Potential Sabres Trade Or Free Agent Acquisitions - Rickard Rakell

We are continuing to look at potential options for the Sabres, now that veteran Patrick Kane has returned with Chicago . Some of the possibilities are not going to match Tuch's stats, but any additions could provide some relief to the pressure that youngsters Konsta Helenius, Jiri Kulich , or Noah Ostlund will be under to make up the deficit.

Kekalainen ideally is looking for someone who could make up as much of the 60-to-70 point production that he lost with Tuch, or someone who can fill the leadership gap and/or add some snarl and sandpaper to the middle-six, with the trade of Jordan Greenway to Chicago.

Forward Rickard Rakell , similar to teammate Bryan Rust , was expected to be a trade commodity last season, but the Pittsburgh Penguins unexpected run to the playoffs nixed that plan. This season, many are expecting the Pens to compete for the playoffs again, but with veterans Sidney Crosby , Evgeni Malkin , Kris Letang , and Erik Karlsson another year older, GM Kyle Dubas could become a seller closer to the trade deadline if Pittsburgh falls behind in the playoff race.