The Buffalo Sabres are not very good thus far this season - still winless three games into the latest NHL campaign, their goal differential stands at minus-10 after they were outshot 44-12 in their most recent 5-1 loss to the Anaheim Ducks.
As they search for their first victory of the year, head coach Ted Nolan told reporters after the Ducks game that it was like watching "an NHL team playing a peewee team."
This poor early season performance and disastrous goal differential is due in large part to their underwhelming defense. One of those underwhelming defenseman, Tyler Myers, has consistently been the topic of trade speculation since the beginning of the season - and even as far back as June.
It is being reported currently by Eklund at Hockeybuzz.com that the very same Anaheim Ducks that thrashed the Sabres are in, what a source calls, "preliminary talks which could be pushed to the forefront by another team's involvement" in regards to Myers.
A few days ago, TSN NHL Insider Darren Dreger had this to say about Myers and the Sabres future: "Tyler Myers for the Buffalo Sabres - his name is out there now. The Sabres are downplaying it, but reality sucks sometimes. And the reality for the Sabres is, they're going to be real bad this year, so why not improve your chances in the draft? Detroit believed to be interested, they've had talks about a trade. And perhaps Anaheim as well."
Now, it sounds like Detroit is no longer in the running, possibly being replaced by the Philadelphia Flyers, whose involvement may cause negotiations with Anaheim to heat up.
The Flyers have a plethora of young defensive prospects in their system, but new general manager Ron Hextall has consistently preached patience in regards to elevating the youngsters to the NHL.
As Eklund's source notes, "The fact that the team wants those guys to develop increases the probability of a trade happening actually..."
The 24-year-old Myers had a fantastic rookie season in 2009-10, but has since been unable to recapture that form. He is currently signed through 2018-19 with a cap hit of $5.5 million.
