The NHL Trade Deadline is now less than a week away, and rumors are going to pick up around the league. For the Buffalo Sabres, one of the areas they will probably be exploring is on defense.
The Sabres have dealt with injuries to Michael Kesselring and Conor Timmins that has forced Jacob Bryson and Zach Metsa into extended minutes. However, neither player has really stepped up in the expanded role and is why the Sabres would want to add some depth to solidify this part of their roster.
One option is former Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen, as the Philadelphia Flyers have reportedly explored trade discussions with teams around the league. In terms of the player, Ristolainen would be a great fit for what the Sabres need.
Philadelphia Flyers' asking price for Rasmus Ristolaninen should scare the Buffalo Sabres away
However, what the Flyers are looking for should end the discussions pretty quickly between them and the Sabres. According to Anthony Di Marco of the Daily Faceoff, the Flyers are looking for a trade package similar to what the Bruins got for Brandon Carlo last season.
In that trade, the Maple Leafs sent a prospect (Fraser Minten), a first-round pick, and a fourth-round pick. For the Sabres, giving up a first-round pick for a player who would play on the third pair should be a non-starter.
It is a trade that the Maple Leafs are already regretting as Toronto struggled in the playoffs. Those struggles are only compounded when considering the Maple Leafs are near the bottom of the Atlantic Division and the Bruins get a top pick, as long as it is outside the Top 5.
The Sabres also saw firsthand the risk of having a player like Rasmus Ristolainen, as he has dealt with several injuries in his career. In fact, the last time he played in a full 82-game season was as a member of the Sabres back in the 2015-16 season.
Over the past three seasons, Ristolainen has played a total of only 116 regular season games. If the Sabres are going to give up a first-round pick, then it should be for a player who has proven to be durable so they don't end up back in the same position they are currently.
The Buffalo Sabres should absolutely be in the market for another defenseman ahead of Friday's trade deadline. The player itself would be a great fit for this blueline and give Lindy Ruff extra options with how to build that third pair.
However, as is the case at the trade deadline, the asking price usually goes up as teams get desperate. The Sabres are not a desperate team, and while an upgrade would be great, they have shown that they can win with the players they have.
Jarmo Kekalainen would be wise to stay away from a trade like this before the NHL Trade Deadline.