Buffalo Sabres suspected of eyeing Winnipeg Jets' Logan Stanley to add size and toughness on their blue line

The Buffalo Sabres sit in a wild-card spot heading into the Olympic break, positioning themselves to potentially end the NHL's longest active playoff drought. General manager Jarmo Kekalainen faces a critical decision over the next few weeks about whether to add pieces for a legitimate postseason push.

One area that could use reinforcement is defensive depth. Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman recently wrote that he could see the Sabres looking to add a beefier blueliner, specifically, which opens up an interesting conversation about potential targets once the roster freeze lifts later this month.

Logan Stanley looks to be the final missing piece for the Sabres to book their playoff berth

Logan Stanley of the Winnipeg Jets checks every box for what Buffalo appears to be seeking. The 6-foot-7, 231-pound defenseman brings exactly the kind of size and physical presence Friedman described in his report.

Stanley is having the best offensive season of his career with nine goals, nine assists, and 18 points through 55 games. The 2016 first-round pick has already set new career highs across the board while maintaining his physical edge.

He brings more than just size to the equation. Stanley has registered 91 hits and 97 penalty minutes this season, providing the kind of toughness and edge the Sabres could use on their bottom pairing. His $1.25 million cap hit makes him an affordable addition that would not hamper Buffalo's flexibility.

The main concern for Buffalo is handedness. The Sabres already have plenty of left-shot defensemen and would prefer adding a right-shot blueliner at the deadline. Stanley, meanwhile, focuses his shooting from his left, which might make things a bit more complicated.

But while the Sabres might not get a right-handed shot in the Jets’ D-man, his size and physical toughness make a welcome presence on their backline. His having a career year offensively just adds to his overall appeal and makes pursuing him reasonable if the price is right.

He would give Buffalo another solid option for their bottom pairing without requiring significant assets or cap gymnastics to acquire. The Sabres enter the Olympic break with a 32-19-6 record and 70 points, sitting fourth in the Atlantic Division and holding the top wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.

After 14 consecutive years without playoff hockey, Kekalainen must balance short-term additions with long-term planning. Buffalo returns from the Olympic break on February 25 against the New Jersey Devils before facing a crucial stretch that will determine whether they finally break through to the postseason.

Adding a physical presence like Stanley before the March 6 deadline could provide the depth needed to survive the final push and end the longest playoff drought in NHL history.


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