Give Risto a 1 year deal

Im serious
- Sabresfan-365

I don't like that idea. Lock him up long term. This way we don't have to re-visit this for a while. I say 6 years at 5.5 per.

It isn't lol, it's Crosby and Makinnon. TSN tweeted it
- chilliard77

It took me a solid 90 seconds to realize it. I was thinking there was no way you could confuse MacKinnon for Crosby, and then I thought I was missing something because that's clearly Rob Ray. And then I realized, holy poop, that's not Rob Ray.

I don't like that idea. Lock him up long term. This way we don't have to re-visit this for a while. I say 6 years at 5.5 per.
- mhp

Yeah, it's pretty dangerous not to lock him up long term. And there's no way he'd go for it. Hockey is a relatively dangerous game. You're just one rut in the ice from retirement.

Yeah, it's pretty dangerous not to lock him up long term. And there's no way he'd go for it. Hockey is a relatively dangerous game. You're just one rut in the ice from retirement.
- Wetbandit1

Risto is a bubble boy.

I don't like that idea. Lock him up long term. This way we don't have to re-visit this for a while. I say 6 years at 5.5 per.
- mhp

My point is they may want to. There are still a lot of question marks and this could just as easily turn into Myers 2.0 (I dont expect it to and Im a huge fan but it could).

If he's willing to give up UFA years at a favourable cap hit im all for it. My guess is he isn't or this deal would be done. It's not his fault that hes played with crappy players and on crappy teams. But until you see him take that next step on a good team with legit expectations, giving him a massive payday is a huge risk.

Yeah, it's pretty dangerous not to lock him up long term. And there's no way he'd go for it. Hockey is a relatively dangerous game. You're just one rut in the ice from retirement.
- Wetbandit1

Considering how much more money he could make the following year I think he would, especially if the long term offers are taking up FA years at a cap hit/salary he doesn't like.

Yeah, it's pretty dangerous not to lock him up long term. And there's no way he'd go for it. Hockey is a relatively dangerous game. You're just one rut in the ice from retirement.
- Wetbandit1

I want the core locked up long term. I'll feel the same way when it comes to Eichel and Reinhardt's deals.

Considering how much more money he could make the following year I think he would, especially if the long term offers are taking up FA years at a cap hit/salary he doesn't like.
- Sabresfan-365

Is it really that much more? I don't think we'll see a quantum leap or anything from him. Hopefully he'll tighten up his own zone a bit with a little less ice time so he doesn't have to cheat because he's too tired. And he might have a few more points. I don't think that'll make him go from ~$5.5M to ~$7.5M or anything, and he's still 4 years from UFA(including this year).

My point is they may want to. There are still a lot of question marks and this could just as easily turn into Myers 2.0 (I dont expect it to and Im a huge fan but it could).

If he's willing to give up UFA years at a favourable cap hit im all for it. My guess is he isn't or this deal would be done. It's not his fault that hes played with crappy players and on crappy teams. But until you see him take that next step on a good team with legit expectations, giving him a massive payday is a huge risk.
- Sabresfan-365

I love Risto, but I get the hesitation on paying him lots of $$. He had a terrific 30 games to start the year and got a ton a good bounces (His hat trick game specifically). But there isn't a lot besides faith to suggest he's a #1.

I'd do a one year prove it deal. Especially with a better team around him. This is his either breakout or flat line year

I want the core locked up long term. I'll feel the same way when it comes to Eichel and Reinhardt's deals.
- mhp

The Risto deal is tricky, but we absolutely must have more than a year from him. Even if he isn't a bona fide #1 (but Jesus look how good he is at his age!) we should sign him to be sure we have a #2. Look how hard we're working at that now.

Is it really that much more? I don't think we'll see a quantum leap or anything from him. Hopefully he'll tighten up his own zone a bit with a little less ice time so he doesn't have to cheat because he's too tired. And he might have a few more points. I don't think that'll make him go from ~$5.5M to ~$7.5M or anything, and he's still 4 years from UFA(including this year).
- Wetbandit1

I think it is. If he can shore up his defensive play and improve puck possession/recovery it could be the difference between 30/6yrs and 49/7.

Right now I wouldn't give him a dime more than what Morgan Rielly got.

I love Risto, but I get the hesitation on paying him lots of $$. He had a terrific 30 games to start the year and got a ton a good bounces (His hat trick game specifically). But there isn't a lot besides faith to suggest he's a #1.

I'd do a one year prove it deal. Especially with a better team around him. This is his either breakout or flat line year
- sbroads24

Honestly, I think there were stretches during the "bad half" of the season where he still played well. The problem with that is if he's your top pairing guy he can't have bad halves, stretches sure but not a solid chunk of the season. A better d-partner and less ice time would help with that but I like the 1 year deal because if he doesn't get better as the team gets better you're not going to want him locked up long term. I don't mind having to pay a premium if he proves me wrong, at least you'll have peace of mind.

Edit: There's a lot I see in him that would suggest he could be a #1 but until you actually see it...

I think it is. If he can shore up his defensive play and improve puck possession/recovery it could be the difference between 30/6yrs and 49/7.

Right now I wouldn't give him a dime more than what Morgan Rielly got.
- Sabresfan-365

Fair enough, but he also has to take the insurance of more than a one year deal. Especially as a young player that hasn't made a ton of money yet. We're not talking about a grizzled vet on his second to last contract that has already made $30M in salary. Even if it's a 2 year deal for $9M. That's still $4.5-$5M more than a one year deal. Although a 2 year deal would be horrible, then you'd have Eichel, Reinhart and Risto to sign at once.

Fair enough, but he also has to take the insurance of more than a one year deal. Especially as a young player that hasn't made a ton of money yet. We're not talking about a grizzled vet on his second to last contract that has already made $30M in salary. Even if it's a 2 year deal for $9M. That's still $4.5-$5M more than a one year deal. Although a 2 year deal would be horrible, then you'd have Eichel, Reinhart and Risto to sign at once.
- Wetbandit1

Which is why I said one because otherwise Id agree with you on the 2 year.

My point is they may want to. There are still a lot of question marks and this could just as easily turn into Myers 2.0 (I dont expect it to and Im a huge fan but it could).

If he's willing to give up UFA years at a favourable cap hit im all for it. My guess is he isn't or this deal would be done. It's not his fault that hes played with crappy players and on crappy teams. But until you see him take that next step on a good team with legit expectations, giving him a massive payday is a huge risk.
- Sabresfan-365

Understood. I just think this deal will get done. Not too concerned.

Honestly, I think there were stretches during the "bad half" of the season where he still played well. The problem with that is if he's your top pairing guy he can't have bad halves, stretches sure but not a solid chunk of the season. A better d-partner and less ice time would help with that but I like the 1 year deal because if he doesn't get better as the team gets better you're not going to want him locked up long term. I don't mind having to pay a premium if he proves me wrong, at least you'll have peace of mind.

Edit: There's a lot I see in him that would suggest he could be a #1 but until you actually see it...
- Sabresfan-365

He's just not developed enough yet to handle the ice time. Give him 2 more years and he should be fine. Getting the nutrition and fitness down. And letting his body fill out a bit more. We went over this when Bylsma said he wants him at 24 minutes this year. The vast majority of the top TOI guys are all at least 26. Risto's only 21.

Which is why I said one because otherwise Id agree with you on the 2 year.
- Sabresfan-365

Yeah, I get that. I was just saying from an insurance perspective. Every hockey player acts like their next contract is their last. And $9M is way better than $4M or $5M.

Edit: added to.

Subban doing his best Huggy Bear routine:

LET'S GO EAST!! #pkdoesnashvillehttps://t.co/EeYG1gjahf

— P.K. Subban (@PKSubban1) January 31, 2016

He's just not developed enough yet to handle the ice time. Give him 2 more years and he should be fine. Getting the nutrition and fitness down. And letting his body fill out a bit more. We went over this when Bylsma said he wants him at 24 minutes this year. The vast majority of the top TOI guys are all at least 26. Risto's only 21.
- Wetbandit1

Agreed. Im not suggesting he needs to go out and win the norris, I just want to see those particular numbers trend up not stay the same or regress hence me wanting a short term deal. For the record I expect him to since by all accounts hes an absolute workhorse and fitness freak.

The Risto deal is tricky, but we absolutely must have more than a year from him. Even if he isn't a bona fide #1 (but Jesus look how good he is at his age!) we should sign him to be sure we have a #2. Look how hard we're working at that now.
- Der Kaiser

I have loved his progress and he'll be a #1 for us. Get him the right D partner and he'll take off.

The way Ive understood it the desire to give out long term contracts to guys coming off their ELC is because you figure in the back half of the deal (when they're in their prime) the contract will be a steal on the cap (ill use morgan rielly as the example again). I don't know what Risto is asking for but if its somewhere near what Trouba is asking you'd have a hard time convincing me the deal would be a steal without having seen him take that next step.

The way Ive understood it the desire to give out long term contracts to guys coming off their ELC is because you figure in the back half of the deal (when they're in their prime) the contract will be a steal on the cap (ill use morgan rielly as the example again). I don't know what Risto is asking for but if its somewhere near what Trouba is asking you'd have a hard time convincing me the deal would be a steal without having seen him take that next step.
- Sabresfan-365

Yeah, that's usually a reason why they do the big deals, to get savings on the backend. Not only because of the buying years of UFA, but also because the cap should be higher then, so he'll be less of a hit on 2 fronts. But there's a point of diminishing returns on that too. And that's where the negotiations come in. At what price point does it make sense to do a long term deal over a bridge contract?

Yeah, that's usually a reason why they do the big deals, to get savings on the backend. Not only because of the buying years of UFA, but also because the cap should be higher then, so he'll be less of a hit on 2 fronts. But there's a point of diminishing returns on that too. And that's where the negotiations come in. At what price point does it make sense to do a long term deal over a bridge contract?
- Wetbandit1

Agreed, again. Stop doing that.

Honestly, I think there were stretches during the "bad half" of the season where he still played well. The problem with that is if he's your top pairing guy he can't have bad halves, stretches sure but not a solid chunk of the season. A better d-partner and less ice time would help with that but I like the 1 year deal because if he doesn't get better as the team gets better you're not going to want him locked up long term. I don't mind having to pay a premium if he proves me wrong, at least you'll have peace of mind.

Edit: There's a lot I see in him that would suggest he could be a #1 but until you actually see it...
- Sabresfan-365

I agree he played well, but remember we are aiming for the cup within a few years. If we are saying he is going to be the #1 on our cup contending team then he needs to be a whole lot better, or our main focus should be getting him an equal or better partner

I agree he played well, but remember we are aiming for the cup within a few years. If we are saying he is going to be the #1 on our cup contending team then he needs to be a whole lot better, or our main focus should be getting him an equal or better partner
- sbroads24

100%. I think he can be our Doughty. But Doughty also needs Muzzin.