Friedman: Rasmus Ristolainen has a lot of potential buyers this summer

[Leonardo87]

RR for RR +

Prefer to keep the Ducks RR. But maybe can interest you in Reading or Shortline?

 

[TOGuy14]

Lily is entering bust stage and Kadri is a nut case. Pass.

He is 19?

 

[Team Cozens]

He is 19?

I know, sad right.

 

[Uberpecker]

Hutton+Sutter+Pick?

Oh, you want Bogo? Sure, why not.

 

[Hansen]

Oh, you want Bogo? Sure, why not.

Ignoring that meme proposal, what would it take from Van?

 

[tsujimoto74]

He lives and dies on the PP, even worse, hes not even themain driver on the PP. So he is a secondary piece in prime offensive minutes. That is exactly how Cody Franson got his payday

Ristos D partners also often do better away from him. In addition, "not all that bad" is an extreme understatement to describe his analytics

I've watched Ristolainen's partners over the last several years. Guess where the ones who aren't in Buffalo anymore are? Out of the league entirely, because they're garbage. And the other one is Marco Scandella, who was the worst defenseman on the Sabres last year by about 5 country miles.

I'm probably as wrong about this as I was when I was arguing ROR was actually a good 5-v-5 player this time last year, despite HF "fancy stat" watchers telling me he was a PP specialist.

Ristolainen is a good player miscast in the role of a truly elite one. He's still a good player.

 

[La Cosa Nostra]

Buffalo is likely going to be disappointed. We all heard ROR would get a King's ransom but he returned a 1st, meh young player and 2 cap dumps.

Forgot a 2nd also. A 1st+2nd+decent prospect (Thompson is not a meh prospect. He was a recent 1st rounder who was rushed. Since he was sent down he has been a ppg goal scoring 1st liner. He will be a quality ~20 goal middle 6 winger). Sobotka and Berglund were definitely cap dumps but when you are trading a player due a nearly 8 figure roster bonus the day of your choices are limited.

As for Risto he has 4 straight seasons of 41+ points and 24+ mins a game. He has had virtually zero help besides Dahlin the last 4 seasons. Risto on a blueline where he is the 3rd best dman getting 21 minutes a night will show how good he truly is.

But yeah, a 40+ point #2/3 RHD who is only 24 and making 5.4 mil per? Risto is bringing back a 1st+ top prospect or he will not be traded.

 

[Zip15]

Hutton+Sutter+Pick?

I can't blame you for trying after we gifted ROR to St. Louis last summer. But no.

If Vancouver and Buffalo could find a match on Risto, I think it would likely have to be more of a futures-oriented deal as I don't see the Canucks giving up any of its bigger NHL roster pieces that Buffalo would want (e.g., Boeser, Horvat). Something like 2020 1st + Tyler Madden + Virtanen. That may be too rich for Vancouver's blood, but it's going to have to be a tough pill to swallow in futures if Buffalo can't get a better roster piece than someone like Virtanen in a return for Risto.

 

[Canadian Canuck]

I can't blame you for trying after we gifted ROR to St. Louis last summer. But no.

If Vancouver and Buffalo could find a match on Risto, I think it would likely have to be more of a futures-oriented deal as I don't see the Canucks giving up any of its bigger NHL roster pieces that Buffalo would want (e.g., Boeser, Horvat). Something like 2020 1st + Tyler Madden + Virtanen. That may be too rich for Vancouver's blood, but it's going to have to be a tough pill to swallow in futures if Buffalo can't get a better roster piece than someone like Virtanen in a return for Risto.

Yeah way too rich we’ll pass. Thanks for the detailed post though

 

[WeDislikeEich]

Kadri + Liljgren + pick
For
Girgensons + Ristolainen

That’s actually a fair offer.

I’d hate to see Risto in Toronto but Kadri would fill a big hole at 2C + add some grit to buffalo’s lineup (which is needed, especially with losing Risto) and Liljegren gives us a good young defensive prospect with top 4 potential.

I’d prefer to just keep Risto and give him a good coach (for once in his Sabres career) but I have a feeling Botterill wants to move him, and if we have to move him we could do a lot worse than this return.

 

[Magic Man]

Nylander straight up for Risto? Unites the Nylander brothers. The same way the Flyers did with the Schenn's.

 

[allsilverdreams]

Nylander straight up for Risto? Unites the Nylander brothers. The same way the Flyers did with the Schenn's.

Yes Please

 

[Menzinger]

Nylander straight up for Risto? Unites the Nylander brothers. The same way the Flyers did with the Schenn's.

Pass from the Leafs

 

[Matt Ress]

The ROR jokes are getting old. Your fascination for the Sabres is rather concerning. Aren’t you a Leafs fan? You started the Who’s left to coach the Sabres thread as well.
Just go enjoy your playoff run.

He He

 

[HappySabresFan]

If only they had a guy who is solid defensively and is capable of 60 points somebody like ROR in St Louis

Since were using overused jokes in the thread
If only the Maple leafs could make it past the first round. Lol enjoy the nonexistent cup window

 

[Vitto79]

Risto for Nylander makes sense

Both Nylanders in Buffalo but same division so I dunno

 

[Der Jaeger]

Ristolainen and the Sabres 2nd 1st rounder to Vancouver for Juolevi, Virtanen, and 10?

 

[AustonsNostrils]

A Kadri for Ristolainen trade makes sense for both teams.

No interest in William Nylander, we are already a soft team and he's $7M AAV - our dumbass GM botched Reinhart's contract and that mistake is going to cost us about $2M a year.

I put up a Risto/Kadri poll on Twitter a couple of weeks ago - 70% of Sabres fans voted against the trade.

 

[sabresandcanucks]

While Botts always makes me take pause and expect the worst...he should be able to get a return that is superior to Ristos actual value based on market dynamics. The fact is there is a lot of demand for RHD who can play big minutes and are physical.

If I were him I would ask for the moon and state the Sabres are willing to be flexible to accommodate other teams in terms of futures or taking salary back. Target would be a very good young 2nd line center.

 

[absolute garbage]

It's interesting because that high profile right shot defenseman is arguably the most coveted asset in the NHL, and there seems to be bunch of those on the move this summer. Ristolainen, Subban, Trouba, maybe one of the Carolina guys, Karlsson as UFA of course. Of course bunch of teams looking to add a player like that (for example Leafs, Canucks, Florida, Tampa, Anaheim). We'll see how it shakes out.

Risto has a high profile and probably will garner a hefty return, despite the fact that he's not very good. Brainless hockey player with tons of tools that makes him look good on the surface level but doesn't actually play positive hockey. He's the next Jack Johnson. But JJ got a hefty return back in the day too. These guys have a lot value on the market, like it or not. NHL GMs are often not very bright.

Have to say, I'd rather have Risto over Subban though.

 

[BodaciousBeefBazooka]

Nylander straight up for Risto? Unites the Nylander brothers. The same way the Flyers did with the Schenn's.

lets do it

 

[1OApick]

Recycling problems Trouba for Risto straight up.

 

[Snowman]

Recycling problems Trouba for Risto straight up.

No thanks from Winnipeg.

 

[Zip15]

I like Nylander, but if we're sending Risto to Toronto, Kadri makes far more sense for the Sabres. He's under contract at a reasonable number for three more seasons, he could fill the 2C role behind Eichel and play tough matchups, and he gives a soft roster some jam.

With all that said, I would have little doubt that Buffalo is one of the teams that'd fall on his 10-team no-trade list. And Botts is too conservative to trade Risto in the division - I fully expect him to be traded to the WC.

 

[BatVader]

Recycling problems Trouba for Risto straight up.

Unlikely as Trouba likely wouldn’t re-sign in Buffalo. I see Trouba going to Florida, Detroit, or NYR with the Panthers the most likely. Trading him where he will re-sign maximizes his value and any potential return.
If the Jets end up trading one of their young forwards I could see Ehlers for Risto, then Trouba for picks and prospects, (or a young center/winger on his ELC).