I'd be willing to bet that if Risto plays on average 2 min. less per game you would see his mistakes go down and his point totals go up.

But he can't do that....because outside of Risto...House hasn't been able to trust the D-corps up to this point in the season with doing their jobs in important situations. So Risto ends up being on the ice for every crucial face off, every penalty kill, every power play.

If memory serves its always around this time in the season when we start to see the mental mistakes from Risto pop up...and that's because he has been overworked.
- feetontheair22

I really don't buy the "if he plays less, he scores more" idea.

Just another excuse people make for a guy not performing well.

Let's say he plays less and makes less mistakes. Then someone else playing more is going to make those same mistakes or, someone playing more in his stead will then score more, by this logic. Which isn't true.

Ristolainen is what he is. A 2/3 guy. The problem is, he's being played as a #1, so you either spread that time around and give players like Antipin and Nelson more minutes or you keep forcing him to be Karlsson, which is never gonna happen.

Tell me again why Gorges is playing? Oh right, Baptiste is a defensive liability and Gorges is a warrior and leader and less of a defensive liability than Antipin. Yeah.

Jesus Christ, stop being negative!
Haven’t you seen how he is absolutely killing it at the Olympics...he is a sure fire Norris winner in 2019.

Honestly, your pos5 is spot on.
No matter what, 2019 is going to be difficult...hopefully more enjoyable with multiple bright spots rather than this free-fall with no net.
- IonSabres

He also doesn't turn 18 until April 13th.

And especially the Swedes and Finns do not play young kids big minutes no matter how good they are.

If he wants to come back, I'll respect his determination. I view it as 50/50.

I don't understand why you'd think he's played decent. He's been a little better lately, but the first half of the year, he didn't belong in the NHL. It was that bad.
- Lunaion

I guess, it's more of expectations.
He's equal too:

Bowl u
Tennyson
Gorges
Faulk
Bogo
Redmond

This is my opinion anyways.

Although I can't really think of one stand out play all year

So when i said that if we had to trade Sam and would need ONE out of NINE to become a top6 quality winger...
that’s what u see as “every situation maximized” then?

I’d say 1/9 is actually being pessimistic

And the way we are going,
it’s pretty reasonable to think we will get a top3 pick

Only one team MIGHT have better odds than us to get one

So yeah...
rant on... beat your head against the wall...
Whatever u wanna do man

I’m over here chillin
Enjoy the ledge though
I hear the view on the way down is lovely
- jdfitz77

Ahh attack, good for you.
Go read your post, it has every pie in the sky alternative maximized.
Not attacking you, just the logic of 2900 things going right to justify the view they are close ... you even put it in your own post.
Keep telling yourself everything is perfect...if it works for you, great...keep on keeping on.
Lol.

So u think Doumelin is a “top pair” guy?
Come on man

They had a defense corp made up of 3s & 4s at best
- jdfitz77

He's way closer to it than Ristolainen yes

If he wants to come back, I'll respect his determination. I view it as 50/50.

I don't understand why you'd think he's played decent. He's been a little better lately, but the first half of the year, he didn't belong in the NHL. It was that bad.
- Lunaion

Well there no reason now not to play Antipin every night

Flyers are getting Kane

Start the countdown
- GERBE!!!75PTS

Yes, but who are the Sabres getting?

I guess, it's more of expectations.
He's equal too:

Bowl u
Tennyson
Gorges
Faulk
Bogo
Redmond

This is my opinion anyways.

Although I can't really think of one stand out play all year
- Boss34

Well, Bogo aside, that's a list of depth defensemen. Beaulieu's been better than him this year, and he gets killed by everyone here.

He also doesn't turn 18 until April 13th.

And especially the Swedes and Finns do not play young kids big minutes no matter how good they are.
- Wetbandit1

And neither will Housley.
Nobody is saying he won’t be terrific, and projects to be a number 1..at some point.
For the same reason you cited, is the same reason one needs to temper the expectation for the next year or two.
He will absolutely be fun to watch and he could be a number 1 out of the bag at 19...but don’t you think he would play more in the olympics if he was set up NOW to be a number 1...I think the NHL has stronger competition than the Olympic teams this year, no?
Logic says yes to him needing a year or two.
Counting on him to be a number 1 next year is pie in the sky thinking

Yes, but who are the Sabres getting?
- Powerslave

two second rounders and a prospect nobody has ever heard of that the fanbase will

a)pretend like they're the 2nd coming
b) pretend they are useless and ask for botterill's head

Well there no reason now not to play Antipin every night
- jdfitz77

He's played more than half of the games, while "adjusting" to the NHL. Why continue to pick on the guy who has 6 points in 35 games on the Buffalo Sabres D corp?

Well there no reason now not to play Antipin every night
- jdfitz77

Yet they don't. Must be a reason, right?

Yes, but who are the Sabres getting?
- Powerslave

who cares at this point

Ahh attack, good for you.
Go read your post, it has every pie in the sky alternative maximized.
Not attacking you, just the logic of 2900 things going right to justify the view they are close ... you even put it in your own post.
Keep telling yourself everything is perfect...if it works for you, great...keep on keeping on.
Lol.
- IonSabres

No, it doesn’t

It has us getting a top 3 pick
-only 1 team has a better chance at that
-thus, it’s a reasonable assumption

It has 1/9 potential forwards becoming top6
-that’s no where close to “pie in the sky”

It has Mittelstadt & Guhle becoming good players for us
-does anyone think that’s a reach?


And i never said everything is “perfect”
I’m just not gonna be miserable and rant & rave about the Sabres
Like anything u complain about will change things?

Good luck with your head banging
Like i said,
I’ll just remain hopeful
Chillin over here smiling
Instead of having a headache

He's played more than half of the games, while "adjusting" to the NHL. Why continue to pick on the guy who has 6 points in 35 games on the Buffalo Sabres D corp?
- 51_Killer

Huh?
I’m not picking on him at all
I’m saying we should play him every night the rest of the year

Yet they don't. Must be a reason, right?
- Lunaion

I guess
Got any theories?

Well, Bogo aside, that's a list of depth defensemen. Beaulieu's been better than him this year, and he gets killed by everyone here.
- Lunaion

Bowl u is the definition of a tank defenseman

He's better at getting us a top 5 pick.

I like Antipins upside 10 fold to bowl u.

Antipin is the least of our worries.

Who trades a defenseman with in the division for a 3rd?

3rds recently are equal to hiring dan bylsama and talking with vessel for a month or so

Huh?
I’m not picking on him at all
I’m saying we should play him every night the rest of the year
- jdfitz77

Sorry, that wasn't directed at you, more so Lunaion (no offense either). While I agree we should play him more, I think he's doing just fine with the amount we have already seen. Players need development, even at 25. He was horrible in the fall, but now I agree he should see more ice time. At least with the season we're having, why not?

Yet they don't. Must be a reason, right?
- Lunaion

Maybe they are (not) show casing him for trades.
Maybe he will kill the tank.
Maybe Horsley just plays the veteran old school game.
Maybe he's small, got pretty sick and is being worked in slowly.

Everyone on here is now saying Dahlin will take 2 years ect. But antipin should be a regular?

He is the least of my worries on this team and i expect him back next season.

No, it doesn’t

It has us getting a top 3 pick
-only 1 team has a better chance at that
-thus, it’s a reasonable assumption

It has 1/9 potential forwards becoming top6
-that’s no where close to “pie in the sky”

It has Mittelstadt & Guhle becoming good players for us
-does anyone think that’s a reach?


And i never said everything is “perfect”
I’m just not gonna be miserable and rant & rave about the Sabres
Like anything u complain about will change things?

Good luck with your head banging
Like i said,
I’ll just remain hopeful
Chillin over here smiling
Instead of having a headache
- jdfitz77

No headache at all.
Just don’t tell me are close when you count on
Nylander
Winning the lottery to secure our #1 D
Finding 2 top 6 wingers
Mittlestadt and Guhle being great out of the gate
Bailey and Baptiste hitting
Finding a 3rd line that can score when the top 3 struggle mightily
Finding a faceoff gem for 4th
Finding two competent 4th liners to be the shut-down line
Ullmark playing great
Finding a competent back up

Yes, there are guys coming, the fact is they need an army of them coming next year.

While you are counting on all that, consider
Grigerenko
The big Rusdian D, his name escapes me.
Girgenson
Reinhart
Nylander
Bailey
Baptiste
Does any of those scouting decisions and history of player development drive the highest level of confidence you are relying on?

But hey, the sky is always blue on Fantasy Island
Da plane boss, da plane
Hysterical actually
Lol

Sorry, that wasn't directed at you, more so Lunaion (no offense either). While I agree we should play him more, I think he's doing just fine with the amount we have already seen. Players need development, even at 25. He was horrible in the fall, but now I agree he should see more ice time. At least with the season we're having, why not?
- 51_Killer

Makes sense to me

Huh?
I’m not picking on him at all
I’m saying we should play him every night the rest of the year
- jdfitz77

Sensible to be sure.
I can see JBotts wanting to play Gorges and others to see if anybody wants them...til Monday...then play Antipin.

No headache at all.
Just don’t tell me are close when you count on
Nylander
Winning the lottery to secure our #1 D
Finding 2 top 6 wingers
Mittlestadt and Guhle being great out of the gate
Bailey and Baptiste hitting
Finding a 3rd line that can score when the top 3 struggle mightily
Finding a faceoff gem for 4th
Finding two competent 4th liners to be the shut-down line
Ullmark playing great
Finding a competent back up

Yes, there are guys coming, the fact is they need an army of them coming next year.

While you are counting on all that, consider
Grigerenko
The big Rusdian D, his name escapes me.
Girgenson
Reinhart
Nylander
Bailey
Baptiste
Does any of those scouting decisions and history of player development drive the highest level of confidence you are relying on?

But hey, the sky is always blue on Fantasy Island
Da plane boss, da plane
Hysterical actually
Lol
- IonSabres

Hey man...
have fun being miserable
Just remember to use ALL CAPS
Hahaha

I honestly can't believe that there people who really think this was a purposeful tank year

Especially after the supposed outburst from our GM the other day

Absolutely zero chance Botteril pitched another tank year to Pegula and he said "Sounds good!"

Stop with this, it's denial and a coping mechanism. We are simply terrible and playing Gorges and Bulion-cube over Antipin or Josefson, Larsson and Girgensons over Baptiste, Bailey and Rodriguez isn't going to make a difference in the standings but okay.

Hey man...
have fun being miserable
Just remember to use ALL CAPS
Hahaha
- jdfitz77

Miserable, nope...absolutely great life.
Frustrated with yet another rebuild, yep.
Hearing people say they are close when 12+ holes need to be filled, laughable at best.
But keep telling yourself all is going well and they are close.
Lol.