I like the lines and I like the trades except to protect the first round pick!

Do not include a 1st in a Risto trade, have you seen this years draft class? Likely a lotto pick for the Oilers.

With this lineup the Oilers are contending for a playoff spot, you could protect the pick Top 3 but that's whatever. At this point, Oilers fans should stop worrying about drafting players and start worrying about acquiring bonafide NHL players, specifically right-shot defenceman who can move the puck.

And the 2020 draft class is great, but at some point the Oilers need to start developing a winning culture. If the season goes off the rails, you have Frolik on an expiring contract to deal for additional picks, as well as a number of other forwards on 1-year deals.

The Calgary trade also allows the Flames to consider moving Brodie (again)....which could gain them almost $1MM in cap space between Frolik and Brodie.

Both the Oilers and the Sabres are trying to get into the play-offs this season, I don't see how the proposed Ristolainen trade helps Buffalo achieve that objective. Botterill will probably want assets that can help now, since, like the Oilers, his team and its fans also need to focus on bonafide NHL players who can improve their team and help build a winning culture. Gagner might provide some decent, albeit very expensive, depth for one season. For at least the next season Puljujarvi is probably a third-line player in Buffalo, just as he projects to be in Edmonton. The draft pick doesn't help this season, although it may be the most valuable component of the return for Ristolainen. Frankly, I don't think Holland would be prepared to give up a 1st-round pick for a player like Ristolainen, and I doubt Botterill would give him up without getting a proven NHL top-six forward in return.

I'd be comfortable with a Russell-for-Frolik deal, but somehow I doubt Treliving would be.