The Sabres have the assets to entice Vancouver into a trade. The bigger question is what, exactly, Buffalo might have to give up.

When Mikko Rantanen was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes, it surprised many, including myself. We knew that the Colorado Avalanche and Rantanen were having difficulty finding common ground for a contract extension.

The Sabres return home for an Atlantic Division showdown. The Buffalo Sabres face the Boston Bruins on Tuesday at KeyBank Center, aiming to put their 1-3-0 road trip, which ended with a 3-2 loss Saturday in Edmonton, behind them.

The B’s could be without Brandon Carlo, who Sacco said was “a little under the weather.” Carlo, who was sporting nasty gash and bruise on his cheekbone courtesy of stray puck in the win over Colorado on Saturday, did practice with the team on Monday and traveled to Buffalo but did not take Tuesday’s morning skate. He’s a game-time decision.