To answer the question, if I were the Buffalo GM, I would make this trade. Zaitsev would be perfect with Dahlin, Kapanen would give Buffalo a good RW and who knows what the 3rd will bring.
I as a Sabres' fan think Ristolainen just as Zaitsev, gets too much criticism. 3 different HC have played him over 24 min/gm. Now unless they are trying to self destruct they must believe he is the best defenseman on the team. He gets the toughest assignment and starts in the defensive zone over 50% of the time.
So Buffalo and Toronto are trading players that are not fan favorites.
If I added Buffalo's 2nd from 2020, would Toronto add their 1st from 2020, or do I need to add more? If I do, what else would I need to add?
Quoting: iilucassxx
I've watched almost every leafs game and he's not as bad as everyone says he is. He can eat minutes and do a good job on the PK but his breakout passes are brutal and basically ices the puck every time he has it in his own end. He was pretty good offensively in his first year but Babcock decided to play him in a more defensive role and it didn't work out as expected. Most ACGM teams trade him because the leafs need the cap space to afford the RFA's (Marner, Kapanen, Johnsson, etc)
Quoting: Trickster
He is a little overpaid right now but I think Leafs need to keep him.
He showed he can be shutdown 2nd pair D
Quoting: TheDime99
Good to know, Thanks
Quoting: oneX
I don't get why so many people want Zaitsev traded because soon after trading him the Leafs will want someone with similar skill/defensive play.
Trading players from the current D roster only makes the defense about the same as it is now.
Improving should be the goal, not be worse or about even.