Finnish Your Work, Tim https://t.co/At1BxD4jkl pic.twitter.com/22Hv3RuCfS
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) October 1, 2016
Hey, Tim Murray.
Is it a tap-in putt to assume that just because Rasmus Ristolainen is in Buffalo skating with his Sabres teammates that he is going to influence the pace of the negotiations?
"No," Murray told The Associated Press on Friday.
"Unless you ask him that when he got here that he got all lovey-dovey and wants to play for what we want to pay him."
Shade thrown?
Or is Murray being his usual acerbic, snarky self?
Murray would not say whether progress is being made with his unsigned restricted free agent.
The Sabres will open the 2016-17 regular season against the Montreal Canadiens on home ice on October 13.
Murray might not want to play hard ball with Ristolainen and his agent. Not over a couple of hundred thousand dollars in salary per season. Ristolainen is a future Norris Trophy candidate and his ceiling is still very high. In three seasons of NHL service, Risto has already proven himself to be a leader of men. Before you poo-poo Ristolainen's value to his team, think back to the past two and a half seasons of tanking that was occurring around him in Buffalo. Never once did the kid whine or complain. Each and every night, losing amd jeering notwithstanding, the kid kept a stiff upper lip and he performed at a remarkable level. Remember those gawd awful lineups that Ted Noan would ice on a nightly basis? The kid was thrown to the NHL wolves and still succeeded despite not having a strong supporting around him. On most nights, if not all of them, Ristolainen and Zemgus Girgensons were the brighest, most noteworthy players on the Buffalo roster. Ristolainen's game advanvced to higher developmental heights last season when Dan Bylsma and Terry Murray arrived to restore order and winning in Buffalo.
So, I say to you, Tim Murray:
Pay Ristolainen the $6 million to $6.5 million AAV he is seeking.
Don't be pig headed and obstinate.
Do the right thing for yoour team and it's present and future success.
Just tear the bandage off in one motion rather than pussy-footimg around with it.
Don't alienate Ristolainen. He is the best defenseman that you have in your organization and he is getting incrementally better by the day.
Your stated goal for this season is playoffs or best. Correct?
Your Sabres will make the playoffs with Ristolainen in your lineup. They won't make the playoffs without Ristolainen in your nightly lineup.
P.S.- Your future restricted free agents Jack Eichel and Samson Reinhart are watching carefully how you are addressing the Ristolainen contract negotiation. Playing hard ball with Risto right now could set you up for difficult negotiations with Eichel and Reinhart in the very near future.
Finnish your work, Tim.
Ristolainen created a hockey buzz when he reported to Buffalo on Thursday in what was regarded as a sign of good faith.
Ristolainen has spent the two previous weeks in Nearby Toronto competing for his native Finland at the World Cup of Hockey. Why would Ristolainen fly home to Finland when he can stay in his place in Buffalo while working out?
Though he's not allowed to play because he's not under contract, Ristolainen is practicing with the team and also taking part in meetings.
I've emailed Ristolainen's agent Mike Liut several times in the past seven weeks. No reply at all.
Ristolainen was selected by the Sabres in the first round of the 2013 draft. He is entering his fourth NHL season.
In 2015-16, Ristolainen led the Sabres in averaging 25:17 TOI per game, and led Buffalo defencemen with 41 points (9 goals, 32 assists).
I don't care what Murray says. Ristolainen will be re-signed in the very near future.