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Rist Never Sleeps

May 8, 2017, 1:58 PM ET [25 Comments]
GARTH'S CORNER
NHL news by Garth • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Are you watching the IIHF World Hockey Championships tournament and are wondering where Rasmus Ristolainen is?

Ristolainen was asked to participate for his Team Finland, however, turned down the opportunity to play for his country.


Ristolainen just completed one whale of a regular season for his Buffalo Sabres and he is looking forward to resting his body before he jumps back into the gym for another long offseason of strength, endurance and agility training.

To know Ristolainen is to know he doesn't mess around with his physical fitness. Ristolainen is a self-described gym rat and a committed work out warrior.


Takas hommiin #backtowork

A post shared by Rasmus Ristolainen (@rasmrist) on




His grueling work he invests in his body in the weight room and on his staircase is easily identifiable in his on ice performances. Ristolainen is a freak in that he is fresher at the end of games than he is at the beginning of games. The guy rarely ever gets fatigued or tired. If he is tired you would not know it. He does labor while breathing and he rarely if ever looks sluggish on the ice.

Work hard play hard 🎧

A post shared by Rasmus Ristolainen (@rasmrist) on



Ristolainen's impressive play in his first four NHL seasons has elevated him to the echelon of top defensemen in the NHL.


Ristolainen finished the 2016-17 season with the NHL's fifth best time in ice (TOI) at 26:28 minutes played per game. In 2016-17, there were many nights where forner a Sabres head coach Dan Bylsma played Ristolainen 30+ minutes per game. Ristolainen plays against the NHL's best players and was often paired multiple D partners due to injuries in Buffalo's blue line. Despite setlrious injuries to Dmitry Kulikov, Zachary Bogosian and Josh Gorges, Ristolainen finished the season with the fifteenth highest point totals among NHL d with 45. Ristolainen finished ninth in assists with 39. At the end of the season, Ristolainen created 24 of his 45 points on Buffalo's NHL best power play unit.


Ristolainen's baptism by fire came during one of the lowest emotional phases of the 47 year history of the Sabres.

Despite playing on three tanking two tanking squads and two under achieving teams, Risto continues to evolve into one of the most complete defenders in the NHL. Ristolainenhas earned the respect of his teammates, coaches, managers, and peers. He is now a legit Norris Trophy candidate.


Ristolainen takes his leadership role on the Sabres very seriously. So much so that he declined the invitation to play for Finland at The Worlds tourney in Cologne and Paris.


Sorry, Finland.


Ristolainen has a full slate of physical work to do to get himself prepared for the 2017-18 Buffalo's Sabres season.

Ristolainen signed a 6-year, $32.4 million contract with the Sabres at the beginning of the 2016-17 season. Seemingly, his first priority is to his Buffalo Sabres teammates and management team.

When asked by SporttiTV about his decision to stay home this spring, Ristolainen was matter of fact.


" It was a difficult season (in Buffalo) and I did not want to go (to Worlds). I wanted to get a good summer and get ready for a better next season with Buffalo".

Ristolainen and Team Finland lost to Team Canada at the 2016 IIHF World Championships. He also skated for Finland at the inaugural World Cup of Hockey tourney in september.

Team organizers were hoping that Ristolainen and other veteran Finns would one again play for their country at Worlds.

"Of course not all of this, of course. Everyone says their own opinions - I'm do care what people say or write, and I'm not terribly interested in that",



Translation: Bing Translator


Thanks, SporttiTV






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