Ryan Wilson: Crosby line set to feast on Ristolainen and the Sabres Crosby line set to feast on Ristolainen and the Sabres

1st

Watch Ristolainen get 3 points in a winning effort now tonight...damn jinx blog...

...or did I reverse it...

Stay tuned.

I may be mistaken, but I seem to remember past blogs where DP"s limited play translated well into chart form and RW touted that fact.

So does this mean the pens used all 4 call ups? Only ones they are allowed to call up is in case of an injury now?

#Norristolainen

Wasn't Sundqvist just sent back to Wilkes-Barre the other day?

Wasn't Sundqvist just sent back to Wilkes-Barre the other day?
- simethos

Probably cap juggling

Wasn't Crosby held off the scoresheet during their last meeting?

And to pin this in Ristolainen is not entirely fair -- you mention a "pairing" but you do not even mention who comprises the other side of the defensive pair. That's the underlying issue; not Ristolainen.

We've reached the point where it has become clear, it being the Penguins cannot develop defensemen.

Matta and Doumolin (sp?) might be success stories, but the list of first and second round picks that have failed to make their mark in the NHL grows nearly every time the Pens take a defenseman early.

There needs to be accountability for the coaches and scouts on this one.

Wasn't Crosby held off the scoresheet during their last meeting?

And to pin this in Ristolainen is not entirely fair -- you mention a "pairing" but you do not even mention who comprises the other side of the defensive pair. That's the underlying issue; not Ristolainen.
- SabresFanRoch

Buffalo fans don't want to hear it, but their defense corp. stinks and while it isn't completely Ristolainen's fault he is not helping the cause. He needs to be a middle pairing guy with power play time. You can't really dispute the evidence.

Buffalo fans don't want to hear it, but their defense corp. stinks

Umm...we kinda say that every night, so I don't get this....

We've reached the point where it has become clear, it being the Penguins cannot develop defensemen.

Matta and Doumolin (sp?) might be success stories, but the list of first and second round picks that have failed to make their mark in the NHL grows nearly every time the Pens take a defenseman early.

There needs to be accountability for the coaches and scouts on this one.
- szielinski

Why don't Dumo and Maatta count?

I think it has more to do with the player than development. Those failures (Morrow, Harrington, possibly Pouliot, etc) have proven they didn't deserve their draft position. You think the Penguins failed these guys? Whey didn't they bloom once they were free of the Penguins system?

Maybe the GM misjudged the talent.....this is my guess.

Why don't Dumo and Maatta count?

I think it has more to do with the player than development. Those failures (Morrow, Harrington, possibly Pouliot, etc) have proven they didn't deserve their draft position. You think the Penguins failed these guys? Whey didn't they bloom once they were free of the Penguins system?

Maybe the GM misjudged the talent.....this is my guess.
- madmike71

That could be a big key

That makes no sense. This loose definition of MVP makes it easier for certain players to win it if they are just good on a bad team. So if Sid was on col all year he'd easy be MVP?
- Zac_O

Don't feel like going back to old blog. The definition of MVP is most important to their team. It's not even loose. That's pretty cut and dry IMO.

per NHL.com

Hart Memorial Trophy
The Hart Memorial Trophy is an annual award given to the player judged to be the most valuable to his team. The winner is selected in a poll of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association in all NHL cities at the end of the regular season.

Ted Lindsay Award
The Ted Lindsay Award (formerly Lester B. Pearson Award) is presented annually to the "most outstanding player" in the NHL as voted by fellow members of the National Hockey League Players' Association.

Personally I find the Ted Lindsay more prestigious, as it's voted by the players

[quote=j.boyd919]
I am not disputing Buffalo's defense is horrible. When they are banged up, they are inexperienced and bad, and when they have their starters healthy, they are slow and bad. There is no disputing it. But Ristolainen looks promising; just needs help.

For trolling Sabres fans, here's hoping you clinch in your own barn.

I'm admittedly not an advanced stats guy, but I don't get why all those red zones on the heat map between the blue line and faceoff circles are the fault of d-men (no matter who the d-man is being criticized btw).

Aren't d-men usually below the dots and trying to cover the forwards who are in those areas more than the d-men/close-to-the-boards wingers?

(I've also never played organized hockey fwiw)

I am not disputing Buffalo's defense is horrible. When they are banged up, they are inexperienced and bad, and when they have their starters healthy, they are slow and bad. There is no disputing it. But Ristolainen looks promising; just needs help.

For trolling Sabres fans, here's hoping you clinch in your own barn.
- SabresFanRoch

I think Risto is in a very similar situation that Justin Schultz was in EDM.

I'm admittedly not an advanced stats guy, but I don't get why all those red zones on the heat map between the blue line and faceoff circles are the fault of d-men (no matter who the d-man is being criticized btw).

Aren't d-men usually below the dots and trying to cover the forwards who are in those areas more than the d-men/close-to-the-boards wingers?

(I've also never played organized hockey fwiw)
- stashu

Dmen's primary focus is to protect the front of the net, take away passing lanes, etc.

http://howtohockey.com/ho...e-roles-responsibilities/
^^how to hockey is solid.

Dmen's primary focus is to protect the front of the net, take away passing lanes, etc.
- j.boyd919

So what you're saying is all those deep dark red spots aren't the responsibility of the d-men, yet graphics like that help the stat nerds point fingers at who they want to say is bad? Gotcha.

BTW, I'm a stat nerd, just not an advanced stat nerd.

We've reached the point where it has become clear, it being the Penguins cannot develop defensemen.

Matta and Doumolin (sp?) might be success stories, but the list of first and second round picks that have failed to make their mark in the NHL grows nearly every time the Pens take a defenseman early.

There needs to be accountability for the coaches and scouts on this one.
- szielinski

I think its more so a case of who's picked rather than how they are developed. Matt Dumba was the pick right before Pouliot I believe. I dont think the Pens would be having the same problems with him as they are Pouliot. Sometimes guys just dont work out. Maatta was picked 22nd in the same draft has been way more successful than Pouliot. What other 1st round D-men have the Pens picked?

Despres was starting to look pretty good for his age and then was shipped to Anaheim in a deal that helped the Pens win the cup again. We'd have a better idea of where he is at if it wasnt for the serious concussion problems.

Morrow was traded in a crap trade before he could make it to a regular NHL shift. Verdict still out if he'll be a NHL mainstay.

Whitney went on to have a NHL career for a few mores years after being traded for Kunitz (major awesome asset usage there) then had a very bad foot injury. He was pretty effective for the Pens while with them.

Orpik has had a very long and successful NHL career.

EDIT: youd have to go back to early 90's for more 1st round d-man picks.

I am not disputing Buffalo's defense is horrible. When they are banged up, they are inexperienced and bad, and when they have their starters healthy, they are slow and bad. There is no disputing it. But Ristolainen looks promising; just needs help.

For trolling Sabres fans, here's hoping you clinch in your own barn.
- SabresFanRoch

The Sabres shouldn't judge their players until they dump their coach. That should be the first priority after the season.

letang himself was also a third round pick.

So what you're saying is all those deep dark red spots aren't the responsibility of the d-men, yet graphics like that help the stat nerds point fingers at who they want to say is bad? Gotcha.

BTW, I'm a stat nerd, just not an advanced stat nerd.
- stashu

I think it depends. I'm looking more at the red in the high slot and to the side of the net. While there are a lot of shots coming from the point, is it because disco Dan has the forwards collapsing down low to make up for defensive faults while Risto is on the ice? Or is Risto playing with forwards who suck at defense? (I ask these questions because I don't know, you watch more sabres games than I do so you could probably answer them.) Doesn't Risto play the left side or the ride side? Do teams get clean zone entries vs dumping the puck? How is his puck retrieval when teams do dump the puck? Is he pinching in the offensive zone to try and make up for a lack of offense while giving other teams odd man breaks the other way, leading to high shot volume and 2nd chances against? (Schultz problem during his time in Edmonton.)

Not trying to be facetious. Those are all legitimate questions from me for sabres fans by the way

I think it depends. I'm looking more at the red in the high slot and to the side of the net. While there are a lot of shots coming from the point, is it because disco Dan has the forwards collapsing down low to make up for defensive faults while Risto is on the ice? Or is Risto playing with forwards who suck at defense? (I ask these questions because I don't know, you watch more sabres games than I do so you could probably answer them.) Doesn't Risto play the left side or the ride side? Do teams get clean zone entries vs dumping the puck? How is his puck retrieval when teams do dump the puck? Is he pinching in the offensive zone to try and make up for a lack of offense while giving other teams odd man breaks the other way, leading to high shot volume and 2nd chances against? (Schultz problem during his time in Edmonton.)

Not trying to be facetious. Those are all legitimate questions from me for sabres fans by the way
- j.boyd919

Honestly I don't watch as closely as I should, these last few seasons have killed my concentration on hockey, I'm typically on my computer playing a game while I chromecast the hockey game to my TV. :D