You're asking the wrong forum

That 2nd pair would have a negative 30 5v5 goal differential.

I'd give up like rust and a third, Risto is good on the PP and a average at best bottom pairing guy in every other situation

you can't move johnson in a win-win trade; you have to pay to get rid of him, he's a disaster and his term is worse so

OTT has enough G; also have Zaitsev & Hainsey on RD (DeMelo played in top4 last year (by default but still)

too much for Gudbranson

Ristolainen would be fine on PIT where he's not forced to play 25+ minutes every game. Keep it around 19+, and I bet you'll see a brand new player.

Yeah, the Ottawa trade sucks. I am not sure who would be interested in Schultz because of his contract situation. If the Pens could get rid of JJ and Gudbranson, keep Schultz and have Risto as a 3rd pair they would be set for this year. They could let Schultz go next year or at the trade deadline if Risto worked out.

I’m not really sure if I want to find out if he’s good or not. I think he’s incredibly overpaid and overrated and it would be too much of a gamble because if he does end up being terrible the team is probably stuck with that contract for the rest of the term.

Basically every Buffalo AGM on here is ejecting Ristolainen for a reason. The majority of those are ejecting him for other team's bad contracts (really bad contracts) for a reason.

Ristolainen is basically Buffalo's Jack Johnson. He gets some assists, but he is worse defensively and costs $2.15M more than Johnson. 66% MORE.

If the Penguins would get Ristolainen, then Jack Johnson is going to Buffalo, not a 1st, in the package.