Why would Buffalo do this?

They really like BARRE-BOULET.
They get something for 2 expiring walk aways.
Grasping at straws

Gee I don't see what's in for Tampa. I'm doubting Johnson waives his NTC

But Johnson still has negative value. Plus Johnson declines

Salary dump for next year and Montour is an upgrade on schenn

Johnson is better forward depth than they have now (Eakin), hes still putting up decent numbers, hed be a 3rd liner with Skinner or Olofsson, and both him and Schenn bring veteran experience

Johnson would help the Sabres but they could get more from that trade

I don't see Tampa doing it. Johnson won't waive for Buffalo, and Montour isn't the kind of target that Tampa usually goes after at the TDL. Given the exp draft, the usual way of approaching it may change, but it's been Tampa's strategy to not target straight rentals at the deadline in recent years.

If Tampa was to go after a rental, then I would think they'd go after Savard or maybe Vatanen first, or if looking for a lesser depth piece maybe Demers. Manson with retention would be ideal since he has a year after this, but not sure if that's realistic. Fabbro would be a nice add, but the price would be high and he needs a new contract+the draft to worry about. Benning from NSH though could be enticing at just 1 mil and has another year left on his deal.

Really? The opinion on Montour is pretty low round here

Not many teams can take Johnson on and from the teams that can not all would want him. All of them would be considered undesirable as well. Tampa needs to make multiple moves, and if Buffalo shows they want him, thats not something players underestimate so we shouldnt either. Also Tampa isnt going to get all of the A+ rentals and young talent, they dont have much to offer or the cap space. For the most part the players you named are unattainable

Name me one reason why Tyler Johnson would waive his full NTC for Buffalo? Let's be realistic here Buffalo is playing like crap right now they're not much better then Detroit. Noway is Johnson waiving for Buffalo the New York taxes alone would kill him.

Again grasping at straws and as i said in description not in love figured wtf

And you said it has possibilities, And i disagree it has zero possibilities because there's noway he'd waive for Buffalo. he's not leaving a cup contender for a cellar dweller.

They waive Johnson again Buff claims and the rest of the trade happens

Remember when Johnson was placed on waivers and no one claimed him. Teams could get a first for taking on Johnson's contract. It may be different now but Johnson can't have any value.

And why would Buffalo claim him? No team is taking on that contract without major sweeteners added to the deal.

Hes not going to last the summer and its not like Detroit is more attractive

I meant strickly from a bolts cap situation

I've never said Detroit was attractive nowhere have i ever mentioned Detroit as a possibility. Even though i see him waiving quickly for Detroit more then Buffalo just due to the Yzerman factor as he loved playing under Yzerman and they've a good rapport.

Tampa already had deals in the works for Johnson before Kucherov’s injury changed the situation. Tampa isn’t moving him until the off season when they likely pay Seattle to take him. Tampa doesn’t need “all the A+ rentals and young talent,” they need 1 RD add for mostly depth reasons to solidify the only somewhat concerning spot on the roster. They have plenty of pieces to offer depending on who, if anyone I listed, they are going after. Montour would be behind every player I listed except maybe Demers, and isn’t even that much of an upgrade over Tampa’s usual starters. Again, Tampa under the Yzerman and now Brisebois leadership has almost never paid premiums for rentals, so more than likely if they make a move it’ll be for someone like Benning, who is a solid depth add with a little term left, or if they go bigger, Manson with retention. If Tampa were to spend high draft picks or their better prospects on a rental, it wouldn’t be Montour, but more than likely one of Fabbro, Savard or Vatanen, in that order. Odds are they either get a lower cap hit with term player like Benning or a lesser asset cost rental like Demers( with max retention) if they do anything.

In the off season they will move Johnson, and then likely Killorn(although there’s a slim chance Palat goes instead). Coleman likely prices out to a new team that will overpay him, and Tampa keeps Goodrow while guys like Colton, Barre-Boulet and Stephens and Smith get regular spots to replace the loss of Johnson and Coleman(Kuch back full time replaces Killorn, or one of the others). Tampa is far from in as bad of a spot as so many love to paint them in on here and other sites. They’ll lose a player or two they may have wanted to keep, but the depth they have built up replaces that, and the core will remain intact.