The new NHL season is just two weeks old, and trade rumors already are heating up.
One team to watch before the trade deadline: The Buffalo Sabres, who are in a full rebuild and have nine players eligible for unrestricted free agency at the end of the season.
According to multiple reporters, including ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun and TSN’s Bob McKenzie, Sabres right winger Chris Stewart is drawing interest from teams around the league, including the Boston Bruins.
“Speaking of those two second-round picks the Bruins got for (Johnny) Boychuk, those could come in handy before the March trade deadline if Boston makes a move or two,” LeBrun writes. “The Bruins most likely will try to add a top-six winger and it’s believed that among the wingers of interest to Boston is Chris Stewart of the Buffalo Sabres, a pending UFA whom Buffalo will most likely move. Now, whether or not the Sabres would move him to a rival within the division remains to be seen.”
McKenzie spoke about Stewart during Tuesday night’s edition of “Insider Trading” on TSN: “He’s much in demand. There’s a lot of teams interested in him. One of those teams — the Boston Bruins.”
Stewart is in the final year of his contract with a salary cap hit of $4.15 million, per CapGeek. He’s eligible for unrestricted free agency July 1.
The 26-year-old forward tallied 26 points (15 goals, 11 assists) in 63 games between the Sabres and St. Louis Blues last season. He has 229 points (115 goals, 114 assists) in 388 career NHL games.
Stewart was selected 16th overall by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2006 NHL draft. He has been traded twice in his career.
Photo via Timothy T. Ludwig/USA TODAY Sports Images
