Fansided

5 NHL trades we would love to see this offseason

By Dave Stevenson

BUFFALO, NY - MARCH 23: Ryan O'Reilly #90 of the Buffalo Sabres skates during an NHL game against the Montreal Canadiens on March 23, 2018 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ryan O'Reilly
BUFFALO, NY - MARCH 23: Ryan O'Reilly #90 of the Buffalo Sabres skates during an NHL game against the Montreal Canadiens on March 23, 2018 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ryan O'Reilly /
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Photo by Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images
Photo by Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images /

4. Ryan O’Reilly for Noah Hanifin

BUF gets: D Noah Hanifin

CAR gets: C Ryan O’Reilly

Why the Sabres should do it: The Buffalo Sabres don’t have to trade Ryan O’Reilly. Sure, they already have Jack Eichel and Casey Mittelstadt. But you can never have too many quality centers. And O’Reilly is definitely one. Few centers can be penciled in for 50 points despite heavy defensive deployment. O’Reilly is one of them.

However, the Sabres need to change their culture. And given O’Relly’s comments after the season, he’s a pretty easy candidate to be traded. Noah Hanifin would get Buffalo another young defenseman to build around. A blueline featuring Rasmus Ristolainen, Rasmus Dahlin, and Noah Hanifin isn’t playoff caliber, but it would sure be an exciting one. And one the Sabres could build around.

Why the Hurricanes should do it: The Carolina Hurricanes have needed a franchise center ever since they traded Eric Staal. O’Reilly probably isn’t a franchise center, but he’s about as close to one as they’re going to find. The Hurricanes should be in no rush to trade Hanifin. He’s gold — a young, talented, and controllable defenseman. But if it nets them O’Reilly, trading him would be worth it.

Carolina’s going to making some significant changes. One of them is probably going to be trading for a center. O’Reilly is likely the best center who will be available via a trade unless the Edmonton Oilers decide to trade Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.

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