Buffalo’s secret trade plans surface after failed blockbuster

The Buffalo Sabres have been busy this summer, working the phones, and one name keeps surfacing in trade conversations. But the most revealing detail is just how long the club has been willing to part with him.

According to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, the Sabres have been shopping forward Jack Quinn as trade bait since before the 2026 NHL Draft. If Buffalo ultimately moves him, the objective reportedly centers on acquiring an impact roster player in return.

The Quinn trade chatter is not entirely new. Reports from around draft weekend revealed that Quinn was believed to be part of a massive package the Sabres offered to the Winnipeg Jets in pursuit of superstar goaltender Connor Hellebuyck.

That deal, which reportedly included the fourth overall pick, starting netminder Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Quinn, and at least one additional asset, ultimately fell apart. Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff was reportedly unwilling to pull the trigger despite the significant haul.

According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, the two sides came close to finalizing the trade, and Hellebuyck himself had reportedly approved a move to Buffalo. Still, Cheveldayoff chose to hold onto his Vezina-caliber backbone rather than gamble on a package that carried real uncertainty.

The fact that Quinn remains available and continues to be dangled suggests the Sabres front office views him as a movable piece in a larger roster overhaul. Quinn has shown flashes of being an NHL-caliber contributor, but Buffalo appears willing to sacrifice that upside if the right established player becomes available.

The failed Hellebuyck pursuit also sheds light on how aggressively the Sabres are trying to accelerate their timeline. Offering a top-four draft pick, a starting goaltender, and a young forward in a single package is the kind of move a franchise makes when it believes it is close to turning a corner.

Whether another team steps up with the type of impact player Buffalo is seeking remains to be seen. Quinn's trade value is well known around the league at this point, and interested clubs will be weighing whether his potential justifies the cost.