Buffalo Sabres Eye Anthony Mantha as Trade Season Heats Up

The Buffalo Sabres are navigating a pivotal moment as the NHL’s trade season unfolds. Following the recent departures of winger Alex Tuch and defenseman Bowen Byram, General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen is on the hunt for offensive reinforcements to compensate for the 44 goals lost with their exits. As the team looks toward potential acquisitions, the pressure mounts on younger players like Konsta Helenius, Jiri Kulich, and Noah Ostlund to step up and fill the void.

In the weeks ahead, the Sabres will explore various options to bolster their lineup. While any new additions may not replicate Tuch’s impressive statistics, they could alleviate the burden on the team’s emerging talents. Kekalainen is keen to replace the 60 to 70 points lost with Tuch’s departure, and one intriguing possibility remains unsigned: Anthony Mantha.

The 31-year-old winger is coming off a resurgence season, having netted a career-high 33 goals with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Mantha, who was a first-round draft pick by Detroit, had previously recorded back-to-back 20-plus goal seasons with the Red Wings but has faced challenges with injuries throughout his 11-year NHL career. After being traded to Washington in 2021, he found himself with Vegas at the 2024 trade deadline and played just 13 games for Calgary in 2025.

Pittsburgh signed Mantha to an incentive-based one-year deal, which paid off with his best offensive performance to date. Now, he is seeking a contract that offers more security and an increase from his current $4.5 million average annual value. Historically known for his less-than-stellar defensive play, Mantha posted a +10 rating last season and was featured prominently on the Penguins’ power play. The Sabres could view him as a suitable replacement for Tuch on the man advantage, especially as free agency progresses and options dwindle, with Mantha and Buffalo native Patrick Kane emerging as potential targets.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.