During a weekly radio appearance last month, General Manager Tim Murray said the trade market was pretty static at this point in the season and noted cryptically that "I think I can get a fourth liner from a team or a sixth or seventh defenseman from a team."

He was probably right at the time to send out the why-bother aura. Times are different now. He needs to do it. There aren't enough healthy NHL defensemen in this organization. Murray needs to flip somebody (Zemgus Girgensons?) for an NHL depth blueliner.

Look what the Sabres have to deal with this week. Alex Ovechkin Monday night in Washington, Connor McDavid here Tuesday and Ovechkin again here Friday. A move today would be a fine idea.

Bylsma was hoping in preseason to monitor Ristolainen's minutes tightly this season. No chance. He played 29:09 in this one, just the second time this season he broke 29 minutes in regulation. He's going to be in that range for the immediate future.

"Personally, I love it. More ice time, I feel great," Ristolainen said. "But you've got to earn it too. I made a couple soft plays and there were their goals. I have to step up even more."