The Buffalo Sabres’ ability to defend their Atlantic Division title just got tougher.The Florida Panthers swung a blockbuster trade with the Ottawa Senators on Sunday, acquiring Brady Tkachuk for three first-round picks and a second-round pick.Tkachuk forcing his way to Florida to play with his brother Matthew changes the balance of power in what is already arguably the NHL’s deepest division. Yes, the Senators got weaker. But the Panthers, who missed the playoffs this season after winning the Stanley Cup two straight years, are going to be back with a vengeance. An injury-riddled season for Florida allowed for a changing of the guard in the division, but the Panthers will now have an even stronger lineup for at least the next few seasons.So, as we enter the most important two-week stretch of the offseason, what does the Tkachuk blockbuster mean for Buffalo?Why the Senators traded Brady Tkachuk to the Panthers in an NHL blockbusterJulian McKenzie1. Should this change how Sabres view Alex Tuch and Bowen Byram situations?Alex Tuch is now less than two weeks away from being able to hit unrestricted free agency as the top forward on the market in a league flush with cap space. The door is not closed on Tuch returning to Buffalo, even if the signs have been pointing toward him hitting the open market. TSN’s Darren Dreger reported Monday morning that the Sabres are circling back to re-engage with Tuch about a possible extension.Deadlines always spur action, and that’s the case here. When the decision approaches, will Tuch decide that staying in Buffalo is the best situation for his family? Will he take a little less to stay with the Sabres as they enter a window of contention? Brock Boeser ended up doing something similar last summer, sticking around in Vancouver after testing the market.The question, though, is whether the Sabres should bend a bit on their price in light of the Tkachuk news. There is a world and a price where bringing Tuch back makes sense. The Sabres are wise to keep that door open and try to find some common ground. That doesn’t mean they should be desperate. I still think a $10 million cap hit is too much for Tuch on a long-term deal here. But the Sabres can’t be eager to get worse right now.That same thinking applies to Bowen Byram on a different scale. It seems like convincing him to sign a long-term extension would require a bit of an overpay. Who knows if there’s a number that would convince him to forego unrestricted free agency next summer. Maybe there isn’t one. There is always the option to hang onto him and keep him for the final year of his deal. Getting value would be ideal, but the trade has to make the Sabres better in the short term.2. Should they gear up for a big trade?Jarmo Kekäläinen has already been heavily involved in some big trade discussions. Around the trade deadline, he was close to acquiring Blues defenseman Colton Parayko. The Sabres were also tied to St. Louis center Robert Thomas ahead of the deadline, too. The Sabres have some limitations when it comes to fishing for a trade. No-trade clauses don’t work in their favor the same way they do for Vegas and Florida. Even a star player like Jason Robertson, who is a restricted free agent, can control his next destination by refusing to sign an extension.