Buffalo is not retaining in any trade.

Well Risto is the player who shows up most in Buffalo AGMs here. You guys want to move him and no one wants to take him. Its very questionable hes an NHL defenseman at all. If you are going to move his 5 mil aav, you have no choice.

Ristolainen is probably going to be on the team. Krueger loves him and he probably has more control over Adams.

Buffalo would need to retain or pay heavily to move him. I don’t think this is the return they desire though. No need for lw and would want zero cap back to sign upcoming rfa’s.

If they don’t plan to retain they would have to dump him next off season to lessen the blow.

Definitely a different idea. I’m never a big fan of magic beans for good nhl talent. I think in this case both teams may decline. But it is original and the value is close.

Dubas won’t OS anyone. I would love to have pulock or Cernak but I can’t see it by OS.

I do however love the idea of Risto on RW though. Surprised the sabres don’t just do that.

I hate the prospect of throwing away a 1st in the middle of a rebuild, but when a deal like this Nylander one arises it’s hard to not stop and at least consider. Not saying LA accepts, but it’s certainly not a resounding no either.

It is a bit of a mystery. They were even playing RD as forwards at points during this season. Reduce his defensive responsibility, let him use his long reach in the passing lanes. Set him up for shots closer to the net. Take what might be his only strength as a defenseman in front of the net and move it to a strength as a forward. Give him some work this summer learning to deflect pucks. It could work.

This is basically one of the greatest summations of why fans both think they know everything, and actually don't know anything.

😂😂😂 That’s ridiculous
Why would u want him on your 2nd pair then?

What??? Are you ok

Thats so untrue lmao. Risto is not a cap dump and is no where near a cap dump. There is no retention needed in any risto trade.

If you want anything back for him, yes. If covid didn’t kill the cap I think it would be easier to move him. Competing teams don’t have the space for a 5.4m 3rd pair Dman. It’s not that he isn’t an nhl Dman it’s the cap hit. Much like jvr.

The teams that do have the cap space have no use for Risto and will be looking for a sweetener.

If he is retained you might find a team with space and use for him. If the cap would have been 85m+ I could see teams taking a chance on him.

Should probably take the time to look at the roster before you reply to it.

Well what do we know about Risto? We know hes been shopped by Buffalo for 2 seasons now with no takers. We know analytics departments have actively discouraged GMs from taking him on. We know that analytically hes among the worst players, not only defensemen, in the league and we know hes payed way too much for it with term to back it. Acting like Risto has some kind of value or will be easy to move is akin to putting a blindfold on and saying you know where you are going.

He may not be the worst player/contract on the Sabres with Okposo there but hes a close 2nd.

You underrate Risto

I do not, I don’t even dislike the guy. I wish he could put it all together but he still hasn’t. He has all the tools.