Harrington's exchange with Pegula will likely be the last one he ever gets with Terry again. What a complete tool. - fastek
Hamilton's days covering the Sabres is probably over as well. Pretty sure Pegula will insist on that .......... can't imagine any player giving him the time of day either going forward.
i just used karlsson to help illustrate the point on whether it was delusional if you didnt think ristolainen was a #1. My point is you could argue both sides.
The real problem is that our top pair for years now has been our worst pair and ristolainen is the constant. everyones underlying numbers look better away from him. Now most will take this at face value and assume ristolainen is the problem, hes not. The problem is the whole situation is screwed up.
What they have asked of him at his age in the time hes been here can only be accomplished by elite guys like Karlsson, hedman etc. furthermore, theyve basically coached him into playing a style of defence that is essentially grandfathered in todays nhl.
The organization from day one has put him in a position to fail. He's not Karlsson you cant ask him to do that sort of thing and yet they did from just way too early on in his career. Meaning they either misjudged his ceiling, which is nuts because he was never billed to be the next Karlsson.
Or (and this is the most likely and my favourite), the rest of the attempts at building the defence were so hysterically bad that even when bylsma and co wanted to reduce his minutes and change his role they simply couldnt. - Sabresfan-365
Delusional is a strong word. If two logical people can arrive at different answers to the same question (which I think happens all the time) then delusion isn't it.
At the same point, I was just remarking that the Karlsson comparison is faulty. If you are going to argue about the "#1ness" of a player or the credibility of either opinion on the matter, it should probably be against that of an average top pairing defender and not the best one in the game. I totally agree about the usage, it's oppressive at best to his development and agree that he could do much better with a slightly lesser role (minutes).
Delusional is a strong word. If two logical people can arrive at different answers to the same question (which I think happens all the time) then delusion isn't it.
At the same point, I was just remarking that the Karlsson comparison is faulty. If you are going to argue about the "#1ness" of a player or the credibility of either opinion on the matter, it should probably be against that of an average top pairing defender and not the best one in the game. I totally agree about the usage, it's oppressive at best to his development and agree that he could do much better with a slightly lesser role (minutes). - RhinoFan
with risto i usually use the Karlsson-Carlson scale. based on numbers and eye test the last few years (at least for me anyways) i think this is the scale for #1ness. Youve got one guy who is HOF level and the other who has done what i would think is the bare minimum to be considered a #1(as in #1 where you should be able to win a cup with him as your best d-man)
There are also more than 1 guy on certain teams capable of that role. Like Nashville/WSH etc.
If I had to rank D men, does Risto grade out as a #1 on a playoff team. Probably not - sbroads24
I'm just saying that at the end of the day, unless the definition is void of mathematical relevance...there should be about 30 #1 defenders in this league. If your number strays too far from 30 you are either looking at elite #1 defenders or widening the search to merely top pairing defenders.
Let me ask you this, could you compile 29 defenders who are better than Risto in this league without stretching pretty hard at the end? Not asking to do it and present or something, just asking if you think he's around the 30th ranked defender or much further down. I would argue, if he's 30 or better...#1 defender.
Hamilton's days covering the Sabres is probably over as well. Pretty sure Pegula will insist on that .......... can't imagine any player giving him the time of day either going forward. - fastek
Do you really think that Paul Hamilton made all of that up on his own? Where there is smoke....... Also Hamilton just can't come out and say something so controversial about our best player on his own. I would guess that he had to let his bosses know what he is about to break and i am pretty sure he would have to have evidence to back him up....Just sayin.
with risto i usually use the Karlsson-Carlson scale. based on numbers and eye test the last few years (at least for me anyways) i think this is the scale for #1ness. Youve got one guy who is HOF level and the other who has done what i would think is the bare minimum to be considered a #1(as in #1 where you should be able to win a cup with him as your best d-man) - Sabresfan-365
Location: Show me a good loser, and I'll show you a loser." - Jack Eichel-, CA Joined: 02.11.2009
Apr 21 @ 3:31 PM ET
Hamilton's days covering the Sabres is probably over as well. Pretty sure Pegula will insist on that .......... can't imagine any player giving him the time of day either going forward. - fastek
I mean he's been in the business how long ? I think this will have little effect
Do you really think that Paul Hamilton made all of that up on his own? Where there is smoke....... Also Hamilton just can't come out and say something so controversial about our best player on his own. I would guess that he had to let his bosses know what he is about to break and i am pretty sure he would have to have evidence to back him up....Just sayin. - hehateme
I never suggested he made it up and I'm sure he didn't. Who knows where he got this .........it was BS. It was irresponsible on his part .... period. He should lose his job over it in fact. (Frank)ing reporters.
Location: Show me a good loser, and I'll show you a loser." - Jack Eichel-, CA Joined: 02.11.2009
Apr 21 @ 3:34 PM ET
I never suggested he made it up and I'm sure he didn't. Who knows where he got this .........it was BS. It was irresponsible on his part .... period. He should lose his job over it in fact. (Frank)ing reporters. - fastek
That's his job to report news .. we all got what we wanted I'm happy
Compared to places like New York and Toronto this is a cakewalk.. - GERBE!!!75PTS
Yes but the difference in NY and Toronto is that they also have NBA and MLB teams as well as a massive city to hide in. In Buffalo you just cant get away from it. Everywhere you turn its Bills and Sabres in your face. This is one of the reason Chris Drury wanted out of Buffalo. Fish bowl effect...
Location: Show me a good loser, and I'll show you a loser." - Jack Eichel-, CA Joined: 02.11.2009
Apr 21 @ 3:38 PM ET
Yes but the difference in NY and Toronto is that they also have NBA and MLB teams as well as a massive city to hide in. In Buffalo you just cant get away from it. Everywhere you turn its Bills and Sabres in your face. This is one of the reason Chris Drury wanted out of Buffalo. Fish bowl effect... - MCGUIZZY
He wanted out to play for his home team that's why..
Buffalo you can't hide ? I doubt anybody is harassing players in Buffalo I've never heard of such stories reason why players come here because it's a family environment and you could raise a family and be left alone
Location: We are in 30th place. It's 2017 , NY Joined: 02.12.2012
Apr 21 @ 3:39 PM ET
I'm just saying that at the end of the day, unless the definition is void of mathematical relevance...there should be about 30 #1 defenders in this league. If your number strays too far from 30 you are either looking at elite #1 defenders or widening the search to merely top pairing defenders.
Let me ask you this, could you compile 29 defenders who are better than Risto in this league without stretching pretty hard at the end? Not asking to do it and present or something, just asking if you think he's around the 30th ranked defender or much further down. I would argue, if he's 30 or better...#1 defender. - RhinoFan
I think so, taking everything into consideration.
The Risto debate is tough because I have little doubt he's much better than what Bylsma and Murray have set him up for.
Problem is he hasn't shown signs of "driving the bus" so to speak.
The most alarming stat for me is that at 5 on 5, Jack Eichel is actually better without Ristolainen in terms of possession, scoring etc
He wanted out to play for his home team that's why..
Buffalo you can't hide ? I doubt anybody is harassing players in Buffalo I've never heard of such stories reason why players come here because it's a family environment and you could raise a family and be left alone - GERBE!!!75PTS
He said it. He said he couldn't go to the store without "having to talk about the power play". Hes on record saying these things. And no Buffalo is a tiny city. You cant go to the store or anything without being noticed
Yes but the difference in NY and Toronto is that they also have NBA and MLB teams as well as a massive city to hide in. In Buffalo you just cant get away from it. Everywhere you turn its Bills and Sabres in your face. This is one of the reason Chris Drury wanted out of Buffalo. Fish bowl effect... - MCGUIZZY
And word gets around the league .............. just imagine how many players have a no-trade clause to Buffalo because of just that?
The opposite is playing for the Sharks .............. paradise for NHL players. They can walk around town, go out to eat with their families and nobody even bothers them. There's 15,000 people that know who they are and the rest of the millions couldn't care less who they are.
Location: We are in 30th place. It's 2017 , NY Joined: 02.12.2012
Apr 21 @ 3:42 PM ET
with risto i usually use the Karlsson-Carlson scale. based on numbers and eye test the last few years (at least for me anyways) i think this is the scale for #1ness. Youve got one guy who is HOF level and the other who has done what i would think is the bare minimum to be considered a #1(as in #1 where you should be able to win a cup with him as your best d-man) - Sabresfan-365
Not sure if you made this up or read it somewhere but that's really good
.. I would be lost without my phone 