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Rumor: Sabres trying to trade Ristolainen

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Liferleafer said:
Speaking only for myself....i've watched enough offensive minded D on the Leafs in the last few years to last me a lifetime. I will take an old school stay at home guy to play with Rielly thanks. Risto has a place on a lot of teams i'm sure, but the Leafs can't shelter his defensive blunders.
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Hey I'm with you there, I've seen the same trend come with alot of finnish D prospects where they all seem to think they're the next Erik Karlsson and end up being too poor defensively to even make it in the NHL. Too often conversations about defence revolve too much around forwards when the defensemen aren't doing their actual jobs. Risto is not a good fit in Toronto but like you said there are teams out there that could definitely use him on their 2nd pairing and PP.
 
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Liferleafer said:
Here, i'll break it down like this, a young winger's job is to produce offense...Nylander's 1st 2 sassons being 60+ points means he does his job.

A young Dman's job? It's to defend, Risto sucks at that. If your selling point for a Dman is "Points points points!!!", it doesn't work for me. There may be a team that needs a D man that puts up points but doesn't defend, Leafs aren't that team.
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Completely wrong. On multiple levels. But carry on.
 
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Ukkosenjumala said:
Hey I'm with you there, I've seen the same trend come with alot of finnish D prospects where they all seem to think they're the next Erik Karlsson and end up being too poor defensively to even make it in the NHL. Too often conversations about defence revolve too much around forwards when the defensemen aren't doing their actual jobs. Risto is not a good fit in Toronto but like you said there are teams out there that could definitely use him
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Absolutely. If there is s team that can pair Risto with a guy that can shelter Risto's D play? That fits. I like Risto's grit, and obviously his points...but we don't have that stud partner for him here.
 
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What about a deal around risto to Dallas. Perfect offensive D partner for Miro. Miro made Roman polak look ok last year. We don’t have much to offer but maybe radek faksa centered deal with us adding.
 
Boxscore said:
On what planet are 61 point, non-defensive wingers worth more than 45 point defensemen with a physical edge?
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The planet where the Leafs always get a better differential in shot attempts and scoring chances when Nylander is on the ice, because the "non-defensive" winger is one of the better play drivers on the team due to his controlled zone exits and entries. The guy who won World Championship MVP two years ago and just lead that tournament in scoring a month ago, hinting at potential we haven't seen fully emerge at the NHL level yet, possibly because he plays for a coach that rewards the safe play over the creative one with his ice time and favour.

Meanwhile pretty much every underlying stat for his whole career has suggested Risto actively makes his team worse. His PP skills are nice but completely redundant on the Leafs.
 
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Ukkosenjumala said:
Hey I'm with you there, I've seen the same trend come with alot of finnish D prospects where they all seem to think they're the next Erik Karlsson
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This happens in all countries because the NHL is changing and kids, and coaches alike, at various levels recognize it.

In the modern day NHL, defensemen who can skate, lead the rush, and generate offense are trending up. They are becoming a more crucial part of the game, regardless of their size, etc.

The NHL has been looking to increase its value proposition for years now... and a big part of that is creating more offense, and offensively-gifted players. Defensemen generally get the puck on their stick and are key to the offensive transition game, hence why kids like Makar and Hughes are being drafted higher and higher.

Erik Karlsson, PK Subban and Brent Burns shattered the mold with their Norris trophies. All of them are good, but not exceptional, defensively. It's their offense that makes them elite.

I predict in 10-12 years, offensive D are by far the most valued commodities in the entire NHL, as the game continues to shift and kids all want to be the next Karlsson, Subban, Klingberg, Gostisbehere, Dahlin, Makar, Hughes, etc.
 
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Kamiccolo said:
No takers? Wow.
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Well, considering he literally had the worst +/- in the entire league at -41 (Doughty 2nd at -34), and almost doubled 2nd place on his team (Tage Thompson at -22), it comes as no surprise they're trying to swap him out. As we see in this thread, he still holds some pretty considerable value, because of his decent offensive output at 43 pts, so Buffalo is doing the smart thing, trade him now, while he's still relatively young and still maintains the illusion of being a coveted asset.

When Buffalo came to my town in January, he was on the ice for 6 of their 7 goals against. He's a physical defenseman, but at the cost of positioning and lack of puck awareness. His defensive zone liability out-weighs his offensive output.

But maybe it's a just a product of playing on a struggling Buffalo team, maybe not
 
Personally I'm all over this as a Wings fan, but the others on my board don't seem to love Risto... Buffalo what do you think it would take? Would a deal around Athanasiou+ be palatable?
 
DemsIsGirglingSounds said:
Is Athanasiou primarily a center or wing?
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Winger, but he has played center with mixed success in the NHL. I think ideally you want him on the wing, but if you lack center depth and give him good wingers he can fill in at C until Cozens/Mittelstadt can take that responsibility. I suggested AA because he's the closest thing to a 2C the Wings have (well Larkin, 1C, obviously just isn't available at all). If you are looking only for a center AA is not the perfect guy to target, but if you want a top 6 forward that can play C, then that's him.
 
Risto would turn out great in Toronto. If there's one thing Babcock does well, its develop d-men. He would look great next to Muzzin, just dont think we'd want to/be able to give up the price necessary to acquire him from a divisional rival.
 
hagan88 said:
What about a deal around risto to Dallas. Perfect offensive D partner for Miro. Miro made Roman polak look ok last year. We don’t have much to offer but maybe radek faksa centered deal with us adding.
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A 3rd liner isn't a center piece for Risto, it's an add-in.
 
MarryMarner said:
Kasperi Kapanen - 3.4m
Connor Brown - 2m
+ a couple 3rd-5th round picks
for
Rasmus Ristolainen - 5.4m
Victor Olofsson - 0.760m

Easy swap on the contract side...

Rielly - Ristolainen
Muzzin - Barrie (Kadri traded)
Dermott - Hainsey
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Which testicle are you including on the Kadri/Barrie trade, left or right?
 
SHANNYPLAN said:
Risto would turn out great in Toronto. If there's one thing Babcock does well, its develop d-men. He would look great next to Muzzin, just dont think we'd want to/be able to give up the price necessary to acquire him from a divisional rival.
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I happen to agree.

In Toronto, Ristolainen could be the #3 defenseman, which is better suited for his game. Rielly and Muzzin will take the toughest assignments, which will give Ristolainen some air to breathe.

He'd be an awesome 2nd pairing and PP2 D in Toronto with the ability to step up a notch in case of injuries.
 
Gh0st said:
Well, considering he literally had the worst +/- in the entire league at -41 (Doughty 2nd at -34), and almost doubled 2nd place on his team (Tage Thompson at -22), it comes as no surprise they're trying to swap him out. As we see in this thread, he still holds some pretty considerable value, because of his decent offensive output at 43 pts, so Buffalo is doing the smart thing, trade him now, while he's still relatively young and still maintains the illusion of being a coveted asset.

When Buffalo came to my town in January, he was on the ice for 6 of their 7 goals against. He's a physical defenseman, but at the cost of positioning and lack of puck awareness. His defensive zone liability out-weighs his offensive output.

But maybe it's a just a product of playing on a struggling Buffalo team, maybe not
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Yeah, not to offend, but has he REALLY ever had a quality coach to work with him on these things? Like, it's totally possible that he is just too dumb to ever get it, but I think there is a market where GM's go "I think my guy and my staff can reign him in a bit, and get a more all around 30 point guy who has a physical side."

Especially if they already have an offensive option and don't need him to put up points. Give him the treatment that Babcock gave to Rielly where you take away the PP time, force him on the PK and hard defensive minutes, and tell him you don't care about points keep the puck out of the net. Challenge him to redefine his game. And then once he gets a handle on it, let him loose offensively and you have a much improved player.
 
IlikeEich said:
Throw in a middling prospect or pick and I'm in.
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AA + 3rd/Lindstrom/Svechnikov for Rasmus Ristolainen?

Lindstrom was a 2nd round pick a couple of years ago. Good defensive D that's succeeding in Sweden and projects as a steady #4. Svechnikov was a 1st round winger that has tons of skill but his career has been derailed by injuries burying him in Detroit's winger depth chart. Or you can take our 3rd. Your choice.
 
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NiL8r87 said:
Are they actually paying Dreger to say this crap? Lol, in this thin RHD market Risto is definitely getting traded and he's likely going to get a haul. Buffalo would be stupid not to trade him.
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Really? Haven’t you read the 200 posts about how he is the worse defenseman in the league? Surely the Sabres would be better off having him stick around and clean the locker room or sell hot dogs for the meager return we will get. :sarcasm:

They are not cap strapped and injuries do happen. Maybe he could work himself into the lineup eventually. He isn’t going anywhere unless its for a 2C that is cost controlled and a significant offensive and defensive contributor. Not many of those out there either.
 
I think Risto for Gourde would be a fair swap. Gives Buffalo hard working forward depth and gives TB some d depth.
 
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