If you took the retained salary then it would be fair

That ain't gonna get it. For starters, they don't need Ristolainen. But as a Central Division rival fan, hey, I'd be all for it.

I think BUF would need to add - NSH has no need for Risto and Forsberg is literally their best forward

Ristolainen isn't a need for Nashville. Sure he's be a great bottom pairing dman or even give us the ability to play Fabbro less but then we hit expansion draft and have 5 dmen that need protecting and Ristolainen isn't good enough to supplant Fabbro, Josi, Ellis , or Ekholm. if adding Ristolainen made trading one of that group a viable option i'd be ok with it but he doesn't. Ristolainen isn't a first pairing dman (Ellis/Josi and to a lesser extent Ekholm). Fabbro is younger and cost controlled so trading him would be silly.

I want no part of Johansen
He’s been an underperformed forever
And that contract blows, even with 1mil held

Bonino is a better player (not more talented, “better”) at half the salary