I like some of this, and yes, I am heavily biased towards Miller. However, if we're just going to give you a large upgrade in goaltending age and potential-wise, getting tied up in Henrique's contract doesn't cut it. Young goalies with close starting potential are almost always first, and rarely traded.

The Sabres game plan is apparently either short-term contracts on older players (that expire before Dahlin needs to get his payday) or bringing in younger guys. I think this means there's an impasse since I'm sure Ducks fans would riot if they lost Steel, Terry, Comtois, or Kase. I'm under no illusions that Rakell would ever be a part of this.

Ristolainen, Ullmark -> Lundestrom, Ritchie, Miller, 2020 2nd, 2021 3rd?

I would pass. Might as well see what ristolainen does with the new coach. Henrique at almost 6 for 5 years sounds awful.

I hate it. I think Risto is getting massively overvalued. He's a 5-6 D on a good team and a PP specialist, yet BUF fans are requesting top 4 prices. Pass.

Moreover, it makes very little sense for a re-tooling team to move their young and recently drafted players. With players like Comtois and Jones, Ritchie is somewhat expendable. However, Lundestrom has a bright future ahead of him with this team.



I would pass too. We need a legit top 4 RD. Giving up a strong 2-way player like Henrique for a player who can't defend properly and needs sheltering like he's still a prospect is bad resource management. We need Henrique to protect Steel and co. from being forced into spots they aren't ready for. EZ pass.

Except that he is a top 4d....

Only on your team . . .

On most teams...

Fair enough. We're not getting younger by much in that trade, giving up a good younger goalie and a 24 year old defenseman, closer to their primes if you're "re-tooling" and not going for a full rebuild. Just responding to what the OP wanted to see if we could come to an agreement. Both teams want what the other side is unwilling to give up.

If you want a stud top-4 RD (historically very expensive) you're gonna have to pay through the nose for it one way or the other, as I don't think you have any prospects that really fill that role. Thrun and Lacombe are both lefties.

Not a good one. He has to be carried by a legit top 4 and is only not a complete liability if you shelter him and give him loads of PP time. Not worth it. We need defenders who can, you know... actually defend.



We don’t really need a younger GT as we have a bunch in the system and Gibby is going to be #1 for the next 10 years. I think the idea was just to get Miller back in BUF, which he won’t do because he wants to be in LA for his wife, and Ullmark was just a replacement.

Legit top 4 RD are rarely available. I don’t think we’re getting one. Going to have to draft one or hope Guhle/Larsson/Mahura take that next step. I am not so hung up on handeness. A good player is good regardless of whether he does or does not shoot right while playing on the right side.

In any event, I clearly don’t rate Risto as highly as BUF fans. Probably best he’s kept around. Don’t see him returning the assets you’d expect for a legit top 4 D-man.