Should be...
Risto / 2nd for Subban

No, not really. Especially considering the cap differential, age differential and the fact that NJ is known to want ristolainen

They are both rentals so cap and age considerations are meaningless. Additionally, PK is actually a serviceable defenseman while Rasmus makes his team play worse whenever he's on the ice. As for NJD's rumoured interest in Rasmus, I doubt Fitzy would be considering departing with anything higher than a 3rd round pick.

Also, maybe consider that Subban is a much better defenseman than Risto.
And they are both on final year, so age isn't much of a factor.
Big salary gap, so fair to ask NJD to eat $1.8 million.



Here is what would be more accurate based on what has actually been reported:

"The fact that NJ is willing to take Ristolainen to replace Connor Carrick"

(Carrick is an AHLer depth piece, our 8th or 9th d-man)

Considering everything I have read about the style of game they are building in NJD (possession game).
And the type of players he wants to add (defensive d-men with high breakout success rate)
And everything Fitzy has said in recent weeks about who he will target in off-season (young players with term around same age cohort as Hughes/Hischier)
And their recent move to an even more analytics drive approach.

I honestly don't see how he would be giving anything of positive value for him.
Risto would be the opposite of everything that is being built in NJ.

Just throwing that poor fella a bone here, being a Sabres fan is painful enough already.

I take your point though, its really not a good fit.

I'm torn on the Johnson to Pens trade. I get the logic of giving a 2nd to retain 50%, but given the fact he's on the wrong side of his age/career, I'd make it a conditional 3rd (2023 since we don't have a 3rd until then) plus a mid-tier prospect. The condition is if he plays more than 70 games this season it becomes a 2nd. I know that sounds nit-picky, but the Pens are tight on cash and low on futures.

If NJ is interested in Risto it isn't as a rental. NJ is terrible