RUMOR: 3 teams contact Buffalo regarding Rasmus Ristolainen

According to TSN's Bob McKenzie, the Buffalo Sabres would be looking to move Rasmus Ristolainen before the season starts or at a later date such as the Trade Deadline.

The Buffalo Sabres have reportedly been looking for secondary scoring to help Jack Eichel, Jeff Skinner and Sam Reinhart. And would be willing to trade Ristolainen for that. With Buffalo GM Jason Botterill seeking second line help, and is looking to make the post-season for the first time since 2010-11. 

While Ristolainen is a quality puck-moving defenceman and a major asset on the powerplay, Buffalo could acquire quite the return for his services. Ristolainen has been linked to three teams as of late.

The first team being the Winnipeg Jets and the Sabres have high interest in the Jets' Nikolaj Ehlers. But acquiring Ehlers would be quite the task for Botterill as Ehlers is by far the better player, meaning Buffalo would have to add an extra asset or two to make the trade appetising for Winnipeg.

The Minnesota also inquired but mainly as a plan B if they can't re-sign Jared Spurgeon since he's in the last remaining year of his 4-year, $20,75M contract he signed back in 2015. If they lose Spurgeon, the Wild would have giant hole in their right defence which is why they inquired.

The final team and the less likely is the Tampa Bay Lightning which was reported also at last year's Trade Deadline. The Sabres have high interest in both Tyler Johnson and Yanni Gourde, both who have NTCs, but would be quite interesting if Tampa could make one of them waive it. 

Where do you see Rasmus Ristolainen end up? Ristolainen has 3 years left on his 6-year, $32.4M contract.