Why would he deserve more? He's scored more points than them, but also has way worse possession and defensive numbers.

He also scored a ton of his points in a short stretch last year and got a lot of good bounces.

He obviously a good player, but he's not proven to be a top 15 D man, which is what 6-6.5 would put him.

Banking on potential is what got players like Myers and Bogosian to be considered overpaid.
- sbroads24

risto is a much better defenseman than jones...Reilly's possession numbers no doubt have a lot to do with babcock who is the king of possession...

"good bounces" is completely subjective and focuses on risto only

stats-wise risto is on the cusp of being a top-15 d-man at the age of 21

he is the sabres top defenseman and will be so for the next few seasons, at least, unless they trade for a bona fide No.1...

risto anchors the defense and will continue to do so

Not to change the subject....

I completely forgot that we traded for Cole Schneider. Looks like he'd have to clear waivers to go to Rochester this year.

Thoughts?

Really? You would consider him one of the best #2 defensemen in the NHL?
- sbroads24

theres a laughy face.

But that doesnt mean I accept your premise that the value of a players contract ought to reflect the "position" he plays (i.e. 35th highest dman contract must be a 2D). There's just more to it than that.

risto is a much better defenseman than jones...Reilly's possession numbers no doubt have a lot to do with babcock who is the king of possession...

"good bounces" is completely subjective and focuses on risto only

stats-wise risto is on the cusp of being a top-15 d-man at the age of 21

he is the sabres top defenseman and will be so for the next few seasons unless they trade for a bona fide No.1...

risto anchors the defense and will continue to do so
- Michael Pachla

Agree to disagree.

He's good offensively, but not great, especially at even strength.

He's solid defensively, despite his possession numbers, not great.

He's young at 21, but has a lot of NHL games under his belt, so chances are he isn't going to morph into an elite player.

Agree to disagree.

He's good offensively, but not great, especially at even strength.

He's solid defensively, despite his possession numbers, not great.

He's young at 21, but has a lot of NHL games under his belt, so chances are he isn't going to morph into an elite player.
- sbroads24

that's fine...just wanted to see why people think that he'll get $6m or less...and to be honest, i'd love for the sabres to re-sign him to a cap-hit that's $5-5.5m...just not sure it's gonna happen

that's fine...just wanted to see why people think that he'll get $6m or less...and to be honest, i'd love for the sabres to re-sign him to a cap-hit that's $5-5.5m...just not sure it's gonna happen
- Michael Pachla

Nobody every cries about a player they like signing for LESS money than they thought they'd get. That's a win/win.

Morgan rielly got 5 mil for 6 years

Oli Maata got 4.3 mil for 6 years



Risto should get something at the same length in between those two salaries.

Morgan rielly got 5 mil for 6 years

Oli Maata got 4.3 mil for 6 years



Risto should get something at the same length in between those two salaries.
- Sabresfan-365

Maatta may have gotten more if he wasn't made of glass. That kid has missed more time than he's played I think.

Maatta may have gotten more if he wasn't made of glass. That kid has missed more time than he's played I think.
- HonkFortheGoose

Risto would get more too if he didnt play for a team that sucked on a historical level. Again thats not his fault but it is the reality and he should be paid accordingly.

- jochfr

he's a gamer

Risto would get more too if he didnt play for a team that sucked on a historical level. Again thats not his fault but it is the reality and he should be paid accordingly.
- Sabresfan-365

Blue Jackets were a tire fire, Jones did better there in an increased role than he did on a good team in NSH.

Rielly did well on a last place team.

Trouba did well on a bad team

Risto did well on a bad team this past year.

They all will be paid accordingly

Blue Jackets were a tire fire, Jones did better there in an increased role than he did on a good team in NSH.

Rielly did well on a last place team.

Trouba did well on a bad team

Risto did well on a bad team this past year.

They all will be paid accordingly
- sbroads24

This year I agree but I often here people say that we should ignore the first 2 years. Which is fine but then why on earth would you pay a guy 6 + mil based on one years worth of good hockey?

4.75*6 or take a 1 year deal and show me you can take the next step on a team with actually playoff aspirations.

This year I agree but I often here people say that we should ignore the first 2 years. Which is fine but then why on earth would you pay a guy 6 + mil based on one years worth of good hockey?

4.75*6 or take a 1 year deal and show me you can take the next step on a team with actually playoff aspirations.
- Sabresfan-365

Agreed. Which IMO, was good, but no where near top 10 D man level.

His point total looks great, but when you dig deeper, his season was by and large an average one. He had a great middle of the year.

I have nothing to female dog about today... Except my surgery scheduler.

I think we will be good.

Agreed. Which IMO, was good, but no where near top 10 D man level.

His point total looks great, but when you dig deeper, his season was by and large an average one. He had a great middle of the year.
- sbroads24

They need to do a better job of managing his ice time, IMO. 26ish mins a night is too much. Once in a while, fine. But there were times he was over 26. That's just craziness.

I get that guys like Duncan Keith do it, but it's not really ideal.

risto to me is not a shut down d man

if your up 3-2 with 90 seconds left on the ice, not sure I want him playing

risto to me is not a shut down d man

if your up 3-2 with 90 seconds left on the ice, not sure I want him playing
- homiedclown

Except seen him play the shut down role effectively too. Games against great players/lines where the eye test and fancy stats say he did great. Imo, he needs to pick 1 (and get a partner who can do the other). Be a point getter or be the shut down guy. The strain of having to do both while his way over the hill d-partners did nothing really got to him.

Except seen him play the shut down role effectively too. Games against great players/lines where the eye test and fancy stats say he did great. Imo, he needs to pick 1 (and get a partner who can do the other). Be a point getter or be the shut down guy. The strain of having to do both while his way over the hill d-partners did nothing really got to him.
- Sabresfan-365

He can't do it all, that's really the point here. Really think McCabe would be best suited with him.

He can't do it all, that's really the point here. Really think McCabe would be best suited with him.
- HonkFortheGoose

playing mccabe with risto is growing on me

then play Kulikov with Bogo

the speed of franson/gorges scares me though

playing mccabe with risto is growing on me

then play Kulikov with Bogo

the speed of franson/gorges scares me though
- homiedclown

What speed? My 97 year old grandfather would probably be faster than they are.

He can't do it all, that's really the point here. Really think McCabe would be best suited with him.
- HonkFortheGoose

Yes and no. Of the bunch we have I agree he'd be far and away the best option. But, Neither of these guys are exactly strong possession players. I think more than anything else Risto needs a partner who excels in this area.

playing mccabe with risto is growing on me

then play Kulikov with Bogo

the speed of franson/gorges scares me though
- homiedclown

I will say it every week till they ban me. Guhle/Nelson >> Gorges/Franson. As of right. freaking. now.

What speed? My 97 year old grandfather would probably be faster than they are.
- HonkFortheGoose

what's the solution?

play gorges with bogo and play kulikov with franson?

I will say it every week till they ban me. Guhle/Nelson >> Gorges/Franson. As of right. freaking. now.
- Sabresfan-365

I kind of agree

which is why I wanted one moved (gorges/franson)

They need to do a better job of managing his ice time, IMO. 26ish mins a night is too much. Once in a while, fine. But there were times he was over 26. That's just craziness.

I get that guys like Duncan Keith do it, but it's not really ideal.
- HonkFortheGoose

Flip side of that is that if you are going to pay him like a top 10-15 D man, you shouldn't have your coach talk about reducing your minutes.