Wow, seems like they've had him forever, and he's just a Junior?
- stashu

It's been a long few years, mano.

ROR and Kane. Seriously. Risto can't be trusted not to get torched. Maybe he's fixed that, but as bad as he was at it last year I doubt it's all the way fixed.

Ennis-Eichel-Reinhart up front. Maybe Okposo instead of Ennis. Eichel isn't great defensively, but he can chase guys down, and he won't be asked to be the backstop anyway.

Too much thought?
- Wetbandit1

Nice . Offense is a great defense and why not have two real good defensive forwards out there

Ristolainen and someone that isn't on this roster yet.
- buffalofan19

If it is someone on the roster I would say McCabe

Wow, seems like they've had him forever, and he's just a Junior?
- stashu

Did we draft him when he was 15 ?

Wow, seems like they've had him forever, and he's just a Junior?
- stashu

http://www.und.com/sports...connor_hurley_925637.html

drafted in 2013 second round

Did we draft him when he was 15 ?
- cabin

He was just a couple of days eligible for draft I think. He was still in HS, but had committed to Notre Dame.

He was just a couple of days eligible for draft I think. He was still in HS, but had committed to Notre Dame.
- Cup Crazy '07

yeah his birthday was actually on the cutoff date for that draft. The youngest player drafted that year.

yeah his birthday was actually on the cutoff date for that draft. The youngest player drafted that year.
- doppelthat

Ok, now i remember. Thanks both

Nice . Offense is a great defense and why not have two real good defensive forwards out there
- cabin

Where's the faceoff though? That could change the answer. If it's O-zone, I stay with my original answer. If it's D-zone take out Kane and put Risto in, he's big enough and nasty enough to be ok, put him in front of the net and have ROR just to the outside of him, it's on the rush where Risto gets beat badly. Neutral zone and that's tough. Anything across center ice and I stick with the origianl lineup. On our side I think Risto for Kane, because there likely won't be a rush where everyone gets beat and Risto is the last man back.

Murray and Pegula unfortunately set this precedent that they will pay big $$ tom players, which is a really good thing, but can also make things tricky
- sbroads24

This is part of it but i think it runs deeper than that.

If for example Reinhart wanted to hold out for whatever reason, the team would hurt as a result but you can afford to play hard ball because without him you still have two great centres.

Without Ristolainen your top pair is Kulikov and Bogosian. Speaking of which thats the other problem. 3/5 other d-men on this team are overpaid. I mean our bottom pair makes over 7 mil combined.

Question: Game 7 stanley cup finals . Sabres have the lead by 1. Final minute of the game. What Sabres D men you put out there ?
- cabin

What 19 said.

Where's the faceoff though? That could change the answer. If it's O-zone, I stay with my original answer. If it's D-zone take out Kane and put Risto in, he's big enough and nasty enough to be ok, put him in front of the net and have ROR just to the outside of him, it's on the rush where Risto gets beat badly. Neutral zone and that's tough. Anything across center ice and I stick with the origianl lineup. On our side I think Risto for Kane, because there likely won't be a rush where everyone gets beat and Risto is the last man back.
- Wetbandit1

Ok... Too much...............

ROR and Kane. Seriously. Risto can't be trusted not to get torched. Maybe he's fixed that, but as bad as he was at it last year I doubt it's all the way fixed.

Ennis-Eichel-Reinhart up front. Maybe Okposo instead of Ennis. Eichel isn't great defensively, but he can chase guys down, and he won't be asked to be the backstop anyway.

Too much thought?
- Wetbandit1

I think you'll see a big improvement from Eichel Defensively. I think at his best Ristolainen is the guy you want out there on D, with player x who is good at the whole shot suppression/puck recovery bit.

I think you'll see a big improvement from Eichel Defensively. I think at his best Ristolainen is the guy you want out there on D, with player x who is good at the whole shot suppression/puck recovery bit.
- Sabresfan-365

Gotta think need guys that want the puck and CAN get it if they want. Just need players that have that all the time .

McKenzie just reported that Kucherov heading back to the states, close to a bridge deal.

You could be right on Risto and Trouba but I think Lindholm will be the longest holdout. We'll see what happens.
- mhp

A bridge deal for Kucherov?!

GMTM should be on the phone NOW with his agent offering 7.5mil per

A bridge deal for Kucherov?!

GMTM should be on the phone NOW with his agent offering 7.5mil per
- jdfitz77

And in the meantime he should send Ristolainen a fruit basket? We don't have the cap for it.

A bridge deal for Kucherov?!

GMTM should be on the phone NOW with his agent offering 7.5mil per
- jdfitz77

I would

Gotta think need guys that want the puck and CAN get it if they want. Just need players that have that all the time .
- cabin

Agreed

And in the meantime he should send Ristolainen a fruit basket? We don't have the cap for it.
- Sabresfan-365

Find a way

I'll get the fruit basket

I'd put a claim in on Pulkkinen.
- mhp

Agree

Agree
- jdfitz77

Will be on LTIR for a couple months

Find a way

I'll get the fruit basket
- cabin

You'd have to move Ennis for nothing and even then it would put you right up against the cap with risto. Dibs on the fruitbasket

A bridge deal for Kucherov?!

GMTM should be on the phone NOW with his agent offering 7.5mil per
- jdfitz77

Like 89 has said the priority is Risto.

Like 89 has said the priority is Risto.
- mhp

Your sox not looking so good

Nice to see some of the prospects playing well. Connor Hurley put up 5 points in 2 games for ND as Petersen won both matches as well. I thought this might be a break out year for Hurley. He played ok last year but he really does have a lot of skill and it is starting to show in his Junior year at Notre Dame. Each year of his collegiate career he has been on the ice, for the most part, against the other teams top line and has played well defensively finishing with positive +/- ratings each year. Now it looks like the offense is starting to come around for him. I'm thinking he could be a quality 3rd line center in the NHL if he continues to progress. He definitely has the size at 6'2'' 185lbs.

Also, Cliff Pu also put up 5 points for London in the last 2 games. That's some hot Pu!
- doppelthat

I'm hoping he can have a good enough year that he can be a decent trade piece for us
I absolutely HATED that pick
So dumb imo
Would be really nice to have Santini (defenseman) in our pipeline right now