To be fair, you did say he's looking like he isn't all he's cracked up to be. I think possession is fair, I guess, but he's a top pair defender...this team, other teams...still a top pair guy and one of the elite young defensemen in this league.
- RhinoFan

Elite? No. Top pair, yes.

Elite D men have good numbers. Ristolainen is a guy that gets a ton of PP points, not a ton of even strength points, and has trouble getting out of his zone.

I want to see Alabama roll and win the championship again.

I love Alabama and Saban.

Never understood why people don't like watching greatness like that program or the New England Patriots, Brady, and Belichick. Glad I am alive to see it.
- rmiethaner

Being a Tennessee guy I have never liked Bama. Same goes with UF.

Being a Tennessee guy I have never liked Bama. Same goes with UF.
- doppelthat

Well, I can certainly understand that.

Elite? No. Top pair, yes.

Elite D men have good numbers. Ristolainen is a guy that gets a ton of PP points, not a ton of even strength points, and has trouble getting out of his zone.
- sbroads24

Name some 22 year old defenders who are better. I can't come up with more than 2 personally.

Being a Tennessee guy I have never liked Bama. Same goes with UF.
- doppelthat

Being from Buffalo and now living in the south, I couldn't care less about college football, except when FSU and UF play each other and my facebook wall is flooded with hilarious memes about each school.

I am just not a Nick Saban fan from his time in Miami.

Elite? No. Top pair, yes.

Elite D men have good numbers. Ristolainen is a guy that gets a ton of PP points, not a ton of even strength points, and has trouble getting out of his zone.
- sbroads24

Ok...

Top 5 TOI/Game in the NHL right now:

Byfuglien - 26gp; 2g; 12a = 14 points
Suter - 23gp; 4g; 12a = 16 points
Karlsson - 24gp; 4g; 15a = 19 points
Doughty - 24gp; 3g; 8a = 11 points
Risto - 24gp; 0g; 12a = 12 points

That Doughty guy must suck.....

lol 16-9 Bama and their offense has done nothing.

Being from Buffalo and now living in the south, I couldn't care less about college football, except when FSU and UF play each other and my facebook wall is flooded with hilarious memes about each school.

I am just not a Nick Saban fan from his time in Miami.
- Stripes77

I perfer the college game to the pro game

UB has a great football tradition

I perfer the college game to the pro game

UB has a great football tradition
- doppelthat

The football team is the reason that UB doesn't have a D1 college hockey team...in other words not a fan

9 people dead at a rave in Oakland after a fire. Up to 40 unaccounted for, there were only 50 people there. So one person other than the dead people is accounted for?

Edit: There's all kinds of conflicting info. Now it's up to 40 presumed dead and that there may have been 100 people inside. The (frank)ing hipsters made stairs to get up to the second floor out of wooden pallets(the only way in or out). Good job, dumbasses.
- Wetbandit1

Score just one goal again in a loss and the problem is risto being a drag on possession?

Score just one goal again in a loss and the problem is risto being a drag on possession?
- atmarising

Par for the course around here

Score just one goal again in a loss and the problem is risto being a drag on possession?
- atmarising

Risto has 0 goals

Score just one goal again in a loss and the problem is risto being a drag on possession?
- atmarising

If you don't have the puck, you can't score.

If you don't have the puck, you can't score.
- rmiethaner

I have to say these conversations are so fun. I'm not even saying he isn't good, or blaming him for the loss. He just isn't elite. Or really close to it

One of the best things a man can do is show his son how to properly buy, season, and grill a beautiful medium rare porterhouse.

And if you're truly lucky, on the evening you show him, he makes a fine job of it, and the two of you can sit at a table together, enjoying one of life's finest treats together. And if you're really truly lucky, as the two of you chew and eat and enjoy, you'll catch one another's eye, and realize that he's enjoying the moment just as much, and he's just as proud of his accomplishment, as you are.

This are the good things.

I have to say these conversations are so fun. I'm not even saying he isn't good, or blaming him for the loss. He just isn't elite. Or really close to it
- sbroads24

Elite is a relative term. Elite in comparison to average. So:

Who are these other elite defenseman who are better than Risto. The kid is 22 and plays some of the hardest minutes out of ANY player in this league. I think it's a fair question, who is better than him that's in the same age group?

Edit: IMO If you can't drum up 5-7 names he's elilte because he is far and above almost any other defender of this group.

Elite is a relative term. Elite in comparison to average. So:

Who are these other elite defenseman who are better than Risto. The kid is 22 and plays some of the hardest minutes out of ANY player in this league. I think it's a fair question, who is better than him that's in the same age group?

Edit: IMO If you can't drum up 5-7 names he's elilte because he is far and above almost any other defender of this group.
- RhinoFan

I agree with you....see my post above.

One of the best things a man can do is show his son how to properly buy, season, and grill a beautiful medium rare porterhouse.

And if you're truly lucky, on the evening you show him, he makes a fine job of it, and the two of you can sit at a table together, enjoying one of life's finest treats together. And if you're really truly lucky, as the two of you chew and eat and enjoy, you'll catch one another's eye, and realize that he's enjoying the moment just as much, and he's just as proud of his accomplishment, as you are.

This are the good things.
- Der Kaiser

Potato?
Vegetable?
Salad?
Beverage?

I agree with you....see my post above.
- feetontheair22

That list was fantastic.

Potato?
Vegetable?
Salad?
Beverage?
- rmiethaner

Nothing but the steak tonight.

They were HUGE.

Every single ref, NHL, AHL, ECHL, NCAA, Junior Hockey, USA Hockey, Hockey Canada calls it this way.

If the person who started the "hand pass" is the first to play it play on.

Which is why the rule I posted is the rule they use. That is directly from this years 2016-2017 NHL rule book.
- Stripes77

I don't disagree that that's how it's called, my problem is they're ignoring a rule that's in the book. The only change from last year to this year was a minor difference in the puck over glass rule, otherwise it's the same rule book. If you can show me the source for your 2016-2017 rule book that omits the "advantage" phrase then fine, but the official rule book from the NHL's website still has the "advantage" phrase in it.

Elite is a relative term. Elite in comparison to average. So:

Who are these other elite defenseman who are better than Risto. The kid is 22 and plays some of the hardest minutes out of ANY player in this league. I think it's a fair question, who is better than him that's in the same age group?

Edit: IMO If you can't drum up 5-7 names he's elilte because he is far and above almost any other defender of this group.
- RhinoFan

But but the numbers!!!! Think of the numbers!!!!!!

Fancy stats are just another way for people to think they know what they're talking about because they can read a chart or graph.

Risto is one of the most talented young defensemen in the league. Period.

I don't disagree that that's how it's called, my problem is they're ignoring a rule that's in the book. The only change from last year to this year was a minor difference in the puck over glass rule, otherwise it's the same rule book. If you can show me the source for your 2016-2017 rule book that omits the "advantage" phrase then fine, but the official rule book from the NHL's website still has the "advantage" phrase in it.
- Wetbandit1

You need to read the casebook and memos. That's where the nitty gritty and situations are discussed.

Elite is a relative term. Elite in comparison to average. So:

Who are these other elite defenseman who are better than Risto. The kid is 22 and plays some of the hardest minutes out of ANY player in this league. I think it's a fair question, who is better than him that's in the same age group?

Edit: IMO If you can't drum up 5-7 names he's elilte because he is far and above almost any other defender of this group.
- RhinoFan

Why are we limiting it to his age group? Also his minutes mean absolutely nothing. Dion Phanuef was a 25+ minute a night guy with Toronto, was he elite?

Parayko
Lindholm
Ekblad
Werenski
Provorov
Jones
Trouba
Reilly
Ristolainen

All good young D men. Only reason Risto might be considered better is because he's constantly on the ice because our D core is so bad otherwise