While on the road this morning, I heard Darren Dreger on WGR in Buffalo.
Dreger was asked about current Sabres players not named Ryan O’Reilly who are being mentioned in trade buzz in the days leading up to the NHL Draft in Dallas on Friday night.
Dreger said he there continues to be chatter about forward Samson Reinhart. Dreger’s take agreed with mine which is to say that Sabres GM Jason Botterill will be looking for a maximum return if he decides to trade Reinhart, a pending restricted free agent. Reinhart was the second overall pick at the 2014 NHL Draft. He scorerd 25 goals and 25 assists last season. If there truly is an appetite to trade for Reinhart, the price will be high. I set it at three premium pieces including a first round draft choice, a scoring winger, and a prospect.
How bad do you want Reinhart?
Dreger’s take on Ristolainen:
There is legit interest in the surly Finn. Serious interest. However, bring your platinum card because the price is going to be high.
“Ristolainen is more surprising to me, and I’ve got to believe there’s a strong market for him just because when you look at defense available, it’s not overly strong. It really, truly isn’t. Any team that has a good defenseman normally, especially if they are top four defense, you don’t want to move those pieces. So if you are a team that’s somewhat desperate in need or has a strong need, then you’re going to inquire.
“I had heard that Anaheim had interest in Ristolainen. I’d be a little surprised if the Edmonton Oilers didn’t have interest in Ristolainen. You could probably come up with a list of eight or ten teams, just again projecting the type of player he’s projecting becoming when he hits full stride as a veteran NHL guy.
“But that’s another deal where Botterill has got to feel real comfortable that he’s on the winning side, otherwise he doesn’t make it.”
At 26:29 TOI, Ristolainen averaged the most ice time per game of his career, edging last year’s total by six seconds per game. It was the highest average ice time by a Sabres skater in a full season with the team since Alexei Zhitnik (26:33) in 2002-03.
In 346 career games with the Sabres, Ristolainen has scored 31 goals and 120 assists. He has scored 10 career power play goals and added 78 power play assists.
Last season, Ristolainen struggled in his own end of the barn, however, still scored 6 goals and 35 assists in 73 games played.
In five seasons in Buffalo, Ristolainen has had to endure an eternity of losing. The Sabres have not made the playoffs during Ristolainen’s time in Buffalo. It begs the question: does the kid need to be traded in order to reach his next phase of growth? Or, is he still committed to his goal of helping lead the Sabres to a playoff berth and a deep playoff run next April?
At what cost Ristolainen?
The only way the Anaheim Ducks can pry Rasmus Ristolainen our of Buffalo is by trading Brandon Montour to Buffalo. Ristolainen, 23, cost controlled for next 4 years. Montour, 24, is RFA. Both are right D who play in all situations . Ducks GM Bob Murray will also have to include a top prospect like Sam Steel (Center) or Max Jones (LW).
If Edmonton GM Pete Chiareill wants Ristolainen, he should be prepared trade young D Darnell Nurse plus two other pieces in a top prospect and roster scoring winger.
If Carolina GM Don Waddell wishes to acquire Ristolainen, the conversation will begin with Noah Hanifin, a scoring winger and a premium draft choice heading Buffalo’s way.
Ristolainen is entering year three of his six year, $32.4 million contract. He has not yet hit his prime years of production. Ristolainen, a future Norris Trophy candidate, creates a ton of value for his $5.4M AAV.
As is the case with Ryan O’Reilly and Samson Reinhart, Jason Botterill does NOT have to trade Rasmus Ristolainen. However, if an NHL GM wants one Of Botterill’s top players, make the Sabres an offer they can’t refuse. Botterill is listening. It doesn’t necessarily mean he will make a trade. Botterill is always listening. When your team finishes dead last in 31st place, changes are imminent.
Ristolainen isn't leaving Buffalo without a fight. Figuratively and literally.
When Jason Botterill selects Dynamic Dahlin first overall on Friday night, the Sabres will have three guys named Rasmus in the organization. Ristolainen, Dahlin and Asplund are the three-headed Rasmii monster.
Ristolainen wants Sabres fans to know he was the original gangster named Rasmus.
I've been covering Ristolainen for the past five years and I can tell you firsthand that you will not meet a more intense, insanely competitive NHL player who is more doggedly committed to his craft than Rasmus Ristolainen.
Knowing Risto the way I do, I can assure you that he is hearing the trade buzz that is swirling around his name this Spring. Rather than get boo-boo face and say "why me", Ristiolainen is locked in the gym right now grinding like an MMA fighter. Ristolainen is seemingly telling Jason Botterill and Phil Housley:
"I want to see the rebuild through to the end in Buffalo. But, hey, if the Sabres don't want me, it's fine with me. Trade me to a contending team where I will punish you and make you regret the day you gave up on me".
While his Sabres teammates are relaxing at the cottage and traveling the globe with their families and friends, the fesity Finn has been pumping iron, building massive muscle mass and sculpting his physique into elite level physical fitness.
Ristolainen has been training at the world renowned Mikes Gym in the south of Spain.
Situated on a picturesque compound, Mikes Gym feature a world famous assault course, said to be the toughest in Europe, that definitely pushes their elite professional athlete clients their your limits!
Ristolainen has been crushing the OCR specialist course, fully equipped gym, boxing ring and weight lifting gym.
Ristolainen has told me dozens of times that he thinks he can legit battle and skate 40 minutes per NHL game he plays in. I've never doubted the kid. He's an insanely prideful guy who has the highest level of belief in himself and his teammates.
Do not sell Risto short. Never skate into his end of the rink with your head down because he will drop you like a bad habit.
**
The University of Golden Gophers have been good to the Buffalo Sabres at previous NHL Drafts.
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