NHL analyst Rob Couch of NHL Trade Rumors has linked the Jets to the Sabres' rising top-four defenseman Mattias Samuelsson via trade to solidify their back end. The Winnipeg Jets do not have the league's best blue line, but <a href='https://www.hockeylatest.com/nhl-team/winnipeg-jets/nhl-analyst-reveals-whether-the-jets-could-shock-the-nhl-and-go-all-the-way-this-season' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>they have cap space and a win-now mindset as they chase the Stanley Cup.</a> While Erik Karlsson, Rasmus Andersson, Mario Ferraro, and Bowen Byram are swimming in trade rumors, there is an oft-less-discussed <a href='https://www.nhltraderumors.me/2025/08/jets-should-target-sabres-defenseman.html' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Buffalo Sabres blue liner who can be an even better fit per NHL analyst Rob Couch</a>: Mattias Samuelsson. Samuelsson has five years left on his deal, so the years the Jets would have him could appeal to them since it's harder to get players to sign or be acquired through a trade. He would not be in the same role as he is in with the Sabres, and thus, have some relief. The Jets are a stronger defensive team than the Sabres and have an elite goalie to stop mistakes. Samuelsson wouldn't have to be played on the top pairing, but rather on the third pairing and could play his natural side. - Rob Couch Mattias Samuelsson, 25, labored in a non-playoff Sabres team last year and paid the price for it, like many of his teammates in that situation. He's battled through injury, but with five years left on his contract, he is a blue-sky chance for Winnipeg to secure a young, term-committed talent, something harder to find through free agency or one-year pacts. NHL insider David Pagnotta states Buffalo is willing to trade him, taking a buyout off the table, and NHL insider Nick Kypreos also revealed last month the Sabres could look to move him and prefer to keep Bowen Byram instead. Re Sabres: Maybe they're really questioning Mattias Samuelsson and where he is health-wise constantly, could his salary be moved out and maybe find a way to keep Bo Byram? - Nick Kypreos <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/NHLRumourReport/status/1946356669887238300'><div style='border:1px solid #CCCCCC;border-radius:10px;padding:20px;width:300px;'>Loading from Twitter ...</div></a></blockquote></div> Samuelsson in Winnipeg would not be required to log heavy top-pairing minutes. Instead, he would slot into the Jets' third pairing, where their improved defensive structure and high-end goalie would ease the burden. <h3>Samuelsson is a Versatile Defenseman who can Play Both the Left and Right Side</h3> He is capable of playing either side of the position, which brings some flexibility as well as an obvious upgrade over depth options like Haydn Fleury or Logan Stanley. The Ville Heinola experiment appears to be playing itself out, so it is all the more important that the Jets fortify their defensive depth. Acquiring Samuelsson would stabilize the lineup and also alleviate the unease of next summer's looming free-agent decisions. With the cap space they have available, Winnipeg can solidify every spot, and Samuelsson could be a shrewd, low-key addition that keeps them in contention at the top of the Western Conference.