Timothy T. Ludwig – USA TODAY Sports

For the past three seasons, young defenseman T.J. Brennan has toiled in the AHL, seeing only 21 games of NHL action with the Buffalo Sabres. A trade to the Florida Panthers might give him a chance to show what he can do at the highest level, as he should finally get a chance for more ice time. The Panthers defense has been one of its weakest points this season, and a player like Brennan who can contribute at both ends of the ice will hopefully be able to help with that.

Brennan was a second round pick of the Sabres in the 2007 draft and was a solid offensive defenseman at the junior level. He joined the Portland Pirates of the AHL for the 2009-10 season and scored six goals while recording 23 points. He improved to 15 goals and 39 points for the Pirates the following season. The Sabres’ affiliation switched to the Rochester Americans for the 2011-12 season, and Brennan scored 16 goals and added 14 assists in the AHL while also seeing 11 games of NHL action. A return to the Americans during the lockout had him on pace for his best season yet, with 14 goals and 35 points in only 36 games. The Sabres had only used him in 10 games this season, but would have had to expose him to waivers to send him back to the AHL, and risked losing him for nothing.

The Panthers traded a fifth-round pick to the Sabres for Brennan, and were able to get him in the lineup for tonight’s game against the New York Islanders.

Jonathan Katje is an NHL blogger for Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @JKatje or add him to you network on Google.