Sabres Eyeing Former Top-10 Draft Pick as Parayko Trade Replacement

Buffalo could reunite with Rasmus Ristolainen as the deadline approaches.

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

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The Buffalo Sabres were unable to acquire star defenseman Colton Parayko from the St. Louis Blues, as Parayko used his no-trade clause to veto the agreement. With the trade deadline looming, the Sabres are now looking at the possibility of reacquiring former first-round pick Rasmus Ristolainen from the Philadelphia Flyers to fill the void on their blue line.

Why it matters

The Sabres have struggled to make the playoffs for 14 consecutive seasons, and adding an experienced defenseman like Ristolainen could be a key move to help them end that drought. Ristolainen is familiar with the Sabres organization after spending his first eight NHL seasons in Buffalo, making him an appealing target as the team looks to bolster its roster ahead of the deadline.

The details

Rasmus Ristolainen was originally the 8th overall pick by the Sabres in the 2013 NHL Draft. He spent eight seasons in Buffalo, recording 46 goals and 199 assists in 542 games. In July 2021, the Sabres traded Ristolainen to the Philadelphia Flyers in a deal that included two draft picks and defenseman Robert Hagg. Now, with the Sabres in need of a right-shot blue-liner, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman has reported that a reunion between Ristolainen and Buffalo could make sense as the team looks to add before the trade deadline.

  • The NHL trade deadline is set for Friday, March 6th at 3:00 PM ET.

The players

Rasmus Ristolainen

A former 8th overall draft pick by the Buffalo Sabres in 2013, Ristolainen spent the first eight seasons of his NHL career in Buffalo before being traded to the Philadelphia Flyers in 2021.

Colton Parayko

A star defenseman for the St. Louis Blues, Parayko was nearly traded to the Buffalo Sabres but used his no-trade clause to veto the agreement.

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What they’re saying

“The Sabres would make sense for a reunion with Ristolainen.”

— Elliotte Friedman, NHL Insider (Elliotte Friedman's Podcast)

What’s next

The Sabres will need to negotiate a trade with the Flyers before the Friday trade deadline in order to acquire Rasmus Ristolainen and bolster their defensive corps.

The takeaway

The Sabres' inability to land Colton Parayko has left them in a bind, but a reunion with former first-round pick Rasmus Ristolainen could be the solution they need to help end their 14-year playoff drought. Ristolainen's familiarity with the organization and his experience as a top-pairing defenseman make him an appealing target as the team looks to add talent ahead of the trade deadline.