you can take out like 2 1sts in the karlsson trade, maybe throw in later pick or lesser prospect

Don’t think the Sabres do that

I can see Seattle being a fit. Curious to get your thoughts on this:

TO SEA:
Ek65 (2.5m retain), Sturm, Lorentz, Zetterlund

To SJS:
SEA 1st 2023, Wright, Driedger, Schultz, Wennberg

My assumption is Driedger, Schultz, Wennberg are more people you want off the roster.

I think that`s a pretty fair trade but, even with more of a win now mindset I don`t think Seattle is ready to move on from Wright just yet.
I`d also guess San Jose would want to keep a guy like Zetterlund who has a decent offensive upside on the wings to play with Couture and Hertl.
Seattle has a lot of wings that`s why I traded Sprong and Tolvanen but, they`re kind of thin at center IMO I`d keep Wennberg for now

They might if they can find a Vet to be the starter next year (Andersen, Raanta, Korpisalo etc or trade for Gibson or Hellebuyck)
You have Levi who looks like he has taken Luukkonen`s spot as the Goalie of the Future and if you decide you want Levi as the starter in the AHL next year, Comrie will probably be the backup making Luukkonen the odd man out.
It might take more than what I offered though, maybe another 3rd rounder instead of a 5th but, I think it`s close.

I know Karlsson`s defense gets no respect but, he is good in the D-Zone and obviously great in the O-Zone.
Sprong had a great offensive year playing the 4th line and 2nd PP but, he is rumored to have attitude problems and was scratched quite a few times in the Reg. Season and Play-offs, probably lowers his value a little.
Schultz is good in his roll, won`t say anything bad about him
Drieger is a cap dump, takes a little extra to get him as a part of the deal
Tolvanen played well in Seattle but, nothing crazy his value isn`t super high either.
I think the 3 1st rounders are fair considering, Schultz is the only sure thing SJS are getting in the deal.

I do get why anyone would be hesitant to move on from Wright.

The Sabres like UPL
They aren’t gonna give him away
At the very least, it likely costs more

Seattle would Wright in a heartbeat for EK65

Fair, I don't think a 3rd and a 5th is giving him away but, I personally value goalies lower than almost everyone.
In my view Seattle would like a young-ish goalie with some potential and Buffalo might want more picks to make a trade and again I view UPL as the odd man out.

I'm sure they would consider it but, Seattle again, is thin at center. They have Beniers for the future and nothing else. Wright is cheap and despite a tough 1st year he can improve, I'd trade more picks to avoid giving him up.

So half of your premise is likely wrong
The Sabres have had a tone of draft picks the last few years
To the point where we aren’t even gonna be able to sign all the guys we’d want to
We’ve had 11 picks in the top2 rounds over the last 3 years
And that’s on top of one of the youngest rosters in the NHL

So we aren’t looking to add more picks
If anything, we are looking to consolidate the picks/prospects for higher end talent

If we were to trade UPL,
it would likely be as part of a package for a goalie like Hellebuyck (for example)

They've had a ton of picks but, if you trade with Anaheim and try to get Gibson, they already have a young goalie like Dostal who is younger and arguably more promising.
If I was Anaheim I'd want future picks for players or trades of my own. Picks are a more flexible asset than a specific player since not everyone needs a goalie or player.
Now if Buffalo made no trades after hypothetically trading UPL than I would be in total agreement it makes no sense but, I'm looking at the Seattle side of things not the Buffalo one.
If I was the Sabres today, I'd trade for Gibson, the team is ready to seriously battle for a playoff spot and need a better Goalie.

Well for a trade to be realistic, you have to look at BOTH sides
Since u admittedly aren’t doing that, i see no reason to continue this convo

I’ll just reiterate that the Sabres aren’t gonna ship out UPL in a trade like you’re suggesting. We like him quite a bit

Yes, ignore everything I said before that lol.
You might like him but, he`ll probably play behind Levi and possibly another goalie if they chose to sign or trade for one and his value will only drop, I wish you the best of luck with him

Yes, he’s currently behind Levi
Levi isn’t a “sure thing” though (obviously UPL isn’t either)

UPL won’t be 3rd on the depth chart at all though imo
If we did bring in a legit Vet goalie, like Hellebuyck for example, then most likely UPL would be part of the package to acquire him