Michael Pachla: Opening night comes into focus with signing of Ristolainen + roster moves

Michael Pachla: Opening night comes into focus with signing of Ristolainen + roster moves
- Michael Pachla

DROP THE FREAKING PUCK !!!!!

- cabin

big time, cab...

then again, some might lead you to believe that the sabres would be better off without risto...you know...

big time, cab...

then again, some might lead you to believe that the sabres would be better off without risto...you know...
- Michael Pachla

F THem. our team will never be relevant to the hockey masses until we win the pres trophy and there will still be flaws.

We are not the Leafs so we suck, even at tanking with dignity.

F THem. our team will never be relevant to the hockey masses until we win the pres trophy and there will still be flaws.

We are not the Leafs so we suck, even at tanking with dignity.
- cabin

drop the f'in puck already!!!!

drop the f'in puck already!!!!
- Michael Pachla

Excited for the season. Expecting a few streaks, good and bad. I think Lehner is the key. Not thrilled with the cap space we have left to make a deadline move if we need one. That said, the normal race to 8th...will finally be worth watching.

Excited for the season. Expecting a few streaks, good and bad. I think Lehner is the key. Not thrilled with the cap space we have left to make a deadline move if we need one. That said, the normal race to 8th...will finally be worth watching.
- SyrSabreFan

we might not need anymore if everyone archives to their expectations .

Dats what i'm banking on with not one NHL game played this season yet.


Some have wrote them off already based on passed productions and analitics

I really think our defense will surprise a lot of people. Risto has another year of seasoning, Kulikov may not be the #2 we are looking for in the end but he is certainly a step up from last year. McCabe is one of the best defenseman that nobody has heard of yet, he is going to be solid this year. Bogo was starting to play better at the end of last year and it may carry over, even if he is the same having McCabe as his partner may bail him out quite a bit. Gorges is fine for a third line pairing dman and having either Franson or Nelson as his partner isn't a bad 3rd line. Nelson showed that he can be a point producer on the pp and also a quality dman in his own zone at the end of last year and this preseason. And Lehner looked great in the preseason. If he stays healthy we should be just fine.

I really think our defense will surprise a lot of people. Risto has another year of seasoning, Kulikov may not be the #2 we are looking for in the end but he is certainly a step up from last year. McCabe is one of the best defenseman that nobody has heard of yet, he is going to be solid this year. Bogo was starting to play better at the end of last year and it may carry over, even if he is the same having McCabe as his partner may bail him out quite a bit. Gorges is fine for a third line pairing dman and having either Franson or Nelson as his partner isn't a bad 3rd line. Nelson showed that he can be a point producer on the pp and also a quality dman in his own zone at the end of last year and this preseason. And Lehner looked great in the preseason. If he stays healthy we should be just fine.
- doppelthat

Oh my.

posted on the old blog .(no jokes please)


we might not need anymore if everyone acheaves to their expectations .

Dats what i'm banking on with not one NHL game played this season yet.


Some have wrote them off already based on passed productions and analitics

quote=Der Kaiser]So ...

GMTM gets Risto done at 6 years for less than $5.5m. I think we kinda have to say that passes the test.

What do we have to be negative about tonight? Are we going to say that the team can't be any good without ROR and OK in the lineup?

I'm reminded of that story about filling a jar with Golf balls, dried peas, and sand, and it feels like the complainers are left with just the sand.

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Good deal for both sides, but I don't really get what "test" Murray passed? He signed his guy 2 days before the season, and has had 0 practices with his supposed partner Kulikov.

Good job by Murray and Risto getting it done, it's better than the Trouba or Lindholm situation. But Seth Jones signed this contract months ago.

The test is this season's results, nothing more, nothing less. Make the playoffs. We're ready. Anything less is unacceptable

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Good deal for both sides, but I don't really get what "test" Murray passed? He signed his guy 2 days before the season, and has had 0 practices with his supposed partner Kulikov.

Good job by Murray and Risto getting it done, it's better than the Trouba or Lindholm situation. But Seth Jones signed this contract months ago.

The test is this season's results, nothing more, nothing less. Make the playoffs. We're ready. Anything less is unacceptable
- sbroads24

Jones' numbers aren't close to Risto's. Risto is far closer to Dougie Hamilton. Murray is no longer only a profligate spender. He has several wins in contract negotiations.

It's a really good contract and is more good momentum for the franchise.

Jones' numbers aren't close to Risto's. Risto is far closer to Dougie Hamilton.

It's a really good contract and is more good momentum for the franchise.
- Der Kaiser

It is a good contract. Perfect actually. But Jones is very close. He's a better defender, slightly worse offensively.

Stupid question:

Risto will be UFA when this contract ends, yes?

It is a good contract. Perfect actually. But Jones is very close. He's a better defender, slightly worse offensively.

Fair enough but I am happy with the deal at $5.4 million. Like you said earlier, it's just too bad they couldn't come to this agreement the day after Jones did with Columbus!

Stupid question:

Risto will be UFA when this contract ends, yes?
- RhinoFan

yes..book mark it .


https://www.capfriendly.com/teams/sabres

Excited for the season. Expecting a few streaks, good and bad. I think Lehner is the key. Not thrilled with the cap space we have left to make a deadline move if we need one. That said, the normal race to 8th...will finally be worth watching.
- SyrSabreFan

Cap space accrues over the course of a season, so at the deadline we could have $30M in salary available, but only for the remainder of the season, so it really only works for rental players. It's a weird system.

It is a good contract. Perfect actually. But Jones is very close. He's a better defender, slightly worse offensively.

Fair enough but I am happy with the deal at $5.4 million. Like you said earlier, it's just too bad they couldn't come to this agreement the day after Jones did with Columbus!
- SabreWest

I think Risto will be fine, even with not practicing, I just think this is fair on both sides, and wonder why Risto thought he would have gotten too much more

It is a good contract. Perfect actually. But Jones is very close. He's a better defender, slightly worse offensively.

Fair enough but I am happy with the deal at $5.4 million. Like you said earlier, it's just too bad they couldn't come to this agreement the day after Jones did with Columbus!
- SabreWest

Risto can learn the defendin part

So, then you must know that Murray was the one who caved and came up on salary then. Apparently the reports of Risto wanting $6+ were incorrect.
How about good for Murray saving $1m per year now and for setting the table for realistic contracts for Jack and Sam.
Or would you rather have had him practice for 2 weeks at the cost of $1 each year over the next 6 years.
I'm good with the way it played out.

Obviously they're both gorgeous women, but I like the first one better.
- Wetbandit1

The brunette has good attitude, you can tell by her buns!

Obviously they're both gorgeous women, but I like the first one better.
- Wetbandit1

Yes she was the first one

- DDM-Coga