Chris Stewart came to the Buffalo Sabres from St. Louis as part of the Ryan Miller trade a year ago today. He doesn’t regret his tenure with Buffalo, but given that the Sabres are sitting in the NHL basement and his contract set to expire this summer, a trade to a contender wouldn’t upset him.
“If it does happen, I’m chomping at the bit,” Stewart told the Buffalo News’ Mike Harrington.
The prospect of veterans being traded hasn’t been a taboo subject in Buffalo. Sabres coach Ted Nolan tried to use the possibility of being dealt as a motivational tool earlier this month.
“Maybe somebody will see you and want you,” Nolan suggested to his players at the time.
Stewart has 11 goals and 25 points in 61 games while playing for the offensively anemic Sabres. The 27-year-old forward comes with a $4.15 million annual salary.
It’s believed that Boston recently expressed an interest in Stewart’s services, per ESPN, but Buffalo’s reported asking price of a second-round pick and a prospect might be a roadblock.
Stewart on @WGR550: We had our chances. Couldn't get it done. They're a playoff team, they're hungry, they got it done. #BUFvsFLA
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) February 28, 2015