I think there's a somewhat realistic chance that what will go down is Laughton and Fletcher will have a handshake extension in place, trade Laughton for rentals and then sign him again in the offseason

BUF declines. Risto has been our best D Man all year. And we do not need LHD. We have Dahlin and Bryson. May possibly bring back McCabe and have R. Johnson and M. Samuelsson coming up. Not to mention, we have a good shot at #1 pick. The #1 prospect is also a LHD, Owen Power.

Yes thats a really good summary of what I think too. Obviously the trade of Ghost for Risto could happen in offseason. IMO, Philly need a 1RD, and Risto or Dumba are the best two options in trade or they go by RD by committee and sign a Savard or a Montour in UFA. (As much as I could compare Risto and Ghost in age, salary, contract, production, Risto is the better player, BUT, look at his stats they have plummetted to his usual -25 or worse and even his offense this year is weak). BUF needs change, they get a serviceable 2LD who can score and QB PP, but a good 2nd rounder and a good prospect.

Have you seen Risto's stats this year? Have you seen any progression in his career? I just dont think hes the guy and I see him never getting better in BUF. McCabe will not come back to the circus and John and Samuelsson are not close to top 4 minutes. If anything dahlin and Joki have regressed, making the entire defense younger, will only make that worse.

If this deal was offered after the first 20 games of the season, I would have agreed with you that its a poor offer, but since then Risto has looked bad. Ghost and Hogberg and that PHI 2nd have only played better.

Wouldn't call it a seller's market for a bottom 6 depth player. Especially when the world is in the state it's in and the flat cap. You won't get a B prospect and a 2nd for Laughton, pick one of those and you'd likely get it alone but at both of them you're saying he's as valuable as Palmieri and he's no where close to the same value. Not sure Toronto is the fit there if that's your price because of the quarantine issues. If you're moving him to a Canadian team you'd have to lower your price or they'll just walk away and go get a similar guy like Sam Bennett.

I also find it hilarious how you bash on Ristolainen to try to justify the trade but then you acquire him. If you think he's that bad why would you want him on your team? There's plenty of guys that can eat minutes. Florida is trying to move Stralman who can eat minutes and is better than Ristolainen. Gostisbehere really has no value with that contract and his poor play, it's why he wasn't claimed on waivers. I don't think any team is gonna be interested in taking him on unless you overpay and a mediocre prospect that may or may not make it and a pick isn't really an overpay for that term of a contract.

Risto has been great for Buffalo, and Adams has stated he doesnt want to move him

The team has 9 wins, no ones stats look good, excpet Ullmarks. Unless BUF blows it up, which i dont see happening, they wouldnt move Risto. He's the only player with size and grit on the team. And if they were to move him, they wouldnt take a cap dump and a 2nd. They could easily get a 2nd as is.