Sabres pull off multi-piece trade hours before Draft

The Buffalo Sabres have struck again just hours before the NHL Draft, executing a multi-piece trade with the Anaheim Ducks that reshapes their draft-day positioning and adds another young piece to their growing core.

According to reports, Buffalo has acquired promising young defenseman Olen Zellweger from Anaheim, sending forward prospect Anton Wahlberg and the No. 45 overall pick in return. The move comes as the Sabres continue an aggressive push to leverage draft assets into more immediate NHL-ready talent.

Zellweger has long been viewed as a high-upside offensive defenseman with strong skating ability and puck-moving instincts. While still developing into a full-time NHL role, he projects as a dynamic addition to Buffalo’s blue line, especially in a system that values mobile defenders capable of driving transition play.

For Anaheim, the deal continues a broader reshaping of their prospect pool. Wahlberg, a power forward with size and upside, gives the Ducks another long-term project up front, while the No. 45 pick adds additional draft capital in a deep class.

The Sabres, meanwhile, are clearly operating with urgency. After already reshuffling parts of their roster earlier in the week, Buffalo is signaling that it intends to accelerate its competitive timeline rather than stockpile future picks. Moving a mid-second-round selection along with a recent prospect like Wahlberg underlines their willingness to pay for players who can contribute sooner rather than later.

Chatter still suggests that a much bigger move could be in the cards for Buffalo tonight. Stay tuned.