The only Risto Player Discussion thread I can find was locked at 999 posts back in 2016 and a new one has not been made.
Was wondering what everyone's thoughts were on Risto. During earlier parts of the season some people were as harsh as to wanting to simply GIVE Risto away. He may not be the true franchise #1 D we thought he could be but he is absolutely a top 30-35 dman. He is a #1 on a bad team or a high end #2 on a cup contender.
Oh and I thought this little tidbit should put some of the incredible feats Risto has done in perspective.
Since 2015, there are 4 dmen in the entire league who in every season since 2015-2016 has averaged 25:00+ TOI/G & scored 40+ points in each of those seasons.
Those 4 dmen are Erik Karlsson. Drew Doughty. Ryan Suter. And Rasmus Ristolainen. Say what you will but Risto is a very good dman and can absolutely be a RD1 on a cup winner.
In a year or two I envision a Rasmus x2 pairing that will put up 120 points combined whilst each playing 25+ mins a game. (Risto around 25, Dahlin at 27-28 a game).
Being able to roll out the Rasmi for 53-54 minutes out of the possible 120 per game for a D corps makes building a team much easier. If we have 2 stud dmen taking up almost half the game it allows the flexibility of not having to overpay our #3-6 dmen and instead using a revolving door of young D on ELCs and bargain vets.
After a rough start Risto has completely improved his game and is on pace for 50 points. I made a thread several years back pointing out how virtually all cup winners had 1 if not multiple 40+ point dmen and with the two Rasmi in the fold we now have that pre requisite covered in spades.
Risto is one of the best D in Sabre history and he is only 24. He is a 6 year vet with 377 games under his belt and is 11th in Sabres history for d scoring and will be 9th after this season passing Smehlik and Soupy.
I think Risto has unfairly been the whipping boy on the Sabres because he has been here all throughout the tank and since he was the one constant on a revolving door of garbage on the blue line he got bashed non stop. In all actuality, Risto is at an age where most dmen are just entering their 2nd or 3rd NHL seasons, not their 6th.
All in all, Risto to me is a damn good dman who can do it all. He can skate extremely well, he can shoot, he can pass, he is strong and a bull on skates. He is physical. He takes no crap from anyone and has snarl to his game. He can regularly play in the mid to upper 20s every game and if the situation called for it due to injury, ejection etc he can skate over 30+ mins in a night. He is the perfect #2 dman and as soon as he is eligible he should be given an 8 year extension so he can finish his career here.
I truly think in 2 more years once Dahlin is fully developed that Risto will find that extra level in his game and become a perennial 50 point, 25 minute a night all around top pairing dman. As Dahlin improves so will the overall blue line including Risto.
Got to give credit where it is due. Jame wanted Risto at #8 all during the 12-13 season and Darcy correctly picked him at #8. Risto is a great building block for a cup contender and we are lucky to have him.