What's his story?
- Matthews_Auston

Darren Raddysh of the Erie Otters has been named the Ontario Hockey League’s most outstanding defenceman for the 2016-17 season.

Raddysh led all OHL defencemen in scoring with 81 points (16 goals, 65 assists) in 62 games, and finished the season with a plus-62 defensive rating.

The 21-year-old from Caledon, Ont., is the first Otter to win the Max Kaminsky Trophy as top defenceman, and the first OHL player to also win the Leo Lalonde Memorial Trophy as overage player of the year in the same season.

Again, that's not entirely true.

It's not like he's only taking defensive zone draws, he takes plenty of offensive ones too, with our best players.

He had the 44th most offensive zone starts out of D men with 400+ minutes
- sbroads24

but he was top 25 in defensive zone starts, thats my issue with his usage. that and using him on the pK

Darren Raddysh of the Erie Otters has been named the Ontario Hockey League’s most outstanding defenceman for the 2016-17 season.

Raddysh led all OHL defencemen in scoring with 81 points (16 goals, 65 assists) in 62 games, and finished the season with a plus-62 defensive rating.

The 21-year-old from Caledon, Ont., is the first Otter to win the Max Kaminsky Trophy as top defenceman, and the first OHL player to also win the Leo Lalonde Memorial Trophy as overage player of the year in the same season.
- MCGUIZZY

Continued:

He may not have elite size; he’s 6-1 and 200 pounds. He may not be an elite skater, probably closer to average. But there just aren’t many blue-liners skipped in the draft who put up 81 points in 62 games, a production rate which Raddysh has come close to maintaining in a postseason that’s seen him get 20 in 18 games.

He’s been a top-pairing defenceman on Erie all season, and when he’s been on the ice at even strength, his Otters have controlled 68 per cent of the goals scored.

Like Stecher last year, Raddysh is often referred to as a really smart player, and if you watch him, he’s got great vision, and his passing is impressive.

His goals scored, power-play production and primary assist rate have all been near the top of the OHL, and have been consistently there since the start of the season.

Continued:

He may not have elite size; he’s 6-1 and 200 pounds. He may not be an elite skater, probably closer to average. But there just aren’t many blue-liners skipped in the draft who put up 81 points in 62 games, a production rate which Raddysh has come close to maintaining in a postseason that’s seen him get 20 in 18 games.

He’s been a top-pairing defenceman on Erie all season, and when he’s been on the ice at even strength, his Otters have controlled 68 per cent of the goals scored.

Like Stecher last year, Raddysh is often referred to as a really smart player, and if you watch him, he’s got great vision, and his passing is impressive.

His goals scored, power-play production and primary assist rate have all been near the top of the OHL, and have been consistently there since the start of the season.
- MCGUIZZY

Smart? Is he as smart as this guy?

but he was top 25 in defensive zone starts, thats my issue with his usage. that and using him on the pK
- Sabresfan-365

I totally agree, but I would expect his 5 on 5 scoring to stay pretty similar, even with reduced ice time.

.....unless Bylsma was truly (frank)ing awful, in which who knows.

I totally agree, but I would expect his 5 on 5 scoring to stay pretty similar, even with reduced ice time.

.....unless Bylsma was truly (frank)ing awful, in which who knows.
- sbroads24

he may well have been, teams not so good either


As i say all this though, It wouldnt shock me in the least if Botterill did his evaluation and felt the best move was to package risto for someone better.

Well there was but for all of 5 seconds lol.


IMO he made some big promises to pegula early on that in the end just never came together.
- Sabresfan-365

I think most of us are on the same page albeit with differing views on his effectiveness or ineffectiveness

Very valid point. Everyone talks about the rookies this year, and don't get me wrong they were fantastic, but the reason we made the playoffs was because guys like Kadri, JVR and Bozak had big years. Without those guys having good season we don't make playoffs no matter how good the kids played. And we finally have a number one goalie.
- Matthews_Auston

and the Leafs were healthy all season...which may have been the most important aspect of their playoff season

i mean hed push him down in the sense that Trouba can actually handle tough defensive zone minutes. Youd still give the offensive stuff to risto...which they should be trying to do anyways.
- Sabresfan-365

i'm still questioning just what the hell Bylsma did to this group...seems like he tried to tailor the roster to his system instead of altering his system to get the most of his players

he may well have been, teams not so good either


As i say all this though, It wouldnt shock me in the least if Botterill did his evaluation and felt the best move was to package risto for someone better.
- Sabresfan-365

This would surprise the hell out of me. He is 22, will be 23 this October, and has gotten better every year. Our team scored less than 200 goals last year. As soon as they can find people to put the puck in the net I'm sure his fancy stats will go up.

I personally believe that his usage and lack of team depth is the problem with Risto. May never be a Norris candidate but he is a solid top pair defenseman.

and the Leafs were healthy all season...which may have been the most important aspect of their playoff season
- Michael Pachla

Leafs score goals. 51 more than the sabres. They also have a better coach.

i'm still questioning just what the hell Bylsma did to this group...seems like he tried to tailor the roster to his system instead of altering his system to get the most of his players
- Michael Pachla

Might be but from what i saw of this team it looked more like he tried play them in damage control as much as he could. no real aggressive play, just collapse let the shots come in and clear it out. I suspect partly because he didnt have much to work with

This would surprise the hell out of me. He is 22, will be 23 this October, and has gotten better every year. Our team scored less than 200 goals last year. As soon as they can find people to put the puck in the net I'm sure his fancy stats will go up.

I personally believe that his usage and lack of team depth is the problem with Risto. May never be a Norris candidate but he is a solid top pair defenseman.
- staples

he is improving and is a top-pairing d-man and...he's making $5.4m or 100K less than Tyler Myers

Might be but from what i saw of this team it looked more like he tried play them in damage control as much as he could. no real aggressive play, just collapse let the shots come in and clear it out. I suspect partly because he didnt have much to work with
- Sabresfan-365

he did that a lot in oct/nov when Eichel and kane were both down, o'reilly was playing injured and there were a bunch of injuries on defense (hence the guhle emergency call-up)...when they got healthy, they were playing a very similar style which was one of the sources of consternation with eichel

Leafs score goals. 51 more than the sabres. They also have a better coach.
- staples

babcock is a future hall of famer...Bylsma may never coach again...

'nuff said

Sports
Buffalo Sabres Cannot Afford to Trade for Elite Defenseman
The Hockey Writers Mon, May 8 11:30 AM PDT
Reactions
- SABRES 89

That guy wildly overestimates what defensemen will cost imo

babcock is a future hall of fame...Bylsma may never coach again...

'nuff said
- Michael Pachla

Dan will be retiring and will be getting a membership at his local disco hall.

Dan will be retiring and will be getting a membership at his local disco hall.
- Sabre_Tooth

with plenty of cash for new threads

Continued:

He may not have elite size; he’s 6-1 and 200 pounds. He may not be an elite skater, probably closer to average. But there just aren’t many blue-liners skipped in the draft who put up 81 points in 62 games, a production rate which Raddysh has come close to maintaining in a postseason that’s seen him get 20 in 18 games.

He’s been a top-pairing defenceman on Erie all season, and when he’s been on the ice at even strength, his Otters have controlled 68 per cent of the goals scored.

Like Stecher last year, Raddysh is often referred to as a really smart player, and if you watch him, he’s got great vision, and his passing is impressive.

His goals scored, power-play production and primary assist rate have all been near the top of the OHL, and have been consistently there since the start of the season.
- MCGUIZZY

Sign him up
Certainly can't hurt....

Leafs score goals. 51 more than the sabres. They also have a better coach.
- staples

This is true. Babcock is a genius compared to Bylsma. I still maintain that other than Matthews, Babcock is our most important piece in the organization.

But Mike makes a great point about being injury free. I think they will have more depth this year but injuries last year would have been a disaster.

Thread dead

Thread dead
- chilliard77

gotta revive it with some controversial poop


trade lehner for picks, bring in mason

trade girgensons and some poop for schultz

trade reinhart for hanifin

Trade pick 8 down to 15-20 and add another 2nd rounder while taking brannstrom who is better anyways

use all your picks on euros because north americans are boring

sign some guys like stalberg, vrbata etc to 1 year deals

If it works out great if not flip at the deadline, more picks

pray to all the viking gods you win the lottery and draft dahlin

gotta revive it with some controversial poop


trade lehner for picks, bring in mason

trade girgensons and some poop for schultz

trade reinhart for hanifin

Trade pick 8 down to 15-20 and add another 2nd rounder while taking brannstrom who is better anyways

use all your picks on euros because north americans are boring

sign some guys like stalberg, vrbata etc to 1 year deals

If it works out great if not flip at the deadline, more picks

pray to all the viking gods you win the lottery and draft dahlin
- Sabresfan-365

That's a lot of controversial poop.

gotta revive it with some controversial poop


trade lehner for picks, bring in mason

trade girgensons and some poop for schultz

trade reinhart for hanifin

Trade pick 8 down to 15-20 and add another 2nd rounder while taking brannstrom who is better anyways

use all your picks on euros because north americans are boring

sign some guys like stalberg, vrbata etc to 1 year deals

If it works out great if not flip at the deadline, more picks

pray to all the viking gods you win the lottery and draft dahlin
- Sabresfan-365

Welcome to the Sabres Jason B!

That's a lot of controversial poop.
- buffalofan19

The most controversial part of it.....im only half kidding about that plan