Ristolainen/Sanheim is going to very similar to Myers/Sanheim. Ristolainen is more physical, but he's not a good defender.
- PLindbergh31

Good defender? For years this guy has been on every trade rumor involving the Sabres as a contract they need to rid off. I now understand why he was protected. This trade was in the offing.

The only reason this guy was picked up by us is because he plays a physical style that will go down well here, usually combined with epic stupidity which is also our trademark.

Here is a quote from the Athletic:

"He’s a liability at both ends of the ice prone to awful decision-making and has been incredibly miscast in a tough minutes role. It is true that Ristolainen has played very tough minutes, but his results within those minutes have been so consistently bad every year (while often playing with a strong top line anchored by Eichel) that it’s difficult to imagine there’ll be a substantial improvement in a lesser role.

Ristolainen isn’t the worst defender in the world by any stretch and has a frame that GMs covet, but how he’s used that frame during the entirety of his career has not been useful. Ristolainen has not been bad because of Buffalo – Buffalo has been bad because Ristolainen has been their most used defenceman. Moving on from him alone is great news for the Sabres."

The rink should get 2 minutes for boarding

- Flyers_01

Even better w/ sound effects

Its close but I agree. However I think Risto with some stability will be better in the long run.
- jd250

I don't think it's close. Ristolainen runs around taking runs at people. He's an average player. Savard is far better in coverage and in making smart plays. Ristolainen has strong skills. Maybe they can coach him up and he can improve playing on what should be a better team.

The biggest thing that cracks me up is as Myers was developing, from a couple of seasons in the AHL, to part time in 19/20, his hockey IQ wasn't really questioned. He was deemed a strong prospect with strong physical skills. One bad season on a really bad team and now he developed a bad case of hockey IQ. Must have contracted it while sleeping or something.
- MJL

That is not what I said or what the point was.

9th overall pick.
- PLindbergh31

How can they get that pick when the Flyers are getting that for Voracek with retained salary and Foerster?

look at the sabers +- from lst year and risto wasnt bad. What about wondkind dahlin. Awful, Thought he was the 2nd coming of hedman. .....maybe it was just the team...
- bradster

Dahlin led the league in - last year and he’s been labeled the next Lidstrom. Pulling stats from the Sabres makes anyone look terrible.

will the Yotes even be able to get to the floor, lol. They are starting a brand new team almost.
- wcorvette

Voracek

9th overall pick.
- PLindbergh31

Damn. I really like Garland's game. Obviously getting out of OEL's contract was Arizona's primary incentive. Something the Flyers could not have afforded to do

I don't think it's close. Ristolainen runs around taking runs at people. He's an average player. Savard is far better in coverage and in making smart plays. Ristolainen has strong skills. Maybe they can coach him up and he can improve playing on what should be a better team.
- MJL

Yes, that's what I mean. I think with better coaching on a better team, Risto can really do well. The other thing to consider is the Flyers, with getting Buffalo to take Hagg, still have $10M in cap space. This should allow them to at least sign a backup goalie and extend Hart and Sanheim. If they want to add more they will need to make another trade.

That is not what I said or what the point was.
- Peter Richards

There wasn't anything in that post that was pertaining to what you said. It was a comment on Myers perceived hockey IQ issue.

Soooooo, Risto is basically a slightly better Gudas?

Yes, that's what I mean. I think with better coaching on a better team, Risto can really do well. The other thing to consider is the Flyers, with getting Buffalo to take Hagg, still have $10M in cap space. This should allow them to at least sign a backup goalie and extend Hart and Sanheim. If they want to add more they will need to make another trade.
- jd250

What about after this upcoming season? What would you be happy with for an extension for Ristolainen? 5 years at 6-7M?

Tale of two trades:

Good defender? For years this guy has been on every trade rumor involving the Sabres as a contract they need to rid off. I now understand why he was protected. This trade was in the offing.

The only reason this guy was picked up by us is because he plays a physical style that will go down well here, usually combined with epic stupidity which is also our trademark.

Here is a quote from the Athletic:

"He’s a liability at both ends of the ice prone to awful decision-making and has been incredibly miscast in a tough minutes role. It is true that Ristolainen has played very tough minutes, but his results within those minutes have been so consistently bad every year (while often playing with a strong top line anchored by Eichel) that it’s difficult to imagine there’ll be a substantial improvement in a lesser role.

Ristolainen isn’t the worst defender in the world by any stretch and has a frame that GMs covet, but how he’s used that frame during the entirety of his career has not been useful. Ristolainen has not been bad because of Buffalo – Buffalo has been bad because Ristolainen has been their most used defenceman. Moving on from him alone is great news for the Sabres."
- PT21

To me this is moot because we are asking him to be a 4 here, not a 1. He’s solid for what we’re asking him to do.

We all love Lindblom but if some team was using him as a 1LW we would say he’s terrible too.

Dahlin led the league in - last year and he’s been labeled the next Lidstrom. Pulling stats from the Sabres makes anyone look terrible.
- hereticpride

With one exception, everyone on the Sabres looked like a completely different player once they shot Kruger and his awful system into the sun. Dahlin was playing well in top line duties and the team miraculously played about .500 over the last 20 games.

The exception was Risto. The guy is an absolute warrior and he deserved to get out of here because he has given everything for this organization. That said... he is a bad hockey player.

so if we can sign a backup, Sanheim and Hart with what's left of our $ we either trade Jake for Tarasenko straight up - zero sweeteners - or go into the season with both Jake and JVR and make it work. i'm excited.

If I had to take a look at what we've gained vs. what we've lost - I am over the moon with the subtractions so far in comparison to the additions. I just wish we kept one of the 2nds.

What about after this upcoming season? What would you be happy with for an extension for Ristolainen? 5 years at 6-7M?
- MJL

Depends on what he does this season, but I would be open to 5 years at $6M tops if he works out. I would not pay him more than Ellis however, especially given the flat cap over the next few seasons.

Good defender? For years this guy has been on every trade rumor involving the Sabres as a contract they need to rid off. I now understand why he was protected. This trade was in the offing.

The only reason this guy was picked up by us is because he plays a physical style that will go down well here, usually combined with epic stupidity which is also our trademark.

Here is a quote from the Athletic:

"He’s a liability at both ends of the ice prone to awful decision-making and has been incredibly miscast in a tough minutes role. It is true that Ristolainen has played very tough minutes, but his results within those minutes have been so consistently bad every year (while often playing with a strong top line anchored by Eichel) that it’s difficult to imagine there’ll be a substantial improvement in a lesser role.

Ristolainen isn’t the worst defender in the world by any stretch and has a frame that GMs covet, but how he’s used that frame during the entirety of his career has not been useful. Ristolainen has not been bad because of Buffalo – Buffalo has been bad because Ristolainen has been their most used defenceman. Moving on from him alone is great news for the Sabres."
- PT21

The fact this fool GM gave up a first round pick for this guy is not to be believed. I'm steadfastly rooting for whoever Buffalo selects tonight at #13 for this player to be a Hall of Famer.

Tale of two trades:




- Tomahawk

Him being slotted correctly on our team is a big help to him that I think folks are overlooking

so if we can sign a backup, Sanheim and Hart with what's left of our $ we either trade Jake for Tarasenko straight up - zero sweeteners - or go into the season with both Jake and JVR and make it work. i'm excited.

If I had to take a look at what we've gained vs. what we've lost - I am over the moon with the subtractions so far in comparison to the additions. I just wish we kept one of the 2nds.
- black_francis

I’m still hoping for the Tarasenko move. We need another shooter. If not I wonder if they work in Foerster later in the season.

The fact this fool GM gave up a first round pick for this guy is not to be believed. I'm steadfastly rooting for whoever Buffalo's select tonight at #13 for this player to be a Hall of Famer.
- PLindbergh31

We all know you are, you didn’t have to tell us

With one exception, everyone on the Sabres looked like a completely different player once they shot Kruger and his awful system into the sun. Dahlin was playing well in top line duties and the team miraculously played about .500 over the last 20 games.

The exception was Risto. The guy is an absolute warrior and he deserved to get out of here because he has given everything for this organization. That said... he is a bad hockey player.
- Slump Buster

So Fletcher and his staff know nothing about hockey because they just spent, according to Fletcher, 3 years talking to the Sabres about obtaining Ristolainen. Sorry, no offense, but I will take Fletchers opinion over yours.

Him being slotted correctly on our team is a big help to him that I think folks are overlooking
- ClaudeFather

Correct slotting didn't exactly help AMac and Luke Schenn not suck.

When you're bad, you're bad.

We all know you are, you didn’t have to tell us
- ClaudeFather

Wait til Fletcher compounds this absurd trade with an Andrew MacDonald type contract. The usual cast of characters will find a way to rationalize it.

Love the trade. Risto should have been the flyers pick in 2011 not morin. If it wasn’t for a late winning streak the flyers would have had the 8th pick. Anyway he has worked out his game. The plus minus has been decent the last couple years. Been wanting him on this team for 2 years. Now I love our top 4.