Buffalo Sabres
Miles Wood is originally from Buffalo, New York and it’s not uncommon to see players wind up back home. While this more or less commonly occurs through the free agency route, it is a factor some general managers consider when trading players to provide cap relief or if they become expendable. The Buffalo Sabres are trying to be recognized as an up-and-coming team that could use another established NHL forward on their roster to bolster their scoring depth. While cap space isn’t an issue for the Sabres, they’ve been the subject of rumors throughout the summer and are supposedly making defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen available.
Like Wood, Ristolainen might have become an excess asset on the Sabres blue line after drafting Rasmus Dahlin first overall in 2018, along with acquisitions of players like Brandon Montour and Colin Miller over the last year. Ristolainen does come with a hefty $5.4 million AAV and has two more years left on his contract after this coming season. Having said that, the Devils already acquired a Ristolainen-caliber player this offseason (PK Subban). While Ristolainen would cost much more than just Miles Wood, it’s not inconceivable to think the Devils could still send No. 44 to Western New York for a draft pick or two.