Rough deal for the Sabres.

I don’t know that I agree. Anderson had an injury in early December that derailed his season. He brings siZe, speed, skill, grit, and does not hurt you defensively.
Wennberg was very good at assisting skilled wingers (see his first year stats before Dubois arrived on scene).
I Guarantee you between Olofsson and Johanssen, he gets 50-60 points.
Obviously, no money back guarantee, but it is worth taking the risk from Sabre’s end, since both forwards are very good defensively, and Risto is known more for offense than defense.

Wennberg’s contract makes this terrible for Buffalo. He’s a net negative, since he’s being paid twice what he’s worth. Anderson is a risk, and Wennberg is a 3rd line center making $5 million a year. I would only send Risto, and Columbus needs to retain on Wennberg.

I thought of having Jackets retain on Wennberg since Risto for Anderson to me seems like an even swap. I guess Wennberg for second would be overpayment so maybe drop the pick to a 4th since Columbus needs cap space to sign Dubois.

Nobody is taking a $5 million 3rd line center on a multi year deal. They have to retain to trade him, or buy him out.

I've edited and added retention to the salaries of Wennberg and Risto. Seems fair now.

I feel like this doesn't do anything for Columbus. Risto would play 3rd pair minutes for Columbus, so he's basically the defensive version of what we have in Wennberg right now (albeit with a year less term) Anderson is worth more than a 2nd 1 for 1 so I think that about cancels out the value of the extra term. I just don't see why with this though. Like, it's basically a lateral more value and contract wise, but Columbus is losing at w position of need and gaining at one of strength. I just don't see a reason for it from the CBJ side.

Would you prefer a more cost controlled Tage Thompson and 2nd rd pick instead of Risto?

I would love that, but I don't think Buffalo would do it. For us, we'd basically be (slightly) underselling Anderson in order to get rid of Wennberg's contact. Even as an Anderson fan, that sounds too good to be true.

I honestly am curious why Sabres fans think Thompson holds so much value. He's yet to prove he has any significant future value in the NHL, yet I see him tossed around in ACGMs like he's a surefire top-6 forward. Am I missing something?

Yes Thompson is for sure a project who if stays healthy could be a good middle six winger. I only mentioned him because of Columbus needing a cheap winger with size to replace Anderson.

We don't really need more wingers, especially not bottom/middle-6 guys. We've got several of those already. The biggest need for Columbus is top-6 scoring forwards. If he's healthy and willing to stay, Anderson could be that guy for us. If not, we need a 2C (or a 1W if Texier or Foudy shifts to 2C).