Final surgical moves

Toffs isnt the kind of player we would look for. Too inconsistent. Risto had more of an offensive inpact last season than he did

100% disagree and here's why:

1. Like Skinner last year and Vesey this year, he comes on an affordable, expiring contract - meaning, if things don't work out for him and/or the team, the Sabres aren't handcuffed cap-wise beyond this season. Their cap space for 2020-21 isn't impacted.

2. Like Skinner did last summer before becoming a Sabre, Toffoli comes off a down-year in LA and in need of a change of scenery - meaning, his market value is probably lower than what it will be when he likely rebounds this season with another 20+ goal season (which he's done in 3 of his 6 NHL seasons so far).

3. Like was the case with Skinner, Toffoli is from the Toronto area so the chance to play home games in front of friends and family will not only lead to a motivated but happy player.

4. Despite his off-year in production last season, Toffoli was 1 of only 13 players in the entire league whose possession stats for generating offensive chances and for preventing scoring chances against when he was on the ice were both on the positive side of metrics. He's been over a 50% Corsi player for his entire career. He would be the defensively-responsible member to cover for Eichel and Skinner when they lapse on their coverages. Although he can play on either specialty team, the majority of his production is at 5-on-5......again, a dire need for Buffalo's roster.

5. Although he only had 13 goals last year, Toffoli took over 200 shots for the 4th time in past 5 years and drove play from the wing......which is what the Sabres would want for anyone replacing Reinhart on Eichel's line if the 1st line is to remain as potent as it was last year. How many players do the Sabres have that can come close to generating 226 shots on net (not counting those that don't get registered)?

6. Toffoli is a Cup winner with playoff experience - which we hear Botterill as recently as this week say over and over again how valuable that is for him to add in the Sabres' locker room.

7. Toffoli is durable, playing a full season 3 of the last 4 seasons.

8. You noted Ristolainen's offensive stats but the reality is that Toffoli's 251 point in 437 GP I still better than Ristolainen's 194 points in 424 GP....and it's hard to overlook the disparity of Toffoli's +80 over 6 seasons to Ristolainen's -143 over the same time span.

Finally, of all the possible scenarios for teams needing defensive help and having offensive assets to help Buffalo's needs, a trade with LA seems the most realistic. The Sabres won't find a center for the 2nd line that is available and an upgrade over Johansson, Mittelstadt or Rodrigues. Targeting young wingers like Ehlers or Rakell also seems unrealistic without an overpayment. Given that the GM of the Kings was an offensive-minded defenseman with a mean streak and physical edge during his playing days, I suspect that Ristolainen may have a rosier impression in Blake's eyes than perhaps some other GMs.

In my opinion, the case for chasing Toffoli as a trade target is a no-brainer.

Of course his ppg is higher, he is a forward. His +/- is only high because he was playing on Cup winning teams as you said while Risto was stuck playing top minutes on the worst team in the league. If you swapped their scenarios, their +/- would also swap. Sending Risto to Tampa would mean he would be +30 on the season. +/- is just a stat that reflects the team's goal differential, not necessarily the player's defensive/offensive play.

All your other points make sense. Personally wouldn't trade Risto for a sketch top 6 winger who could just walk, leaving us with no tangible return

The Corsi numbers are just as tilted in Toffoli's favor - and he was on only 1 Cup team. Obviously, comparing stats between a forward and a defenseman is pointless - I only referenced their career production because your first comment was about Ristolainen having more offensive impact last season.



You mean like Skinner this summer or Vesey next summer? I did include the conditional 2nd in 2021 becoming a 1st round pick if Toffoli somehow didn't pan out - which is more or less the return the Sabres got for Kane. Botterill definitely acknowledged in his WGR interview this week that the plan of having 10 expiring contracts next year works in the team's favor because of the obvious motivation those players have to produce in their final year. Toffoli fits right into that model - and I would bet he follows Skinner's example in thriving with Eichel in 1st line role on young and upcoming team (which LA is not) near his hometown.