The lion's share of which came on the PP... you see him on PP1 here?
- Tomahawk

Yea good chunk were but the guy is capable and can play the game, just because your chart says he sucks doesn’t tell the whole story. He’s going to be on the second pair and add physicality that this back end surely needs. I think he will be fine, time will tell. He’s always played above his skill level because Buffalo is a laughing stock. I’m not saying he’s Bobby Orr but he’s a solid second pair guy and our defense is now a solid group

Yep, just traded away first round picks and other assets to get better now. So now is the time to trade your #1 center for the future. Can't make it up.
- MJL

Did we trade two firsts? I thought we had next years still.

Yea good chunk were but the guy is capable and can play the game, just because your chart says he sucks doesn’t tell the whole story. He’s going to be on the second pair and add physicality that this back end surely needs. I think he will be fine, time will tell. He’s always played above his skill level because Buffalo is a laughing stock. I’m not saying he’s Bobby Orr but he’s a solid second pair guy and our defense is now a solid group
- ClaudeFather

You'd be hard-pressed to find a single Sabres fan who is bummed about losing their top minutes 26-yo defenseman. On the contrary, they're dancing in the streets.

You don't find that kinda strange?

There is no doubt that this team is going to be better and more fun to watch. If that's what you're looking for, then you should be happy.
- MJL

hopefully everyone wants them to be better

Yea good chunk were but the guy is capable and can play the game, just because your chart says he sucks doesn’t tell the whole story. He’s going to be on the second pair and add physicality that this back end surely needs. I think he will be fine, time will tell. He’s always played above his skill level because Buffalo is a laughing stock. I’m not saying he’s Bobby Orr but he’s a solid second pair guy and our defense is now a solid group
- ClaudeFather

Was he on the first pair with dahlin?

I like Hagg but did some stuff sh*t lol and like we are getting a big guy

hopefully everyone wants them to be better
- bradster

Sometimes I’m not sure about that. Haha. I think that if we don’t get the exact players people want then it’s a disaster. It’s not nhl 2022 and you can’t just add all the 95 players that other teams covet.

Doesn't this bolded part point towards team coaching/management as a bigger issue here? Assuming they've watched him the whole time he's played there and they are still putting him in the wrong position and not otherwise making the team better?
- shekkie

Well, what do you want them to do? They moved him to the 2nd pairing playing a teenager and an almost teenager ahead of him. He is supposed to be their most experienced Dman by far.

Was he on the first pair with dahlin?
- Hextall271

No, sir.

You'd be hard-pressed to find a single Sabres fan who is bummed about losing their top minutes defenseman. On the contrary, they're dancing in the streets.

You don't find that kinda strange?
- Tomahawk

I mean what’s he doing there? What are they doing, they aren’t trying to win games I’ll tell you that. They have a bunch of young guys, for the 100th time, there’s a ton of losing ahead of them. He was not turning that team around.

When's the last time a player who sucked came here and suddenly became really good? Ville Leino?

Usually it happens the other way around.
- Tomahawk

Listen, I agree with you on some points. In games I watched Risolainen play, he's seemed questionable. He is aggressive and has obvious skills but he also is not consistent or strong in his decision making. However there are also positives to his game. If you're just using stats to form an argument, not saying you are, then you're making a bad argument. He's never played on a good team. Sometimes players tend to try and do too much to try and win. They over extend themselves. So those stats have to be looked at in the correct context. They're never player stats. They're team stats. Not crazy about the trade but still have to have an open mind.

Was he on the first pair with dahlin?
- Hextall271

Nah

You'd be hard-pressed to find a single Sabres fan who is bummed about losing their top minutes 26-yo defenseman. On the contrary, they're dancing in the streets.

You don't find that kinda strange?
- Tomahawk

There is a saying if you can't spot the sucker in the room, you're the sucker. Fletcher got destroyed by Kevyn Adams.

No, sir.
- PT21

I remember him playing a lot but can’t remember who he was paired with.

You'd be hard-pressed to find a single Sabres fan who is bummed about losing their top minutes 26-yo defenseman. On the contrary, they're dancing in the streets.

You don't find that kinda strange?
- Tomahawk

That's meaningless. It's is a pretty common phenomenon for fans to bloviate negatively on a player their team just traded.

Was he on the first pair with dahlin?
- Hextall271

What? He played 25 minutes a night for 4 years in a row, he’s been their best Dman for 6 years. 22+ the past two seasons and 25+ the 4 before it.

I love all the negativity towards Risto. Won’t be long until he is a a fan favourite. Just watch.
- Keyser soze

Sure he runs around and hits everything. Who doesn't love that?

There is a saying if you can't spot the sucker in the room, you're the sucker. Fletcher got destroyed by Kevyn Adams.
- PLindbergh31

He's got Fletcher's head stuffed, hanging over his mantle.

What? He played 25 minutes a night for 4 years in a row, he’s been their best Dman for 6 years. 22+ the past two seasons and 25+ the 4 before it.
- ClaudeFather

Dahlin doesn't kill penalties but had the most ES minutes. Risto was 2nd-pair.

There is a saying if you can't spot the sucker in the room, you're the sucker. Fletcher got destroyed by Kevyn Adams.
- PLindbergh31

I want him removed immediately and hextall brought back. Haha.

Talking to some fans of other teams There’s no guarantee that 13 pick is going to be anyone of significance in a weak draft. As well, the scouts haven’t gotten to see many of these guys a lot i. Person so it’s even more of a crap shoot than normal. Makes sense to me.

I just don’t think the org wants to play the long game anymore and wants to go for it. Whether or not this move helps will have to be seen. I think this player can be better on Philly than he was in Buffalo.

Frank the future ... I want to win a cup now! I'm sick of waiting for players that may or may not develop. Fletcher is rebuilding this team, and its so nice to be a fan watching these types of transactions associated with the Flyers again! All the while Hextall doing what he does best ... Nothing .. for our arch rivals. Does it get any better??
- jd250

Lmao win a cup now? Team STILL. Isn’t close

You'd be hard-pressed to find a single Sabres fan who is bummed about losing their top minutes 26-yo defenseman. On the contrary, they're dancing in the streets.

You don't find that kinda strange?
- Tomahawk

I think it’s very funny considering that Buffalo will make a bad pick and continue to suck. As well as trade eichel for less than market value.

Dahlin doesn't kill penalties but had the most ES minutes. Risto was 2nd-pair.
- Tomahawk

And the 4 years he played 25 minutes?

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

except for when I brought up his hockey iq.

Really? What goal scorer did they add?
- PLindbergh31

While I would have liked a goal scorer myself, it’s very possible our team can make a cumulative effort to get more goals. I was told this was the easy way to make up Voracek’s points as well (if traded)… but we will have a full season of Allison who can score, Frost will provide offense, Farabee will score his fair share, and I’m really banking on TK getting back to his 19-20 form. Fully expect Giroux and Jake to have good seasons too and then you have JVR who is good for 25-35 goals. I’m not worried about scoring if we drastically improve our team defense and drastically improve our goal differentials.