sabres' core and provides that secondary scoring they lost when they moved JJ Peterka last summer.
The Goalie Logjam and the Josh Norris Injury
Lindy Ruff has been juggling three goalies, which usually is a disaster. But with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen in Vezina-level form and Alex Lyon currently on the shelf with a lower-body injury, the situation has stabilized.
However, Philadelphia is sniffing around. Danny Briere—who obviously knows the Sabres well—is reportedly interested in Alex Lyon. The Flyers’ crease is a mess, and Lyon is a battle-tested veteran. The Sabres probably don't want to mess with their chemistry right now, but if they can flip a third-string goalie for a middle-round pick or a depth defenseman, Kekalainen might pull the trigger.
On the injury front, the news on Josh Norris is a bit concerning. He left the recent win over the Flyers with an upper-body injury after taking a cross-check to the ribs. If he’s out for any significant time, the pressure to trade for a forward goes from "maybe" to "mandatory."
Why the 2026 NHL Draft Changes Everything
It’s now a "done deal" that Buffalo will host the 2026 NHL Draft in June. This gives the front office even more incentive to be relevant. You don't want to host the draft while your team is sitting at home.
The emergence of Radim Mrtka has also changed the trade math. Mrtka is 6-foot-6 and looks like a future top-four defenseman. His rapid development means the Sabres have an absolute surplus on the blue line. Don't be shocked if you hear rumors about Bowen Byram or even Owen Power being dangled in exchange for an elite, game-breaking forward. It sounds crazy to trade Power, but with Dahlin, Samuelsson, and now Mrtka coming up, the Sabres have a "good problem" they can use as leverage.
Actionable Insights for Sabres Fans
If you are tracking these buffalo sabres hockey rumors, here is how to read the tea leaves over the next few weeks:
- Watch the Tuch contract news: If there’s no extension by February 15, the trade noise will become deafening.
- Monitor Josh Norris’s status: A long-term rib injury forces Kekalainen to make a move sooner rather than later.
- Keep an eye on the Rangers: Between Panarin, Lafreniere, and their interest in Tuch, Buffalo and New York are likely trade partners.
- Check the goalie starts: If Colten Ellis gets more starts while Lyon is out, it means the Sabres are showcasing him or preparing to move Lyon.
The Sabres haven't been in this position—buyers at the deadline with a legitimate playoff spot—in over a decade. The next few weeks will decide if this "heater" is just a flash in the pan or the start of a new era in Buffalo hockey.
The move is to watch the secondary market for forwards. If the price for a guy like Panarin is too high, expect Kekalainen to pivot toward a younger, controllable asset like Lafreniere or Chinakhov who fits the 2026 and 2027 window.