Buffalo Sabres Rasmus Ristolainen Open to Offseason Trade

The Buffalo Sabres are going to look a lot different when the puck drops on next season and it's not only captain Jack Eichel that could be traded, sounds like defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen could also be moved and from all accounts he's ok with it.

Ristolainen admitted during his exit interview that he opened up to general manager Kevyn Adams about how he'd be open to a change of scenery:

I’m open for all the ideas. Right now, it’s hard. Obviously the season just ended, so, yeah, I’m frustrated and I’m pissed and it sucks. So I told [Adams] I’m open for all the scenarios: staying, or if he trades me, I’m fine with that, too. We have to get to the playoffs next year. For me, it’s either here or hopefully somewhere [else].

The 26-year-old has one season left on his contract that pays him $5.4 million, so if any deal is taking place it's likely to happen before the season starts so the Sabres can maximize his 'rental' value. This season Ristolainen has appeared in 49 games, recording 18 points. It certainly wasn't one of his better seasons but that could be said for anyone playing on the Sabres this season.

Sabres management is going to have some huge decisions to make as a couple of veteran Sabres appear headed for the exits. Because of their contracts don't expect Eichel and Ristolainen to be moved in the same trade, but you can expect to see both of them traded at some point.