Habs Halifax
Loyal Habs Fan
you have the ratio backwards
Sure, but you get the point I'm sure.
you have the ratio backwards
By next month they could be miles out of a playoff spot tho, bows the time where a few games can absolutely screw your chances at playoffs, if bob decides to turn up the heat and plays half as good as he is Florida will start rollingToronto has tons more talent, and has been playing rubbish, and will get Reilly/and Mik back next month for an extra boost.
they cant continue to play as bad as they have been for the rest of the year (or can they)
its a good thing you didnt add forward giveaways ...that would be a very ugly listSure, but you get the point I'm sure.
its a good thing you didnt add forward giveaways ...that would be a very ugly list
Fair assessment. All of the pros and cons on Risto are heavily biased in my opinion, and not based on fan based or hockey pundit analytics, but the one thing they all keep over looking is the historical environment with which he entered the league. The Buffalo Sabres decision to tear it all down and rebuild from scratch, when combined with the rotating door at the coach and GM levels, which heavily effect player usage merged with roster strategies and on ice coaching philosophies have heavily skewed the analytics on him. It's the the most obvious fact, and it is a fact, but one shunned by an actual shocking number of fans, most often in attempts to negate his over all value as an NHL defenseman. He is what he is, a big bodied, puck moving, offensive d man who can eat minutes, and, in the right system, as you suggested here, can vastly improve those defensive stat numbers in a big hurry.I like Risto. I think that he could be a gamebreaker with the right team. But I don't know if Toronto is the right fit.
If things go well, hes a legit top pair minute-cruncher. If things go bad hes a liability. I don't know if Toronto can take the risk, given what the expected price would be to land him.
I'll be thrilled if he comes to Toronto. But It would be a big gamble. I'd prefer the safer move with Severson from NJD.
I'd prefer the safer move with Severson from NJD.
Easy pass from Buffalo. Risto has warts, but you don't trade a good 2nd pairing defenseman for a 2nd line winger. If underwhelming offers like that are the best offers available you move Montour or Miller instead.I understand opinions on Risto differ depending on who you ask but realistically i think Andreas Johnsson is pretty much spot on the caliber of player i could see the Sabres getting for him, secondary piece that slots in on their 2nd line. They've probably looked for a lot more than that in the last couple years (probably still are) but at some point you gotta move on, so if that's on the table in the summer i say take it.
Certainly ticks some of the boxes the Leafs are looking for. Compete, grit, and obviously, RHD. As sad as it sounds going from sucking in Buffalo to being the scapegoat in Toronto, i actually think Risto might grow on Leafs fans. At least he shows up to compete every night and loves to play the body.
He's been such a major disappointment for me personally that im past thinking he's a top 4 dman in the league.
Like, he literally does nothing to change anything for the Leafs. Fits right in to uninspiring hockey where you blow coverages and try to play cute.
The difference between Ristolainen and Severson is that when they're bad, at least Risto plays with some balls.
I’d make that trade. Keep Montour and Miller, time to move on from Risto.Easy pass from Buffalo. Risto has warts, but you don't trade a good 2nd pairing defenseman for a 2nd line winger. If underwhelming offers like that are the best offers available you move Montour or Miller instead.
Some of the shine has worn off Johnsson. He had a bit of a breakout season last year, but he's been largely underwhelming this year. The opposite is true for Ristolainen. He's been a little better in his own end and has produced more at ES. Minutes scaled down with the right partner has helped right the ship (at least a bit). This wouldn't be a smart deal and quite frankly even if you thought it was time to move on from Risto and a 2nd line winger was the best you could do you, you should easily get that from another team that isn't in your division.I’d make that trade. Keep Montour and Miller, time to move on from Risto.
Some of the shine has worn off Johnsson. He had a bit of a breakout season last year, but he's been largely underwhelming this year. The opposite is true for Ristolainen. He's been a little better in his own end and has produced more at ES. Minutes scaled down with the right partner has helped right the ship (at least a bit). This wouldn't be a smart deal and quite frankly even if you thought it was time to move on from Risto and a 2nd line winger was the best you could do you, you should easily get that from another team that isn't in your division.
As for something around Johnsson + that's probably getting closer in value. I'd still likely pass unless that's a serious +.FWIW i didn't necessarily mean 1 for 1, i personally think the Leafs would have to add a pick.
But yeah, there's not a trade out there that everyone would agree to. Some people think he blows, some people think he's worth a lot more.
As far as what you're saying though - i don't think there's many 2nd line wingers available in a deal for him to be honest. Leafs are one of the few likely willing to part with one and it just so happens Risto would fill a positional need for them.
So it's a situation where the clock is starting to tick on Risto, i don't think he's a great TDL trade chip as he has zero playoff experience (nor are the Sabres getting a 2nd line winger from a playoff team late in the season), and there's only so many summers left to pull the trigger on a trade before he's gone.
Carolina holds that pick. It'd have to be 2021 and quite frankly that doesn't make a whole lot of sense for Buffalo.Risto for Leafs 2020 1st? Add?
Add.Risto for Leafs 2020 1st? Add?
Do you think COL 2020 1st + Bowers/Kaut/Jost/Helleson would get it done for Ristolainen? That's a 1st round pick plus Buffalo's choice from NHL-ready middle 6 C/RW prospects or a solid RHD prospect.Add.
Risto is one of the leagues top three 2nd pairing RHD's. 25 yrs old with term on his 5.4 mil contract. He eats minutes.
That is a highly coveted asset right now, and this is the trade deadline, where prices are elevated a bit, unlike the off season.
Do you think COL 2020 1st + Bowers/Kaut/Jost/Helleson would get it done for Ristolainen? That's a 1st round pick plus Buffalo's choice from NHL-ready middle 6 C/RW prospects or a solid RHD prospect.
Do you think COL 2020 1st + Bowers/Kaut/Jost/Helleson would get it done for Ristolainen? That's a 1st round pick plus Buffalo's choice from NHL-ready middle 6 C/RW prospects or a solid RHD prospect.
How about if it's 2020 1st + Compher + Helleson?That would work better for Montour than Risto. Risto's ask is a 2C, which the league won't pay. He has more value to the Sabres than he does to the rest of the NHL.
That's difficult to answer at this time. Buffalo isn't conceding the playoff race, not by a long shot. They're looking for long-term help that can step in and help them now in the playoff race as well. An actual hockey trade. Futures, such as a draft pick or 2 or a prospect would most likely be included, but, they have addressable needs, specifically a line 2/3 center, playmaker with some scoring touch, with term on their contract. That is just 1 of 3 or 4 examples of need. Think outside of the box when it comes to Buffalo, they aren't a lottery picker just yet, and they have needs for both the here and now as well as longer term future.Do you think COL 2020 1st + Bowers/Kaut/Jost/Helleson would get it done for Ristolainen? That's a 1st round pick plus Buffalo's choice from NHL-ready middle 6 C/RW prospects or a solid RHD prospect.
How about if it's 2020 1st + Compher + Helleson?
(Avs would replace Compher by acquiring a 3C via another trade)