Sabres covet veteran left-handed defenseman; to pursue trade, free agent markets

With three top-six forwards and a brand new No. 1 netminder under their banner after a frenzied draft weekend, the Buffalo Sabres now have their sights transfixed on the blue line.

"I probably need a veteran UFA defenseman or I have to trade for one," general manager Tim Murray told reporters. "I've been talking to teams about a left-shot D."

Having sent Nikita Zadorov to the Colorado Avalanche as the centerpiece of the deal that landed Ryan O'Reilly, the Sabres have but four practiced NHL defensemen on their roster.

Murray has had success acquiring assets through trade, but the free agent market presents the best option in landing the defenseman he covets.

Johnny Oduya, Andrej Sekera, Francois Beauchemin, and Paul Martin lead a glut of veteran left-handed rearguards on the brink of unrestricted free agency.