I like the idea of risto on the pens BUT this trade has several big issues:

1. We ain’t giving rust up for sheary unless he changes his name back to Sheer-y

2. Center depth disappears after this trade

3. Where does Risto fit on our D?

4. This means we can’t keep Schultz doesn’t it

I've thought about Pittsburgh for risto, just not sure how either team makes it work

My thought was to maybe take out Sheary and add Scandella and Johnson. So Risto/Scandella for Rust/Bjugstad/Johnson. I don't know if I really like it for either team given Johnson's term, but Buffalo would probably be able to make it work after this year with a few big contracts coming off next year to re-sign some guys and then Bjugstad off before Dahlin needs a mammoth deal. Pens get some cap space this year and rid themselves of Johnson, Buffalo adds a couple solid middle 6 guys and either play Johnson on the bottom pairing and shelter him or buy him out/bury him after this year if they need the space. Not ideal, but could work maybe?

Buffalo has 11 NHL ready defensemen under contract. We can't take back defensemen in trades

Ya know that's a good point. My only rebuttal is that is Johnson really NHL ready?

He is being paid an NHL salary

It was just a joke about how much he sucks.

My mission as an elite ACGM is to throw all kinds of poop at the wall until something sticks.

sounds like a messy mission