Yea I'm with you, it's just tough for me to say right now that Risto is the next great NHL defensemen. I love the kid and wouldn't trade him for 90% of the players in this league but it's just way too early to say he's a top 15 guy
- sbroads24

I used Top 15 Top Pairing Teir Defensemen for the explanation of the difference in VALUE of said position compared to the Market Value of L/R Winger value.


I didn't say that RISTO was a current Top 15 , but I believe he has shown play, talent, consistency and skating which would lead most NHL experts and knowledgable fans to see it as a Very Strong Possiblity.

Rookie mistake there by Drouin at a super critical time.

I never suggested that it was a trade that would or could happen, just estimating RISTO's Value, it was meant to explain the difference in value based upon position rather than the actual players named.

My apologies, Tyler Johnson as a Centermen of his skill set would be at about 90% Of Riso's Value based on him being a Centermen. If he come up with a year as consistent as Risto's was on Defense, but do it as a Centermen I would consider them of Equal Value based upon Teams strengths and weakneses.
- MEBSabresFAN

real simple..... u currently over-valued Risto, now im not denying Risto can turn into a shut-down top dman but its purely premature right now with only 1 NHL season...

I used Top 15 Top Pairing Teir Defensemen for the explanation of the difference in VALUE of said position compared to the Market Value of L/R Winger value.


I didn't say that RISTO was a current Top 15 , but I believe he has shown play, talent, consistency and skating which would lead most NHL experts and knowledgable fans to see it as a Very Strong Possiblity.
- MEBSabresFAN

I know you didnt, I'm just saying he has a long way to go still

You can't argue this FACT


RISTO is currently worth MORE than DROUIN and it isn't even close.

P.S. Risto is "OUTPERFORMING" his draft value while Drouin has played below or progressing slower than expected from his draft position.

What Say You?
- MEBSabresFAN

What are you talking about? Go post in EKs, Torontos, Chicago, or any other popular thread here and see how many would want Ristolainen over Drouin

Rookie mistake there by Drouin at a super critical time.
- HonkFortheGoose

To be fair, we don't know if he was told to go on the ice by a coach

http://prohockeytalk.nbcs...cid=Yahoo&partner=ya5nbcs


What do u guys think of this ???

real simple..... u currently over-valued Risto, now im not denying Risto can turn into a shut-down top dman but its purely premature right now with only 1 NHL season...
- Ur Not Me

Thank you.

To be fair, we don't know if he was told to go on the ice by a coach
- sbroads24

Very true. Too many men has been an issue Tampa's had far too often throughout the playoffs. Not sure where the issue is coming from, but it's happened to them a lot.

That's not a fact. That's an opinion.
- HonkFortheGoose

If you take the average values in trades over the past 20yrs, I'm sure it could be shown through a statistical manner that Top 15 Defensemen are about equal to the Top 15 Centermen

Thank you.
- ImNoTroll

Its like me saying Strome will be the next Tavares .....

If you take the average values in trades over the past 20yrs, I'm sure it could be shown through a statistical manner that Top 15 Defensemen are about equal to the Top 15 Centermen
- MEBSabresFAN

Risto is not currently a top 15 defenseman. Don't get me wrong, I like the kid, but he's not top 15. Hell, there are 4 guys on Chicago alone that would be ahead of him.

http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2015/06/13/report-contract-talks-could-get-tricky-between-sabres-grigorenko/?ocid=Yahoo&partner=ya5nbcs


What do u guys think of this ???
- Ur Not Me

Conveniently around contract time he's interested in the K. It's a ploy for negotiations IMO

If you take the average values in trades over the past 20yrs, I'm sure it could be shown through a statistical manner that Top 15 Defensemen are about equal to the Top 15 Centermen
- MEBSabresFAN

That's fine. Neither of these players are a top 15 of anything.

I know you didnt, I'm just saying he has a long way to go still
- sbroads24

I disagree that NHL GMs would share that belief, To suggest RISTO has a LONG WAY to go to become a Top 15 Defensemen in this league is laughable.

Name the 15 past the TOP 15 that are already better than he is, DROP MIC

Conveniently around contract time he's interested in the K. It's a ploy for negotiations IMO
- sbroads24

That's what I said. I think he saw that when Zadorov essentially threatened the same thing he got to stay and play on the NHL roster. The two of them are really close, so it wouldn't surprise me if it's just a way to push the team to get what he wants. The difference though, is that I think they'd be like, have fun. I'd call his bluff. He'd still be our property and the K is pretty much going to fold at some point. Half the teams can't even afford to pay their players last I heard.

Risto is not currently a top 15 defenseman. Don't get me wrong, I like the kid, but he's not top 15. Hell, there are 4 guys on Chicago alone that would be ahead of him.
- HonkFortheGoose

The only fact I see, is Murray wishes MEBSABRESFAN is stevie y, so he can land johnson and Drouin for ristolainen.

I disagree that NHL GMs would share that belief, To suggest RISTO has a LONG WAY to go to become a Top 15 Defensemen in this league is laughable.

Name the 15 past the TOP 15 that are already better than he is, DROP MIC
- MEBSabresFAN

Really? Ristolainen isn't even a top 50 defensemen right now? Your bias opinions are not facts.

I disagree that NHL GMs would share that belief, To suggest RISTO has a LONG WAY to go to become a Top 15 Defensemen in this league is laughable.

Name the 15 past the TOP 15 that are already better than he is, DROP MIC
- MEBSabresFAN

I could easily name 15 defenseman better than him if that's what you're asking.

Conveniently around contract time he's interested in the K. It's a ploy for negotiations IMO
- sbroads24

My entire main idea was the (discussing) of the Values of the different positions on the ice.


Like, Goalies can be similar to Running Backs in the NFL , While GREAT ones can really make a difference, there is a glut of good to really good RB/Goaltenders that can get the job done.

I really believe having a TOP 15 Centermen and a TOP 15 Defensemen are the MOST important combination for a championship team. My Comparison by NFL would be QB/Centermen and Defensive Takle or Top Pass Rusher = Top Pair Defensemen

That's what I said. I think he saw that when Zadorov essentially threatened the same thing he got to stay and play on the NHL roster. The two of them are really close, so it wouldn't surprise me if it's just a way to push the team to get what he wants. The difference though, is that I think they'd be like, have fun. I'd call his bluff. He'd still be our property and the K is pretty much going to fold at some point. Half the teams can't even afford to pay their players last I heard.
- HonkFortheGoose

Absolutely Agree, well said

I disagree that NHL GMs would share that belief, To suggest RISTO has a LONG WAY to go to become a Top 15 Defensemen in this league is laughable.

Name the 15 past the TOP 15 that are already better than he is, DROP MIC
- MEBSabresFAN

Just asking, can you list the top Dmen before you get to Risto?
Im not even trying to ruin your happiness but the 3 isles dmen of Boychuk/Leddy/Hamonic are currently better than Risto....

Really? Ristolainen isn't even a top 50 defensemen right now? Your bias opinions are not facts.
- ImNoTroll

Drouin is barely an NHLer. You love the guy because he was picked #3. It could have been Joe Blow pick #3 and you would say say trade Risto for him because, well, he was pick #3. Top picks bust too.

I could easily name 15 defenseman better than him if that's what you're asking.
- HonkFortheGoose

No, some are suggesting that for RISTO to even enter into the conversation of making it into that teir that (he has a LONG WAY to go) So I asked how many D-MEN past Those agreed current TOP 15 would you place RISTO, and not suprisingly he puts 50 other NHL DEFENSEMEN that are BETTER than RISTO! I'm not overestimating RISTO's potential, but he is definately are UNDERESTIMATING Risto's probability of Success Big Time.

Drouin is barely an NHLer. You love the guy because he was picked #3. It could have been Joe Blow pick #3 and you would say say trade Risto for him because, well, he was pick #3. Top picks bust too.
- GilPerreault11

A 20 year old with 32 points in his rookie campaign, seems like a nhler, or is ramsus barely a nhler since he has played in 112 games.

Ristolainen would have been in the AHL this year if he wasn't a sabre.