1. Who do you protect in expansion?
2. Why tf is Marcus Johansson 2C and Pavelski is on the 3rd line wing?

Why are you moving Hintz to the wing?
Johansson was just “ok” for us at Center this year,
he’s likely better off on the wing

I really don’t think this trade works for Buffalo though
Eichel is pretty pissed at the losing situation here
Don’t think we can be trading solid players for futures
We need to start winning now

Would a Ristolainen for Faksa swap work for Dallas?

Youre taking 3 pieces the Sabres need to get themselves a 2C, and returning nothing that helps them, so while the value is close enough to debate, it doesnt help Buffalo at all so they cant accept

Judging by this guy’s lineup, they’d LOVE that

I don’t think we should be trading for anymore bottom6 players though

We need a 2C & RW2

Maybe we can’t get that 2C for Risto or Montour?
But 1 of them should be able to get us a RW2,
even if it means we add to do so

Buffalo decline

You don't protect Ristolainen, thats the main issue.

The team that will want Ristolainen will be a contender looking to solidify the top four, and they will likely want retained salary similar to how Toronto retained for Barrie, and they will only do it if it's clear they are in contention. Dallas in particular would also only do it if they have concerns about Stephen Johns, who's a rock when healthy, but he hasn't been in a while

I realisitcally don't think we will get that for Risto or maybe Montour because he can play both sides and trade market is a little better for LHD right now.

Right now, the only teams I see that would inquire about Ristolainen who have the draft and prospect capital to do it would be Nashville, Vancouver, Dallas, and maybe Toronto. I can also see the Capitals interested as a 2021 deadline move.

I would do Faksa and Johns for Ristolainen. Faksa is one of the best two-way forwards in the game, and a nightmare to play against. I would take him in a heart beat to lockdown the second and third lines with Dylan Cozens. Cozens is gonna be the 2C, there's little debating that. I'd be looking at a complimentary 2 or 3C

I’ll admit idk a ton about Faksa,
so I’ll pay attn to him more in the playoffs
If he’s really that good defensively, then I’d be cool with him at the 3C spot
But then I’d ideally like to start Cozens on the wing & find a 2C for a year or 2

Interesting ideas sir

Nothing in that Buffalo trade is worth a first round pick. As several Buffalo fans have stated, they’re giving up too much to not be getting what they need. Faksa and a third rounder for Montour and MoJo is prolly a good trade for both sides. They only move one of their tradable RHD and get a stud 3C and some cap space to improve their top six. Faksa could also prolly play 2C while Cozens got settled in. Speaking of Faksa... I’ve told like a million Toronto fans this already... he can’t sing for less than he’s currently making. Even if he could he’d still never sign for so little. That’s also why it’s smart to keep Dickie and move Faksa. Dickie is cheaper and more versatile and Faksa is worth more and is a better fit for what Buffalo needs. Oettinger isn’t ready yet and needs to be getting lots of games in the A this year. I like giving Galch a shot but don’t think he signs for that little as he’s shown he can still be a solid contributor with the possibility for more

That'd be a terrible trade for Buffalo. A top pairing 40 point RHD for a 4th line center. Yuck

He's not a fourth line center, he plays 16 mins a night and is a shutdown third line center who can move up a line and has finished 7th and 24th in Selke votes the past two years and he is one of the toughest players to play against in the league.

I would do Faksa and Johns for MoJo and Risto or Montour

That isn't at all a good package for 2 RHD that can play top 4 and a good middle 6 vet forward. We wouldn't trade both Miller and Risto. I'll give you Montour for Dickinson and your 2020 2nd and you can have MoJo for Faksa

Faksa's qualifying offer dictates he makes more than 1.7. More like 2.6 minimum.