Ristolainen isn't a legit top 4 guy.

Look at that group of forwards. There are many reasons to move Ristolainen.

1st VAN dont need LD
2nd GMjb said he,s not trading away draft picks

Something like Risto + for Zucker & Dumba/Spurgeon is a trade I’d consider

If I’m Buffalo I definitely want to see how the current d-core looks as a whole when they can offload some key responsibilities/minutes to Montour.

There will be enough interest in a guy like Risto next year if you still want to offload him then

have to agree with shibbal. you just don't give NHL defencemen away. if risto isn't worth his pay, you can't give him away and if he close to his contract value, keep him.

Lol thats just asinine

Look at that D. This team isnt a contender this year, they control that top 4 for at least the next 3 years, with Ullmark, Mittelstadt, and Thompson maturing, 2 firsts an the 2 prospects in the A. They are much better off for next season, snd they have nothing to replace Risto with, especially now. If Bogo goes down Casey Nelson is the #2 guy.

If I were Buffalo I'd keep him. Bogosian might get hurt tying his skates.

I'm not interested in just giving Ristolainen away, but I don't think he is as good a player as you do.

He's a liability in his own end. I'm not a big guy on +/- and I know it's not the best stat out there, but when a guy is a career -124 he's clearly doing something wrong. You can't blame bad luck or teammates that much.

Trading Risto for the sake of trading him because Montour is now a Sabre...heck no
but if the deal makes sense for the Sabres then hell yeah. I like JDFitz's idea Zucker and Spurgeon for Risto and maybe Nylander.
But that trade doesn't address the need for a 2nd line center which is essential if they are going to make a run at the playoffs.

He has been the only good dman on a tanking team for 6 years, top 10 in minutes vs other teams top lines with some of the highest shift averages in the league over the last 6 years amd analytically he has had by far the worst line mates and D partners of any of his peers, and the goaltending behind him has been average at best. So yes, you can easily blame his team mates when its been a dumpster fire mostly in front of him, definitely behind him, and hes pretty much done it by himself until Dahlin got here. +/- is an archaic stats that needs a ton of context. Ristolainen has spent his career on the NHLs lowest scoring team over that period of time. He is easily a top 4 d man, and with the team getting better around him he only benefits. Sabres are about to be a wagon

They arent making a run this year, too immature. Their are better options than Zucker. Id rather have a Center with experience winning. Dont need to give up Risto for that

If he was a legit top 4, he wouldn't need to have to rely on an 18 year old rookie dman to boost his numbers. legit top 4 guys make other players around them better. he's a liability in his own end. he's a top 4 on this team, but on a cup contender he's more of a #5 guy

Hes not relying on Dahlin, theyve been paired less than 5% of the time this season. Franchise dmen make players around them better. Not all top 4 dmen are franchise dmen. Risto is not a franchise dman, but he is definitely a top 4 talent and is not a liabilty. You have also proven that you know nothing about the Sabres and are just regurgitating other peoples baseless opinions