Jack Quinn Dangled as Trade Bait After Career Year in Buffalo

The Buffalo Sabres just snapped a 15-year playoff drought and won a series against Boston before falling to Montreal in seven games. Now they’re trying to build on that momentum — and it sounds like a key forward might be on the move.

According to The Fourth Period, the Sabres are actively shopping Jack Quinn in trade talks. The 24-year-old winger just posted a career-high 51 points in the regular season and added seven more in the playoffs. That’s a breakout year by any measure.

Quinn was reportedly part of a package Buffalo offered to Winnipeg for goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. The proposed deal included the fourth overall pick in the draft, starting goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Quinn, and at least one more asset, per The Fourth Period’s Dave Pagnotta. But the Jets walked away from that offer, according to The Hockey News.

The Sabres clearly think they need to upgrade in net to make a deeper playoff run. Hellebuyck would have been a massive get, but Winnipeg’s asking price was apparently too steep.

Quinn has spent his whole career in Buffalo since debuting in 2021-22. He’s put up 148 points in the regular season over four years. He’s young, he’s productive, and he’s exactly the kind of asset teams want when they’re building for a run. But that also makes him valuable trade currency.

Buffalo hasn’t confirmed anything publicly. General manager Kevyn Adams has been quiet about specific names. But the team has already made front-office moves this offseason, hiring former Sabres forward Tim Kennedy as director of player development. Kennedy had been a development coach with the club for five years.

The Sabres have a window now. They made the playoffs for the first time in forever and they want to stay there. Moving Quinn could bring back help in net or on defense. It could also backfire if he keeps producing like he did this year.

Teams usually don’t trade away 24-year-olds coming off career years unless they’re getting something serious in return. Whether that happens before the draft or later in the summer is the question.