Report: Sabres actively trying to trade veteran winger

For about the 100th season in a row (actually 12th) if appears as if the Buffalo Sabres will NOT make the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Sabres are currently six points back of the Pittsburgh Penguins for the final Wild Card playoff spot in the NHL's Eastern Conference and would have to leapfrog three teams to find themselves in a playoff spot. In other words: it ain't impossible, but it ain't likely either.

This, of course, has been the story for the Sabres and their fans for well over a decade now. The thing is, this time the Sabres actually look to be building in the right direction and have the pieces of playoff team moving forward. They're still one of the youngest teams in the NHL though, so they have some time to sort things out. With that in mind, don't be surprised if they elect to be quiet at the NHL's trade deadline in March. While the Sabres have gone full on "fire sale" mode in past seasons, this time around they actually have veteran players worth holding onto, as they have contributed to the team's improving culture.

That means I wouldn't expect players like Jeff Skinner, Kyle Okposo, Zemgus Girgensons and Craig Anderson to be bandied about in trade talks, but NHL insider Elliotte Friedman reports that 29 year old forward Vinnie Hinostroza is expected to be moved though and that GM Kevyn Adams is actively working to find a trade partner and a new destination for Hinostroza.

From Friedman's latest 32 Thoughts column for Sportsnet:

25. The Sabres are also trying to find Vinnie Hinostroza a place to play. He’s been limited to 19 games, with eight assists.

- Elliotte Friedman

Like Friedman says, Hinostroza has played just 19 games for the Sabres this season, putting up eight assists. In 353 career games split between the Sabres, Chicago Blackhawks, Florida Panthers and Arizona Coyotes Hinostroza has 51 goals and 145 points. He put up a respectable 13 goals and 25 points with the Sabres last season and managed 16 goals and 39 points during his career best season in 2018-19 with the Coyotes.