Agreed need to see another step forward from him this year
- Sabresfan-365

Needs to be a big step.

Watching guys like Hedman, Doughty, Karlsson etc. makes me realize how badly we need someone of that caliber.

If only we had Ekblad....

Needs to be a big step.

Watching guys like Hedman, Doughty, Karlsson etc. makes me realize how badly we need someone of that caliber.

If only we had Ekblad....
- sbroads24

it took Hedman quite a while to get to where he's at though, so try to be patient.

Not saying Risto will get there for sure, but I think it's definitely possible.

We could have Nik Lidstrom when he was in his prime on this team and you'd find something negative to say about him.
- HonkFortheGoose

I'll give this credence if you can find me a post where I have said something negative about Eichel.

Needs to be a big step.

Watching guys like Hedman, Doughty, Karlsson etc. makes me realize how badly we need someone of that caliber.

If only we had Ekblad....
- sbroads24

Karlssons mistske today was far worse than ristos which was basically on rinne..but yea in general I see ur point. I think he's top pair material but the other half of that top pair has to be pretty good too.

it took Hedman quite a while to get to where he's at though, so try to be patient.

Not saying Risto will get there for sure, but I think it's definitely possible.
- HonkFortheGoose

Offensively. Defensively he's always been much better. Which he should, he's a former #2 pick

Karlssons mistske today was far worse than ristos which was basically on rinne..but yea in general I see ur point. I think he's top pair material but the other half of that top pair has to be pretty good too.
- Sabresfan-365

Agreed.

I'll give this credence if you can find me a post where I have said something negative about Eichel.
- sbroads24

I'm sure you've posted somewhere (I'm at work, so I'm not going back to look) where you had issue with him. Especially when he was fairly quiet before the Christmas break. Minimally you've complained that he's not McDavid.

He's gonna be a stud, takes time and the right pairing.

Agreed.
- sbroads24

I hope right/left isn't a deal breaker when they look for one. If there's ever a time if want Murray to overpay...

Karlssons mistske today was far worse than ristos which was basically on rinne..but yea in general I see ur point. I think he's top pair material but the other half of that top pair has to be pretty good too.
- Sabresfan-365

You mean Josh Gorges isn't a #2?

(total sarcasm)

I agree. I think it's hard to say for sure where he really is/isn't based on the fact that he's had a partner that should be on the 3rd pair playing with him on the 1st pair the last 2 years.

I hope right/left isn't a deal breaker when they look for one. If there's ever a time if want Murray to overpay...
- Sabresfan-365

Someone posted a crazy stat that when the pairings are L/L or R/R instead of L/R they give up like 6% more high danger scoring chances than those that compliment each other.

it took Hedman quite a while to get to where he's at though, so try to be patient.

Not saying Risto will get there for sure, but I think it's definitely possible.
- HonkFortheGoose

i believe Hedman had a very blah year in 2 or 3 to the point where people were saying he wasn't even a top pairing d man.. but i could be wrong

Someone posted a crazy stat that when the pairings are L/L or R/R instead of L/R they give up like 6% more high danger scoring chances than those that compliment each other.
- sbroads24

I kind of wonder what difference it makes when you're in the offensive zone in terms of your own offensive production. Because to be quite honest, that's when I notice it more. Makes it harder to cycle the puck properly.

You mean Josh Gorges isn't a #2?

(total sarcasm)

I agree. I think it's hard to say for sure where he really is/isn't based on the fact that he's had a partner that should be on the 3rd pair playing with him on the 1st pair the last 2 years.
- HonkFortheGoose

This is something I take from my own experience and the change I noticed in ristos approach last year but part of me wonders if his over aggressiveness in the 2nd half is the result of him thinking he has to do both jobs on that pair if that makes any sense. Like when you don't trust someone to handle their end of things so you try and their work too. I felt like that was the case for most of the 2nd half of the season,

i believe Hedman had a very blah year in 2 or 3 to the point where people were saying he wasn't even a top pairing d man.. but i could be wrong
- IndianaSabresFan

He definitely had his struggles and there was talk that he should be better for having been picked #2 overall.

Pretty sure it was the next year he basically came out and dominated. It's a tough position for a guy to come into at a young age like that. I don't know that Risto will ever be that good, but it's possible.

Someone posted a crazy stat that when the pairings are L/L or R/R instead of L/R they give up like 6% more high danger scoring chances than those that compliment each other.
- sbroads24

Seriously? I always figured had an impact but that sounds high.

I hope right/left isn't a deal breaker when they look for one. If there's ever a time if want Murray to overpay...
- Sabresfan-365

It's just a question of who is out there and at what price. You'll have to overpay, you can't give up the farm. Shattinkirk is out there, but I think it was 89 who said he costs more than we'd be willing to pay.

We need that top 2 defenseman, but they don't grow on trees and hardly become available. With us losing the lotto and getting Reinhart (if we would have even taken Ekblad at 1) that was our best shot at getting a top 2 guy. Just hard to get one.

This is something I take from my own experience and the change I noticed in ristos approach last year but part of me wonders if his over aggressiveness in the 2nd half is the result of him thinking he has to do both jobs on that pair if that makes any sense. Like when you don't trust someone to handle their end of things so you try and their work too. I felt like that was the case for most of the 2nd half of the season,
- Sabresfan-365

I didn't think about it that way in terms of his play, but you could be right, because I have those same tendencies at work. If I don't trust someone, instead of asking them to do something even though they may be doing nothing and I'm swamped, I'll figure out a way to get it done myself. So I can absolutely relate to what you're saying.

I kind of wonder what difference it makes when you're in the offensive zone in terms of your own offensive production. Because to be quite honest, that's when I notice it more. Makes it harder to cycle the puck properly.
- HonkFortheGoose

I have no idea. I'd imagine it's probably a little more difficult to cycle.

I have no idea. I'd imagine it's probably a little more difficult to cycle.
- sbroads24

Even without having the stat, you're now sacrificing a certain % at each end of the rink and when you add them together, that can probably be pretty significant.

It's just a question of who is out there and at what price. You'll have to overpay, you can't give up the farm. Shattinkirk is out there, but I think it was 89 who said he costs more than we'd be willing to pay.

We need that top 2 defenseman, but they don't grow on trees and hardly become available. With us losing the lotto and getting Reinhart (if we would have even taken Ekblad at 1) that was our best shot at getting a top 2 guy. Just hard to get one.
- Zschalberg

For the right player you absolutely can, this would be the position to do it for. You'd have the core completed and the rest can be handled with smart signings and low risk trades.

As long as we've decided that today is gonna be a throne day...

I have been at this for a long time now, and I'm gonna give you the most useful advice you've ever received. USE THIS STUFF - IT'S THE BEST.

The Goose retires today.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BKGrJfOASDc/

For the right player you absolutely can, this would be the position to do it for. You'd have the core completed and the rest can be handled with smart signings and low risk trades.
- Sabresfan-365

By giving up the farm I mean losing the core. Your core of Eichel, Sam, Risto, ROR, maybe Nylander should be untouchable. If anything, Sam and Nylander would be the odd ones out.

It'd have to be a great player to lose one of those

The Goose retires today.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BKGrJfOASDc/
- TheSabresTaco

Always liked Gaustad. He was used wrong in Buffalo but was a really good 4th line center.

Also, is Rob Ray doing color on Sportsnet for the Russia/Czech Game? Sounds just like him.