The Sabres have been a lot better than many would have expected this season. A big part of that is the acquisition of forward Jeff Skinner, who the Sabres picked up in a trade with the Carolina Hurricanes in the offseason. With the way Skinner has fit in next to Jack Eichel, the Sabres have impressed many around the National Hockey League and sit in position to make a run at a playoff berth.

But they’re not there yet.

With Skinner, Eichel and Sam Reinhart as the team’s top line, the goal scoring production has been through the roof. Through 37 games this season, that trio has accounted for 48 goals and 122 points. Acquiring Skinner, who has 26 of those 48 goals, has given the pass-first Eichel a clear go-to guy, while elevating the play of whoever plays alongside them, whether it be Reinhart or Jason Pominville, who has also seen time on the top line this season.

But it’s becoming clear that one line isn’t enough, as the Sabres have lacked any sort of production outside of the top line. The biggest hole on the Sabres is clearly the offensive production from the bottom three lines.

AP Photo Buffalo Sabres forwards Evan Rodrigues (left) and Jeff Skinner (right) celebrate after a goal scored in a game earlier this season. Skinner leads the Sabres with 26 goals scored through 37 games this season.

Outside of Skinner, Eichel and Reinhart, the next two players on the team in points are defensemen — Rasmus Ristolainen and Rasmus Dahlin. Even with those two players, close to half of their production on the year has come on the power play, when they are on the ice with the top line. Both Ristolainen and Dahlin each only have four goals on the year.

The next highest scoring player in terms of points on the team is Pominville, who benefited from playing alongside Eichel and Skinner earlier in the year. Even so, Pominville only has nine goals and nine assists. Kyle Okposo and his huge contract have only mustered five goals and ten assists on the year, while Conor Sheary has seven goals and seven assists in 33 games. Former top 10 pick Casey Mittelstadt has five goals and five assists in 37 games.

What’s clear to this point in the year is that if the Sabres are going to make a serious playoff push, they need to add a secondary scoring threat. With three first round picks and plenty of prospects in the system, the Sabres have the assets to make a move. In addition, with the salary cap space opened up by the departure of disgruntled forward Patrik Berglund, Buffalo has the financial flexibility to make a move, as well.

Here is a list of a few candidates to improve the overall team scoring that are possible fits for the Sabres:

Kyle Palmieri, New Jersey Devils:

With New Jersey in danger of falling out of it early, the Devils may be open for business. If so, Palmieri would be an attractive solution to many teams in search of added scoring, especially a team like the Sabres. On a team with many young players like Eichel, Reinhart and Dahlin, the 27 year old Palmieri would fit the mold of a player with veteran experience, while still being a long-term solution for a team looking for sustainability like Buffalo is.

Palmieri has three years left on a deal that counts $4.65M against the salary cap, which the Sabres could afford, especially with Berglund’s money off the books. With 18 goals and 33 points in 35 games this year, Palmieri’s production would be greatly welcomed by a team like Buffalo.

Tyler Toffoli, Los Angeles Kings:

Toffoli checks a lot of the same boxes as Palmieri does as a possible improvement for the Sabres’ depth. The Kings are falling out of the race already, just as the Devils are. The two teams are tied for the fewest points in the NHL at Christmas break. Toffoli, 26, is still young and has one more year after this season under contract with a cap hit of $4.6M, but because of a drop in production this season, he may be easier to acquire and cost much less. Toffoli only has 14 points in 37 games this season, but he is on pace to play all 82 games this season. Last season, in 82 games, Toffoli scored 24 goals and 23 assists, while in 2015-16, in 82 games, Toffoli had 31 goals and 27 assists.

Toffoli is a guy who could greatly benefit from a change of scenery, and Buffalo could benefit from having a player of his talent on its second or third line.

Wayne Simmonds, Philadelphia Flyers:

Simmonds is a name that will be talked about a lot as the trade deadline approaches. With the Flyers organization facing turnover at general manager and head coach, the changes likely won’t stop there. A 30 year old winger with an expiring contract in Simmonds is likely to move, and the Sabres would be wise to jump on the opportunity. Simmonds counts just under $4 million against the cap and has 11 goals in 35 games this season for Philadelphia.

At 6-foot-2 and 185 pounds, Simmonds is a tough player with athleticism and a knack for scoring goals. He has surpassed the 20 goal and 20 assist mark in each of the past five seasons for the Flyers, and has topped 30 goals in two of the last three years. For any team looking for a quality winger to add to the fold, Simmonds is one of the top guys available this year.

Gustav Nyquist, Detroit Red Wings:

While Simmonds is at the top of many of the wish lists of teams searching for a one-year rental, the most underrated player on the list may be Detroit’s Gustav Nyquist. The 29 year old winger counts $4.75M against the cap this year, but with every day that passes, the Sabres’ money available to take on in a trade increases. When acquiring a player at the deadline, teams can keep up to 50 percent of a player’s salary retained on their salary cap, rather than the team acquiring the player. In the case of the more costly players on the market, such as Nyquist, if a team gives up enough value, they can take on more expensive players.

For the Sabres, nearly any player available on the market this year will be within the team’s price range. It just remains to be seen if they will pay the price. With a playoff bid on the line — and finally a chance to prove the tanking process is over in Buffalo — it seems like the risk is higher not to make a move than to make one.

Twitter: @bradencarmen