***
Congratulations to Rasmus Ristolainen for being named to the first wave of Team Finland's 2016 World Cup.
The 21 year old defensive phenom has been one, if not the best player in Buffalo this season.
Risto has been performing at a Norris Trophy candidate level at both end of the ice.
Ristolainen has 8 goals, 35 points and a minus-18 rating in 64 games played this season. He ranks third on the Sabres in scoring behind Ryan O'Reilly and Jack Eichel.
“It’s always a pleasure,” Ristolainen said after the Sabres practiced Wednesday . “It’s a huge tournament.”
The last time Ristolainen represented his native Suomi, he scored the game winning goal that cemented the 2014 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships.
“It’s deserved,” Sabres coach Dan Bylsma said.” (I’m) real happy for him. He’s a young player, but coming into his own this year, he’s stepped from being a younger player into a full-time, legitimate NHL player.”
Thanks, Sabres TV
Ristolainen is a pending RFA which means that he is die a new contract in July.
Sabres GM Tim Murray said on Monday that he has yet to speak with Ristolainen's agent, Mike Liut, about a contract extension. One thing is for sure is that Risto will not be signing a two year bridge contract. Tim Murray and Liut will be looking at the contract that fellow Finn and Pittsburgh Penguins D-man Olli Maata signed last week at the comparable moving forward on a new Ristolainen contract. Maata re-signed with the Penguins for 6 years and $24.5 million. Ristoalinen and Maata, both 21, are similar, complete 200 foot defensemen. Anaheim has two pending RFAs Hampus Lindholm and Sami Vatanen who are very similar players stylistically and statistically to Maata and Ristolainen.
***
The names of the first players that will be part of the 2016 World Cup of Hockey are getting revealed Wednesday.
Below are preliminary 16-man rosters for the international tournament, which starts September 17, by order in which they were announced:
TEAM USA
Ben Bishop, Tampa Bay Lightning, G; Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles Kings, G; Cory Schneider, New Jersey Devils, G; Dustin Byfuglien, Winnipeg Jets, D; John Carlson, Washington Capitals, D; Ryan McDonagh, New York Rangers, D; Ryan Suter, Minnesota Wild, D; Justin Abdelkader, Detroit Red Wings, F; Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks, F; Ryan Kesler, Anaheim Ducks, F; T.J. Oshie, Washington Capitals, F; Max Pacioretty, Montreal Canadiens, F; Zach Parise, Minnesota Wild, F; Joe Pavelski, San Jose Sharks, F; Derek Stepan, New York Rangers, F; Blake Wheeler, Winnipeg Jets, F;
TEAM CANADA
Corey Crawford, Chicago Blackhawks, G; Braden Holtby, Washington Capitals, G; Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens, G; Drew Doughty, Los Angeles Kings, D; Duncan Keith, Chicago Blackhawks, D; Marc-Edouard Vlasic, San Jose Sharks, D; Shea Weber, Nashville Predators, D; Jamie Benn, Dallas Stars, F; Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins, F; Jeff Carter, Los Angeles Kings, F; Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins, F; Ryan Getzlaf, Anaheim Ducks, F; Tyler Seguin, Dallas Stars, F; Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning, F; John Tavares, New York Islanders, F; Jonathan Toews, Chicago Blackhawks, F
TEAM RUSSIA
Sergei Bobrovsky, Columbus Blue Jackets, G; Semyon Varlamov, Colorado Avalanche, G; Andrei Vasilevskiy, Tampa Bay Lightning, G Dmitry Kulikov, Florida Panthers, D; Andrei Markov, Montreal Canadiens, D; Dmitry Orlov, Washington Capitals, D; Artem Anisimov, Chicago Blackhawks, F; Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings, F; Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning, F; Nikolay Kulemin, New York Islanders, F; Evgeny Kuznetsov, Washington Capitals, F; Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins, F; Vladislav Namestnikov, Tampa Bay Lightning, F; Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals, F; Artemi Panarin, Chicago Blackhawks, F; Vladimir Tarasenko, St. Louis Blues, F
TEAM FINLAND
Tuukka Rask, Boston Bruins, G; Pekka Rinne, Nashville Predators, G; Olli Maatta, Pittsburgh Penguins, D; Rasmus Ristolainen, Buffalo Sabres, D; Sami Vatanen, Anaheim Ducks, D; Esa Lindell, Dallas Stars, D; Mikko Koivu, Minnesota Wild, F; Jori Lehtera, St. Louis Blues, F; Aleksander Barkov, Florida Panthers, F; Mikael Granlund, Minnesota Wild, F; Jussi Jokinen, Florida Panthers, F; Valtteri Filppula, Tampa Bay Lightning, F; Leo Komarov, Toronto Maple Leafs, F; Joonas Donskoi, San Jose Sharks, F; Lauri Korpikoski, Edmonton Oilers, F; Teuvo Teravainen, Chicago Blackhawks, F
TEAM CZECH REPUBLIC
Petr Mrazek, Detroit Red Wings, G; Michal Neuvirth, Philadelphia Flyers, G; Ondrej Pavelec, Winnipeg Jets, G; Radko Gudas, Philadelphia Flyers, D; Michal Kempny, Avangard Omsk (KHL), D; Roman Polak, San Jose Sharks, D; Andrej Sustr, Tampa Bay Lightning, D; Michael Frolik, Calgary Flames, F; Martin Hanzal, Arizona Coyotes, F; Tomas Hertl, San Jose Sharks, F; David Krejci, Boston Bruins, F; Ondrej Palat, Tampa Bay Lightning, F; David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins, F; Tomas Plekanec, Montreal Canadiens, F; Vladimir Sobotka, Avangard Omsk (KHL), F; Jakub Voracek, Philadelphia Flyers, F
TEAM SWEDEN
Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers, G; Jacob Markstrom, Vancouver Canucks, G; Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Arizona Coyotes, D; Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning, D; Niklas Hjalmarsson, Chicago Blackhawks, D; Erik Karlsson, Ottawa Senators, D; Niklas Kronwall, Detroit Red Wings, D; Anton Stralman, Tampa Bay Lightning, D; Nicklas Backstrom, Washington Capitals, F; Loui Eriksson, Boston Bruins, F; Filip Forsberg, Nashville Predators, F; Gabriel Landeskog, Colorado Avalanche, F; Daniel Sedin, Vancouver Canucks, F; Henrik Sedin, Vancouver Canucks, F; Alexander Steen, St. Louis Blues, F; Henrik Zetterberg, Detroit Red Wings, F
TEAM EUROPE
Frederik Andersen, Anaheim Ducks (Denmark), G; Jaroslav Halak, New York Islanders (Slovakia), G; Zdeno Chara, Boston Bruins (Slovakia), D; Roman Josi, Nashville Predators (Switzerland), D; Dennis Seidenberg, Boston Bruins (Germany), D; Andrej Sekera, Edmonton Oilers (Slovakia), D; Mark Streit, Philadelphia Flyers (Switzerland), D; Mikkel Boedker, Colorado Avalanche (Denmark), F; Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers (Germany), F; Jannik Hansen, Vancouver Canucks (Denmark), F; Marian Hossa, Chicago Blackhawks (Slovakia), F; Anze Kopitar, Los Angeles Kings (Slovenia), F; Frans Nielsen, New York Islanders (Denmark), F; Tomas Tatar, Detroit Red Wings (Slovakia), F; Thomas Vanek, Minnesota Wild (Austria), F; Mats Zuccarello, New York Rangers (Norway), F
TEAM NORTH AMERICA
John Gibson, Anaheim Ducks, G; Connor Hellebuyck, Manitoba (AHL), G; Matthew Murray, Pittsburgh Penguins, G; Aaron Ekblad, Florida Panthers, D; Seth Jones, Columbus Blue Jackets, D; Ryan Murray, Columbus Blue Jackets, D; Morgan Rielly, Toronto Maple Leafs, D; Sean Couturier, Philadelphia Flyers, F; Jack Eichel, Buffalo Sabres, F; Johnny Gaudreau, Calgary Flames, F; Dylan Larkin, Detroit Red Wings, F; Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche, F; Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers, F; J.T. Miller, New York Rangers, F; Sean Monahan, Calgary Flames, F; Brandon Saad, Columbus Blue Jackets, F
**
The first 16 players have been named for Team Young Stars.
Co-GMs Pete Chiarelli and Stan Bowman have done the politically correct thing by naming 8 Americans and 8 Canadiens to the team's first 16 players.
I hate political correctness.
Chiarelli and Bowman will be looking at 11-12 players to fill their seven remaining roster spots.
Chiarelli said Wednesday that it will be an "uphill road" for projected #1 overall pick Auston Matthews to make the Team North America Roster.
John Gibson, Anaheim Ducks, G
Connor Hellebuyck, Manitoba (AHL), G
Matthew Murray, Pittsburgh Penguins, G
Aaron Ekblad, Florida Panthers, D
Seth Jones, Columbus Blue Jackes, D
Ryan Murray, Columbus Blue Jackets, D
Morgan Rielly, Toronto Maple Leafs, D
Sean Couturier, Philadelphia Flyers, F
Jack Eichel, Buffalo Sabres, F
Johnny Gaudreau, Calgary Flames, F
Dylan Larkin, Detroit Red Wings, F
Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche, F
Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers, F
J.T. Miller, New York Rangers, F
Sean Monahan, Calgary Flames, F
Brandon Saad, Columbus Blue Jackets, F
Notable omissions:
Sam Reinhart, Shane Gostisbehere, Jacob Trouba, Dougie Hamilton, Matthew Dumba, Max Domi, Anthony Duclair, Alex Galchenyuk, or Mark Scheifele.
***
Jamie McGinn skated with his new teammates for the first time on Wednesday morning. That's when his new head coach Bruce Boudreau informed the burley power forward that he will be skating with Ricky Rakell and Scorey Perry when puck drops versus Montreal tonight.
Needless to say, McGinn is looking forward to his new opportunity in Anaheim.
In fact, he told media on Wednesday that Anaheim is the only team that he wanted to be traded to. He had heard rumors on Monday that the Florida Pantehrs and Minnesota Wild were hot to trot for him and frankly he wasn't feeling ay other team that the Ducks.
McGinn is tailor made to be an Anaheim Duck. He;s big, fast, skilled, fearless, and loves the bump-grind-face-wash-punch-in-the-face-style that is synonymous with Anaheim Ducks hockey.
“I’m very excited to be here,” McGinn told the Ducks' website.
“It’s a great opportunity for me. To make a playoff run, there’s nothing better in hockey.”
McGinn is the rare blend of power, speed and finesse.
For a guy who landed 113 hits, McGinn had 3 GWGs in Buffalo. ranked tied for second with 6 PPGs, had 6 goals and 3 assists on the PP, and had an impressive 12.8% shooting percentage.
McGinn's skill set and never say die attitude will serve him well in the upcoming bitterly fought Western wars against Chicago, LA, Dallas, St. Louis and San Jose.
McGinn is a plug and play leader. That's why he is ecstatic to be a Duck for the ret of this season.
“It’s never an easy game playing against them,” he said of the Ducks, who will undoubtedly become an “us” for McGinn soon enough. “I always enjoyed playing against them because it’s my kind of style. It’s a team you don’t want to run into in the playoffs. I hope I can contribute.”
A source told me that the Sabres were reluctant to trade McGinn. He's a heart and soul, duct tape guy. Sabres players loved McGinn's work ethic and sense of humor. Guys like McGinn don't come along everyday. McGinn had a positive affect on the room during some dark days this season.
. There was a feeling that Sabres GM Tim Murray and McGinn's agent would be able to work out a contract extension for the Fergus, Ontario native. However, Murray and the agent were not able to find common ground and then it was decided that McGinn would be traded for compensation. Tim Murray and McGinn's agent then set their sights on finding the best possible landing spot for McGinn. Anaheim was a no brainer as their core values and high standards mirror McGinn's to a tee. is a pending UFA and may well re-sign with Buffalo on July 1. for now, he is an Anaheim Duck and their GM Bob Murray is thrilled about it.
" (McGinn) fits with how we play out here right now," Murray said.
"It was something we had talked about, and when he became available, it took to the last day to get it done."
McGinn complied 14 goals and 13 in 63 games in Buffalo.
Last June, fhe and Ryan O'Reilly were traded to the Sabres in exchange for defenseman Nikita Zadorov, forwards Mikhail Grigorenko and J.T. Compher, and the No. 31 pick in the 2015 NHL Draft.
Anaheim acquired the 6-1, 205-pound winger for a conditional third-round selection in the 2016 NHL Draft that can become a second-round pick in 2017 if the Ducks win two rounds in this year's Stanley Cup Playoffs and the 27-year-old McGinn plays in at least half of those games.
The Ducks finished one win away from playing the Tampa Lightning in the NHL Finals last summer. McGinn likes his new team's chances to make some noise this spring.
“When you’re winning more games than you’re losing, it’s a lot more fun. The locker room is a lot happier and you enjoy coming to work every day. I’m thrilled about it.”
McGinn said that he and Ryan Kesler have had their fair share of battles and smack talking over the years. Now, they are going to be teammates.
“You go to war against these guys every day, so it’s nice to be in the same locker room. I get to know them as a person and go to war with them now.”
His new head coach Bruce Boudreau emphatically endorses the McGinn addition to the Ducks' lineup.
“He’s a big-bodied guy that can skate and has a touch around the net,” said Boudreau.” He’s got 14 goals this year and I think it’s a good acquisition. I think he’ll fit in well with us.”
By adding McGinn and Brandon Pirri to their already outstanding forward ranks, the Ducks are well armed for a long war of attrition in the playoffs.
The Ducks host the Canadiens tonight and will bring their 10-game point streak amid a 17-2-1 stretch to the rink.
The Ducks (34-19-8) moved within two points of first-place Los Angeles after Sunday's 4-2 beat down of the Kings. The ducks have now won 22 of 28 games played since December 27, when they were in 29th place in the NHL standings.
Anaheim is averaging an NHL best 3.8 goals per game in 20 games since January 13.
They are 13 of 29 on the power play in the last eight games.
Join the Discussion:
»