By Budd Bailey, Buffalo Sports Page Columnist
No. 86: June 30, 2017 – The Sabres trade Tyler Ennis, Marcus Foligno and a third-round draft choice in 2018 (Jack McBain) to Minnesota for Marco Scandella, Jason Pominville and a fourth-round draft choice in 2018 (Linus Lindstrand Cronholm ).
As the Sabres rebuilt from the wreckage of the previous couple of seasons as of 2017, it was rather obvious that the team needed some help on defense. There were a few pieces around, but not enough of them.
That led to the swap with Minnesota that saw each team giving up a pair of players and a draft pick. Tyler Ennis had done some good things here but was bothered by injuries in previous seasons and admitted he needed a change of scenery. The Wild hoped Marcus Foligno could become something of a power forward. Minnesota saved some dollars in the transaction, but still it didn’t work out too well for it.
Scandella has been a regular in Buffalo for the past two years, but he probably ranks as a slight disappointment so far. Pominville returned to Buffalo as he left it, a classy veteran who could score a few goals and be a good presence in the locker room. The Sabres came out ahead on the swap.
(Follow Budd on Twitter @WDX2BB)
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