The Buffalo Sabres have traded forward Viktor Neuchev to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for defenseman Gavin Bayreuther. Bayreuther, a veteran with NHL and AHL experience, has been assigned to the Sabres' AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans. The deal adds depth to Buffalo's defensive lineup.
On January 24, 2026, the Buffalo Sabres announced a trade with the Carolina Hurricanes, acquiring defenseman Gavin Bayreuther in return for forward Viktor Neuchev. This move bolsters the Sabres' blueline with an experienced player who can serve as a call-up option from the American Hockey League.
Bayreuther, a ninth-year professional, has appeared in 122 NHL games across four seasons with the Dallas Stars and Columbus Blue Jackets, recording five goals and 23 assists for 28 points. In the AHL this season, he tallied four goals and nine assists in 33 games with the Chicago Wolves, contributing to a plus-3 rating. Over his AHL career, spanning 271 games with Chicago, Texas, and Cleveland, Bayreuther has amassed 29 goals and 101 assists for 130 points. As a rookie, he reached the Calder Cup Finals with Texas in the 2017-18 season.
In exchange, the Sabres sent Neuchev, their third-round pick (74th overall) in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, to Carolina. The 22-year-old forward is in his third North American season and has recorded six goals and 10 assists in 34 games with the Rochester Americans during the 2025-26 campaign. Across 130 AHL games over three seasons with Rochester, Neuchev has totaled 24 goals and 42 assists for 66 points, along with a plus-5 rating.
The trade provides the Hurricanes with a promising young forward, while the Sabres gain seasoned defensive depth amid their ongoing roster adjustments.
