from Fluto Shinzawa of the Boston Globe,

It could be quiet on the trade front this season. Too many teams are already up against the cap. Clubs also have to re-sign their own players this summer. The latter reason will make rentals on expiring contracts very valuable leading up to the March 5 trade deadline.

Prices will be “stupid high,” as one executive put it. In other words, it’s a good time to be a GM with expiring contracts on your roster.

New Sabres boss Tim Murray is in a great position. Buffalo’s big-time UFAs-to-be are Tallinder, Ryan Miller, Matt Moulson, and Steve Ott. The Sabres already have two first-round picks, their own and the one they acquired from the Islanders in the Thomas Vanek trade. Murray can land at least one more first-rounder if he moves any of his expiring contracts. He can then flip those picks prior to the draft in June for NHL-ready assets.

If Miller decides to re-sign, Buffalo’s rebuild might not take very long.

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