NHL Trade Rumor: Buffalo and Detroit closing in on massive trade

As the September weather brings a slight chill in the air, the trade market has heated up significantly, with less than 2 weeks until the opening of training camps across the NHL. The Buffalo Sabres and Detroit Red Wings are trying to get a jump on the rest of the league.

Multiple reports earlier this summer have included how RHD Rasmus Ristolainen would prefer to play elsewhere than Buffalo this season and it's becoming more clear he may get his wish. According to sources the Sabres have held preliminary discussions with several teams including the Detroit Red Wings.

Detroit would be willing to part with Anthony Mantha to obtain the 6'4 24-year-old Finnish defenseman. Mantha finished last season with 25 goals and would provide Buffalo some much needed offense.

Ristolainen would give Detroit a #1 defenseman to help provide some offense from the back end, and at $5.4 million for the next few years, hold value with a team friendly contract. The Sabres have a pleather of RHD, so would be dealing from their strength in this deal.

Would you pull the trigger if you were Buffalo?