PIT takes that and runs fast.

Holy crap! I love you man! What a deal for us

Am I missing something? McCann just had a huge year... almost 12GAR per evolving Wild

No from Winnipeg. Risto is not needed and is too expensive.

He’s not a very good C. If you want him to play LW in a second line he could fit there. He had 35 pts in 66 games

Idk, they need someone to QB the powerplay cause Pionk just isn't all that great at it and Ristolainen isn't a runt like half of the Jets D core is, if he came this cheap idk how they could decline, Buffalo isn't selling that cheap on him though.

Yes from Pens POV

No, we don't need a PPQB, Pionk and Morrissey are fine there. Risto is a 3rd pairing guy but making 5.4. He's too expensive contract wise, is what I mean.

Idk, Pionk isn't very good on the PP and Myers made the same on the 3rd pair.

These are not good trades for Buffalo. Giving up Risto for just draft picks, and not even good ones? Then Mittelstadt and Montour for a 3rd liner and a 5th? There’s also nothing to be gained in the Arizona Trade. A more expensive back up for a late second round pick? I would trade for McCann, but not anything close to that price. Also, if he’s not a very good center he doesn’t help.

And that's why we let Myers walk. You can't pay that much for a PP specialist that needs heavy sheltering 5 on 5.

We have cap space to use this summer, but if we sign Demelo as rumored and fill out out remaining role player roster needs with sub 2 mil guys as we should. Then we're left with somewhere between 3-7 mil for a 2C. We can't waste 5 of that on a player that is only useful on the PP and kills us defensively everywhere else. We're okay scoring goals, we need defenseman who can help us keep picks out, not make it harder on Helly.

Pretty sure Ristolainen can handle top pairing work and Myers was always way better when used in a
top 4 role. They need some bigger dmen that can play in all situations and as much as I wanted DeMelo signed after watching these runty dmen getting pushed around against Calgary I'm not so sure he's worth bringing back and if Morrissey is on the top pair I think he needs a bigger partner then DeMelo or Pionk.
This team barely struggles to score 5v5 so if they're going to rely on the powerplay as much as they do they need a better powerplay QB then Pionk.

This team needs a better 3rd line that can chip in at even strength on a average basis, the plugs they've been rolling out are a big part of the problem and why the PP is relied on so much.

We'll just have to agree to disagree. That's the whole thing about Risto, he CAN'T handle top pairing minutes, that's the whole complaint against him anywhere you read about him. If he plays a limited role, he's fine, if he's plays more he's terrible. 5.5 is too much for a player that needs that much sheltering.

I do agree our bottom 6 needs more scoring, but Risto doesn't help with that.

Idk, I really wonder if he couldn't handle top pairing minutes paired with Morrissey and on a better team like the Jets, seriously no offense to the Sabres but it's been a mess there for a long time, most guys that have left Buffalo have done better in new surroundings.

I know Risto wouldn't necessarily help with more scoring from the bottom 6 but my point was that with so much reliance on the powerplay they need a better offensive dman then Pionk to quarterback when on the man advantage, that was something Myers was pretty good at actually, WAY better then Trouba was at it anyway. After watching the playin round I really feel like Morrissey needs a much bigger D partner then DeMelo, maybe Risto isn't perfect but might be a better option then an aging Hamonic for example.

Again though I highly doubt Risto is being given away like he is here.

You may be right on coaching. Huddy even made Bogosian look respectable for one season! I'm far from sold on Risto as a top pair guy, but maybe with proper coaching he could fill a 2nd pair roll. I just think his contact might be too large to handle though. Just given Risto's history and with his contract I'd be very leery moving significant assets for him.

But there is documented evidence that Cheveldayoff likes Risto as a player, enough to consider dealing Ehlers. You might not like the deal, but it’s not out of the realm of possibility

No, there is no evidence. Buffalo hoped that would be Risto's value and may have asked Chevy about Ehlers. But, the Sabres would have rightfully been turned down.

Ok now you’re just being ridiculous. MULTIPLE sabres insiders (Chad and Jeremy from WGR) have reported on it.

I’m not even saying that he’s worth Ehlers. He’s not. But there are multiple reports that Chevy considered the deal.... so is it crazy to say that he would pay this price for him? If you disagree you’re burying your head in the sand to fit you’re own narrative.

No, more like save Sabres "insiders"trying to generatesome clicks for themselves. There hasn't been one substantiated report from a national or Winnipeg insider saying anything similar. So, it seems more like wishful thinking/click bait from the Sabres.

And even if it was true, that was last year. It's not the same situation anymore.

“It doesn’t fit my narrative, and the source isn’t my geographic affiliation, so it’s NOT true”

What a pigeon take. Have a good on tho

It's hard when facts don't match what Sabres fans want to hear. You're stuck with Risto.