Of all the talk, rumors and reports from this summer’s NHL free agency period, the one player that the Sabres have remained connected to the entire time has been Bobby Ryan.
While the Sabres have been linked in talks surrounding Ryan for most of the summer, the fact that acquiring him will take a significant trade package is likely why he still remains on the West coast. Based on what assets the Ducks are rumored to be asking for, it seems as if that bounty has been a challenge for any team hoping to acquire the winger.
Since everyone is an armchair GM at heart, I thought it would be fun to entertain what it might take to wrestle Bobby Ryan away from Anaheim and out to Buffalo.
Most non-insiderr reports circling around Ryan’s availability have indicated that NHL-ready talent is a must in any trade offer, while things are murky as to the Ducks desire for either a center, offensive or defensive help in the package they receive. No matter what is offered, however, a first round pick will need to be included in any offer made.
Whether or not a center, winger, defenseman or some combination of the three is what the Ducks are asking for, it is clear that at least a top-six forward and a defenseman capable of playing significant minutes will be a major part of the trade package.
The Sabres have more than enough wingers who they could offer up in a trade to any team, but their lack of depth at center is concerning. While players like Nathan Gerbe, Ville Leino, Jason Pominville, Drew Stafford and Thomas Vanek all contribute to depth in the top-nine; the Sabres only have Tyler Ennis and Cody Hodgson as valuable center prospects.
While Ennis and Hodgson would easily meet the Ducks’ asking price for Ryan, Buffalo can’t afford to lose anymore centers, which complicates matters. Obviously Leino isn’t going to garner any interest on the open market. Pominville and Vanek make too much money to offer any sort of cap relief to the Ducks for unloading Ryan’s contract.
Stafford is the player with the highest ceiling and I could certainly see Gerbe serving as an intriguing acquisition for a number of teams. However, I don’t see Gerbe being a good fit in this particular package. With the full understanding that simply offering up the Sabres’ trash in a trade won’t accomplish a damn thing, Stafford and a first round pick would certainly provide an adequate foundation to build on with the Ducks.
A defenseman would need to be added to the offer from Buffalo to balance the scale and provide the Ducks with adequate return heading into the season. While the Sabres have nearly a dozen NHL defensemen under contract, only a pair seem to be worthy of inclusion in any trade talks. As Die by the Blade indicated this week, Jordan Leopold and Andrej Sekera are the only two defensemen the Sabres would be capable of shopping.
Both Leopold and Sekera are affordable options who bring two-way skills to the blueline. Leopold has given far more return than his current contract would indicate. However, with only the 2012-13 seaosn separating him from UFA status, I doubt a team like the Ducks would be interested. Sekera’s age and contract make him an easy player to trade and his ability to play anywhere north of 20 minutes a night makes him an attractive trade option in some circles.
Based on who the Sabres have to offer and what the Ducks would likely be seeking in return for Ryan, I’d be comfortable with offering Sekera, Stafford and a first round pick as an initial offer. Of course, it would be safe to assume that deal wouldn’t get the job done.
I think the Ducks will not only be looking for one more piece to fill their needs, I think they’re fully aware they’re in the driver’s seat when it comes to making this deal. They can easily demand that a certain player or prospect be included or the deal will go away.
What ultimately needs to be weighed out is what the Sabres will be willing to give up, versus what they would need to give up in order to acquire Ryan. If I was making formal offers, my initial salvo would include Stafford, Sekera and a first round pick to see how close I would be to closing the deal.
Two NHL players who are capable of filling significant roles in addition to a first rounder is certainly a serious package. Should the Ducks refuse, I think adding Joel Armia to the deal would be as far as I would extend myself.
Giving up Armia would show a willingness to deal with Anaheim’s high demands without simply rolling out a few also-rans like so many message board users typically do. Armia is showing some serious offensive skill and is primed to break into the league in 2013. Acquiring Ryan would fill in any spot that may be open for Armia, making the loss far less significant than at a position where the Sabres are thin, like center.
Of all the prospects the Sabres have, Armia has the most upside and would not leave the Sabres as short as dealing a player like Brayden McNabb would. If Luke Adam or Mark Pysyk were to get this deal done, then I’d push hard for one of those two as the sweetener, it just doesn’t seem very realistic to think that would close the deal.
I love the idea of acquiring Bobby Ryan, however I don’t love the idea of chopping out four major pieces in order to acquire him. If a deal could be done without sacrificing a blue chip prospect, it would have been made already. I feel that a more realistic option is to find some veteran help via free agency (see: Arnott, Jason) and stand pat heading into the 2013 offseason.
Bottom line: If I need to make the deal, I’d offer Armia, Sekera, Stafford and a first in exchange for Ryan and whatever mid-round selection would be bound to be included in the deal from Anaheim. However, my inner GM would sign some veteran help at center to shore up obvious shortcomings and trade water until the big pay day in the summer of 2013.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
