The Reason the Sabres Walked Away From an Lyon-to-Oilers Trade

The Edmonton Oilers made multiple attempts to pry goaltender Alex Lyon out of Buffalo, but the Sabres ultimately chose not to make a move. Opting for stability over change for the sake of change, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman reports that the decision was made to avoid creating unnecessary chaos.

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Arguing that the decision was deliberate, in his 32 Thoughts column, Friedman detailed why Buffalo resisted the temptation to move Lyon despite Edmonton’s clear need in goal. Considering the Sabres could have leveraged Edmonton into overpaying and the Sabres had already talked about moving on from their three-goalie concerns, there was a deal to be made there.

The Oilers explored a Lyon trade last summer and again earlier this season, but new GM Jarmo Kekalainen was suddenly wary of rocking the boat.

Kekalainen was thinking about the Sabres fan base. Friedman noted hearing from frustrated Sabres fans on Friday who were “aghast” at the idea of trading a red-hot Lyon. There was an understanding that selling high to a desperate Oilers team might be the clever asset play, but with Buffalo finally building momentum, the appetite for disruption is low.

The Oilers weren’t about to give them a piece off the roster that instantly make Buffalo a better team.

Now Is Not The Time to Make Drastic Roster Changes for the Sabres

Kekalainen took over during a three-game win streak — now four after a win over Philadelphia — and immediately challenged his players to push for a playoff spot. What kind of message does it send if he then removes a key piece between the pipes? ‘We want you to win, but we also want you to win despite me making it harder on you.’ According to Friedman, Kekalainen recognized the danger of sending the wrong message at the wrong time.

The Sabres have struggled for years to feel good about themselves. Right now, they do. Moving a goaltender playing well could have undercut that confidence and risked losing the room before Kekalainen’s tenure truly began. In short, Friedman wrote, ‘don’t be the immediate buzzkill.’

The Oilers pivoted and called up Connor Ingram, who will split duties with Calvin Pickard while more is learned about the severity of Tristan Jarry’s injury. Lyon may ultimately be moved, and it might be the Oilers. Friedman reports Kekalainen is believed to like Colten Ellis, and the trade market for Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen remains unclear.

For now, Buffalo’s priority is momentum — and Alex Lyon remains part of it.

Next: Ugly Stats Create An Opportunity in Goal for the Oilers After Setback