Could have had some Wood last year.
- Buff36

I was beating that drum. He is everything this team needs right now. Dude is just difficult to play against.

Also make note, the leafs are still eating $1.2 mill for Phil through next season. That’s like a half a girgensons...

Going back to what this team actually needs. If the big guns could have helped out the secondary scorers to this point a playoff position or top 2 spot would be there.

I'd bet the house that they protect him. Ralph loves him.
- Powerslave

I didn't say what I think they would do. I said what I think an intelligent organization would do.

Last night surely a turning point and not because we faced the youngest team in the league. Finals.
- 3rd GM's the charm

Buddy, we're winning the world series this year.

So, Risto does present a challenge.
He has improved significantly under Smith/Krueger..probably Krueger moreso in that Smith was here already for 2 yrs I believe and the change did not occur until Krueger arrived.

He still isn't a 1st pairing IMO, and will be a UFA after next season...so, what will be his cost be for renewal? He may price himself out here. Do you
-risk losing him to Seattle for nothing in return?
-protect him and trade him at next TDL as a rental?
-protect him and resign him next season?

Sabres will have a bunch of UFA's they may be able to choose instead
Hall, Staal, Reider, Sheahan, Montour, Irwin, Ullmark, Hutton.

I think it is true that they can select any of those UFA's during their UFA window (it counts as their Draft pick) even if Sabres Protect them in the Expansion Draft.
Not 100% sure there though...maybe Luanion knows better
- IonSabres

Ristolainen has improved so far this year.

Last year, he looked improved early in the season and then reverted back to what he's always been.

Before we decide that he's some new and improved player permanently, let's wait the remainder of this season before saying that with any kind of certainty, especially with how last season went for him and his prior seasons performance.

elliotte friedman 31 thoughts from yesterday:

2. Buffalo has Brandon Montour available. He will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.

elliotte friedman 31 thoughts from yesterday:

2. Buffalo has Brandon Montour available. He will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.
- Michael Pachla

He's been available since this past offseason.

The only return offered so far has been pennies on the dollar.

Agree, think it's gonna be tough even in the offseason. Can they retain money for a certain amount of years if they traded him or does it have to be for the rest of the contract. Cause his actual money starts going down in a few years.
- Buff36

Typical Sabres player mismanagement.

Obtain a player at a reasonable price, inflate the players value to the max, sign the player to a contract exceeding the player's worth, deploy the player in a suboptimal manner, then trade the player for less than nothing.

I didn't say what I think they would do. I said what I think an intelligent organization would do.
- kingcong39

K

The Canadians. 9-5-4 record.

Fire their well respected around the league Head coach because it wasn't good enough for them.

Meanwhile in Buffalo....

K
- Powerslave

A. Do you think it's a good idea to protect Ristolainen with his upcoming UFA status?

B. Do you think Seattle would actually select him?

C. Do you think it's a good idea to extend a 28 year old Ristolainen with a lot of miles under his belt?

He has looked solid.

Now, what do you do with skinner?
- Gr8daygo

Easy : Put him on Eichel's wing for the rest of the year and watch him score at a 40 goal pace, and earn that contract. Repeat for the rest of the years of his contract. In the process, you can all get back to loving him.

Typical Sabres player mismanagement.

Obtain a player at a reasonable price, inflate the players value to the max, sign the player to a contract exceeding the player's worth, deploy the player in a suboptimal manner, then trade the player for less than nothing.
- kingcong39

Couldn't have said it better

By the way, what an effing shot by Olofsson last night. Seriously, who is stopping that shot ? No goalie in the league is stopping that. The force and power behind that one was incredible. Probably would have hurt the goalie, had it hit him - he's lucky it didn't.

A. Do you think it's a good idea to protect Ristolainen with his upcoming UFA status?

B. Do you think Seattle would actually select him?

C. Do you think it's a good idea to extend a 28 year old Ristolainen with a lot of miles under his belt?
- kingcong39

No
No
No

By the way, what an effing shot by Olofsson last night. Seriously, who is stopping that shot ? No goalie in the league is stopping that. The force and power behind that one was incredible. Probably would have hurt the goalie, had it hit him - he's lucky it didn't.
- kritter65

So does that shot go into hiding 5on5, glad he is scoring, but needs to start doing it 5on5

A. Do you think it's a good idea to protect Ristolainen with his upcoming UFA status?

B. Do you think Seattle would actually select him?

C. Do you think it's a good idea to extend a 28 year old Ristolainen with a lot of miles under his belt?
- kingcong39

A) I'm not as down on Risto as you are, so there's a difference. I think he brings certain things to a lineup that we sorely lack, and it's not as if he's (frank)ing Mike Wilson out there. He's not a great player, but is a very good player that has some flaws (like many, many NHL players). He's not perfect. And most defensemen aren't.

B) Yes. Gone in a heartbeat.

C) Depends on term. He's in phenomenal shape, is a fitness freak, and is a strong skater. Those 3 things will allow him to play at a high level until he's 35. Would I give him 8 years? No. But I give him 5.

The Canadians. 9-5-4 record.

Fire their well respected around the league Head coach because it wasn't good enough for them.

Meanwhile in Buffalo....
- ImThatGuy

I’ve never liked Julian. But interesting the habs actually doing something. Meanwhile in buffalo...

Easy : Put him on Eichel's wing for the rest of the year and watch him score at a 40 goal pace, and earn that contract. Repeat for the rest of the years of his contract. In the process, you can all get back to loving him.
- kritter65

It just seems like Ralph is winning the pissing contest. So looking at options.

I prefer your method. Slide Olo to LW3. Put skinner at LW1 and let it roll. But Ralph ain’t doing that...

Agree, think it's gonna be tough even in the offseason. Can they retain money for a certain amount of years if they traded him or does it have to be for the rest of the contract. Cause his actual money starts going down in a few years.
- Buff36

I also can't imagine them holding money for that long because it would preclude them from holding money in another trade later on

He's been available since this past offseason.

The only return offered so far has been pennies on the dollar.
- kingcong39

That's a shame - I actually think he would be a hell of a defensemen on a team that attacks. He would be a great fit out west.

The Canadians. 9-5-4 record.

Fire their well respected around the league Head coach because it wasn't good enough for them.

Meanwhile in Buffalo....
- ImThatGuy

Yeah but now they have to hire Michel Therrien for the 4th time because he speaks french

The way things are playing out, they may not be able to trade a healthy dman.
- Lunaion

That's a very good point.

If we are truly out of the playoff hunt soon, let's bring up the rest of the Rochester guy's

Risto should be back - hopefully soon

I also can't imagine them holding money for that long because it would preclude them from holding money in another trade later on
- Slump Buster

Agree, just trying to figure things out, it's a messy situation.

What you outlined in bold above is how a team consistently makes poor decisions and never becomes good. Why continue the cycle that's been going on for more than a decade for the Sabres?
- kingcong39

Letting the franchisees best defenseman go in an expansion draft (risto) is a terrible idea.

Claim borgen though? Nope