I'd say a 1st is mandatory no matter what

Sabres:

lose 5 mil in cap space

Jets can add extra sweetener for Johnson if necessary

Alex Iafallo: Can play on any line. Great defensive winger, okay offense. Can play 1st line minutes in a pinch. Penalty kill and net front on Powerplay. Weaknesses: not much, maybe poor offense for stretches. An upgrade on Jordan Greenwood on 3RW.

Rasmus Kupari: Center, young with middle six upside
Strengths: Very fast, strong forecheck, good defense
Weaknesses: Poor offense. Still young and can improve but time is ticking. Should compete for 4th line spot.

Flames:

gain 4.4 mil in cap space

Ryan Johnson: 2019 31st pick, projected to be a solid 2LD. Played all 4 years of college and is entering pro. Sabres fans fill me in on the strengths and weaknesses?

Chaz Lucius: 2021 mid 1st round pick. Top 6 upside, likely NHL player by 2025 if healthy. Fast, dynamic skill.

Jets:

gain around 500k in cap space

Rasmus Andersson: Will become the Jets best RD, 2-way, very team friendly contract with 3 more years, which is why the acquisition cost is steep.
Flames fans fill me in on the strengths and weaknesses?

Chaz Lucius is more valuable than a 1st, if you're talking about the flames end.

Sabres aren't going to deal Johnson for scraps

yeah I think the flames say hell no they wouldn't move such a valuable player for that little of a return

Iafallo is a valuable middle six forward, can put up 50 points, great PK and defense.
Kupari is a project, but has high upside.
Scouting reports say Johnson may become a 2LD, and Buffalo has a surplus there. What else can the Jets add to make it worth it?

Iaffalo has proven he can't score 50 and is pending free agent.

Kupari just isn't what he was supposed to be. He's already 24 and can barely stay in the NHL.

Johnson should be with the Sabres this season depending on how the defense shakes out. No real reason to sell him. Only worth trading him for a young top 6 scoring winger or top 4 rhd..

He is not worth that. He is going into his draft+5 year, still isn't a lock to make the Sabres starting lineup next season, and projects to be a 2nd pair guy.

would a 3rd round pick or a good pick swap be enough to be close?

I mean package him for an upgrade.

He's 22 and played 41 games for the Sabres after playing out his college career. There's no reason to sell him low and trade him for essentially nothing

What needs to be added on to a top 6 forward prospect, a top 4 D prospect and a 4th round pick.

Essentially nothing is an extreme stretch. Iafallo is a very valuable player, him and Kupari push the Sabres closer to the playoffs and aren't old. They can either use the 4th round pick or trade it in a package or straight up for NHL depth.

Johnson isn't a safe future stud. He's already turning 23 this summer and is coming off an AHL stint with 0.33 assists per game and no pro goals yet. The Sabres already have 3 great young LD.