GARTH'S CORNER: Rist Never Sleeps

he isn't a Norris candidate and has never been really. hasnt evolved into one yet either

he isn't a Norris candidate and has never been really. hasnt evolved into one yet either
- rinaldo

It will be intersting to see what Risto does next year without Bob Woods and the number 1 ranked PP in the league. Past 2 years he has had roughly 50% of his points on the PP.

His 5v5 production isnt very stellar when compared to any other "Norris Notable"
The Top 3 5v5 producing Dmen this year are Karlsson, Burns, and Hedman. Shocking that those are the 3 Norris nominations as well.

Risto is the 60th 5v5 producing Dman.

It will be intersting to see what Risto does next year without Bob Woods and the number 1 ranked PP in the league. Past 2 years he has had roughly 50% of his points on the PP.

His 5v5 production isnt very stellar when compared to any other "Norris Notable"
The Top 3 5v5 producing Dmen this year are Karlsson, Burns, and Hedman. Shocking that those are the 3 Norris nominations as well.

Risto is the 60th 5v5 producing Dman.
- DDM-Coga

No room for facts on this blog.

No room for facts on this blog.
- Matthews_Auston

Facts for DAYZ. He also had very low Primary Points/60 as well. Seems like Risto majority of his points were secondary assists.

He still has great offensive ability but a 45pt season in the manner that he had, doesnt mean hes a Norris Candidate like Garth is claiming

It will be intersting to see what Risto does next year without Bob Woods and the number 1 ranked PP in the league. Past 2 years he has had roughly 50% of his points on the PP.

His 5v5 production isnt very stellar when compared to any other "Norris Notable"
The Top 3 5v5 producing Dmen this year are Karlsson, Burns, and Hedman. Shocking that those are the 3 Norris nominations as well.

Risto is the 60th 5v5 producing Dman.
- DDM-Coga

Bylsma probably took way more criticsm for the sabres failures than he deserved but by extension you're giving woods way too much credit.

That much talent on one PP unit, anchored by eichel, its not hard to put up PP points unless you have a complete dunce of a coach.

Keep in mind, many times throughout the year the sabres drop pass was going to ROR instead of Eichel which is inexcusable. Could be woods or not but kind of my point though.

Edit: and all the times Eichel wasn't on the point, id love to know which idiot thought that one up.

Bylsma probably took way more criticsm for the sabres failures than he deserved but by extension you're giving woods way too much credit.

That much talent on one PP unit, anchored by eichel, its not hard to put up PP points unless you have a complete dunce of a coach.

Keep in mind, many times throughout the year the sabres drop pass was going to ROR instead of Eichel which is inexcusable. Could be woods or not but kind of my point though.
- Sabresfan-365

Players play to the scheme that the coaches draw up. They arent free wheeling harlem globe trotters out there on the PP.

Avs PP has been terrible for years under Tim Army. It was poorly designed feeding Iginla too much. Look at MacKinnon at the World right now. He is scoring from the left side half circle at will on the PP. A place that he is never placed on the PP (that was iginlas spot).

Coaching staff does have an impact on the PP. You can have all the talent but the talent will stay within the schemes that are designed for them. Like I said it will be interested to see what happens with the Sabres PP next year under a new coach. ROR also benefited from the PP, I was shocked to see how low his 5v5 scoring was this year

He'd be a Norris Candidate if he played some D now and then -

Also, he is SMART for skipping these Summer Nonsense Garbage Tourneys - If I were the owner of ANY NHL Team - not my guys - especially my good guys - you wanna send youngsters, fine but not ROR and Eichel - (these guys were worn out before the season even began last year) AND Disco Danielle was playing ROR and Risto 25+ MINs a night - wearing these dudes down and you wonder why the Sabres blew leads all season.

They were tired - Disco Danille - I HOPE the door hit him in the blank on the way out. Dummy that guy. Can't see the Forest from the Trees.

Players play to the scheme that the coaches draw up. They arent free wheeling harlem globe trotters out there on the PP.

Avs PP has been terrible for years under Tim Army. It was poorly designed feeding Iginla too much. Look at MacKinnon at the World right now. He is scoring from the left side half circle at will on the PP. A place that he is never placed on the PP (that was iginlas spot).

Coaching staff does have an impact on the PP. You can have all the talent but the talent will stay within the schemes that are designed for them. Like I said it will be interested to see what happens with the Sabres PP next year under a new coach. ROR also benefited from the PP, I was shocked to see how low his 5v5 scoring was this year
- DDM-Coga

need to watch more sabres games


I get what you're saying, im just saying that impact isnt as big as you're making it out to be. unless we're talking about someone really good or in the example you cited for the avs someone towards the bottom.

So unless the sabres hire the guy from the avs, the PP should still be good and producing. Maybe not tops in the league (dont recall the last time a team was tops 2 years in a row) but enough that the points will still be there.

The 5v5 production is far more intriguing. Suffered from a terrible blueline that had virtually no puck movers. It will be interesting to see what the additions are and what kind of impact they have on who both positive and negative.

need to watch more sabres games


I get what you're saying, im just saying that impact isnt as big as you're making it out to be. unless we're talking about someone really good or in the example you cited for the avs someone towards the bottom.

So unless the sabres hire the guy from the avs, the PP should still be good and producing. Maybe not tops in the league (dont recall the last time a team was tops 2 years in a row) but enough that the points will still be there.

The 5v5 production is far more intriguing. Suffered from a terrible blueline that had virtually no puck movers. It will be interesting to see what the additions are and what kind of impact they have on who both positive and negative.
- Sabresfan-365

I just mentioned the PP bc its been a big component of Ristos rise, as his point totals are what you would want to see from a 1st Pairing Dman. If he brings up his 5v5 prodcution, which could be helped from a solid partner, better deployment of fwds etc etc, then its a moot point. But the PP numbers and secondary assists are an interesting side story to Risto when you really start to look at his production as a whole.

I think he has the talent to translate that to 5v5 and become more of a driver. But until then, the Norris talk from Garth is silly. It would be like saying Tyson Barrie should be in Norris talks (who has better 5v5 production and primary points than Risto)

I just mentioned the PP bc its been a big component of Ristos rise, as his point totals are what you would want to see from a 1st Pairing Dman. If he brings up his 5v5 prodcution, which could be helped from a solid partner, better deployment of fwds etc etc, then its a moot point. But the PP numbers and secondary assists are an interesting side story to Risto when you really start to look at his production as a whole.

I think he has the talent to translate that to 5v5 and become more of a driver. But until then, the Norris talk from Garth is silly. It would be like saying Tyson Barrie should be in Norris talks (who has better 5v5 production and primary points than Risto)
- DDM-Coga

Oh yea its incredibly silly but norristolainen sounds cool


Side note, Barrie had an incredible year 5v5 when you factor in how bad the avs were. Even in the few games i watched he looked great. The only thing (and im just reading off a sheet here) maybe they may want him to shoot a little more? Shot volume seems a little low for someone of his capabilities.

Oh yea its incredibly silly but norristolainen sounds cool


Side note, Barrie had an incredible year 5v5 when you factor in how bad the avs were. Even in the few games i watched he looked great. The only thing (and im just reading off a sheet here) maybe they may want him to shoot a little more? Shot volume seems a little low for someone of his capabilities.
- Sabresfan-365

Barrie is a fancy boy, he likes to look...look again...take a few more seconds to look. Force a pass and boom turn over.

Barrie, Grigs, and Duchene refuse to shoot. They are always looking for the seem pass. Thank god for MacKinnon and Rantanen who will shoot it from wherever. MacK needs to work a bit on his shot selection but man does he get pucks on net

FREAKOLAINEN.

No room for facts on this blog.
- Matthews_Auston

There was no room in Garf's jorts for anything, while this was being written.

He'd be a Norris Candidate if he played some D now and then -

Also, he is SMART for skipping these Summer Nonsense Garbage Tourneys - If I were the owner of ANY NHL Team - not my guys - especially my good guys - you wanna send youngsters, fine but not ROR and Eichel - (these guys were worn out before the season even began last year) AND Disco Danielle was playing ROR and Risto 25+ MINs a night - wearing these dudes down and you wonder why the Sabres blew leads all season.

They were tired - Disco Danille - I HOPE the door hit him in the blank on the way out. Dummy that guy. Can't see the Forest from the Trees.
- -JCDC-

Still blaming Bylsma, I see. The Sabres are crap becuase they do not have enough good players. Murray traded all the organizational depth. The cupboards are bare

Risto is no more a Norris Trophy candidate than Reilly is, But at least Reilly played his best hockey of the year in the Playoffs.

Risto like 95% of all other NHL players right now who did not make the playoffs are already working out hard. #55 is not special in that regard.

#55 will be a good D man for a long time. Its a little too early to crown him to be Norris level.

Norris eh..

If he was anything close to that the sabres ownership wouldn't have had to fire everyone...

Jake Gardner is closer to a Norris..

Umm just because he plays a lot of minutes doesn't mean he's "top echelon".
He's good. Better than average, but not great. He's good. A solid #2 (hehe poop jokes).

Ha, imagine a PP with Draisaitl. Wonder why Garf didn't try to influence GMTM to draft Draisaitl instead of Sam. Risto and Draisaitl would've had a good ring to it.

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


no it hasn't at all.

He is a top NHL D man, anyone who says different really doesn't have a clue

He is a top NHL D man, anyone who says different really doesn't have a clue
- winger711

pretty much... the Jake Gardner joke was very funny though

He is a top NHL D man, anyone who says different really doesn't have a clue
- winger711

Oh come on now. The guy isn't even in the top 25 among top NHL Defenders. Look at his division. Weber, Karlsson, Ekblad, Hedman are all better. His peers are Reilly, Matheson, Stralman, Krug, McAvoy, Ceci and Petry. He's a nice player. #2/3 on a good team. He's a #1 on a bad Buffalo team. That's all

Your (w)rist never sleeps!

Still blaming Bylsma, I see. The Sabres are crap becuase they do not have enough good players. Murray traded all the organizational depth. The cupboards are bare

Risto is no more a Norris Trophy candidate than Reilly is, But at least Reilly played his best hockey of the year in the Playoffs.

Risto like 95% of all other NHL players right now who did not make the playoffs are already working out hard. #55 is not special in that regard.

#55 will be a good D man for a long time. Its a little too early to crown him to be Norris level.
- BernardShakey

Sure am blaming him. Dudes were tired. Go back and watch all 82 3rd periods of this season and tell me I am wrong.

The coach controls who is out on the ice. Yes, I blame him.

He is a top NHL D man, anyone who says different really doesn't have a clue
- winger711

no he isn't. anyone who thinks he is doesn't have a clue.