Dion and Vesey and it’s only because they come in at less that Scandellas cap hit.
- dadeadhead

Hoping to see you next week
Will let you know

I'm really not a Risto fan boy. He's a 24-year old, 2nd pair RHD PP specialist with toughness and a tendency for boneheaded defensive plays
- jcragcrumple

At a surface level, that is correct.

However, as we have seen he is a big defensive liability, who plays the position of Defenseman, not LW.
Further, to optimize him, he needs complete sheltering:
- play with the right partner, Pilut on this team
- get 60% OZ starts
- play against inferior competition
- get tons of PP time
- play less than 17 minutes a night.

If that sound like a 2nd pairing, ok then.
Does not to me, sounds like a 3rd pairing, and overpaid at that.

At a surface level, that is correct.

However, as we have seen he is a big defensive liability, who plays the position of Defenseman, not LW.
Further, to optimize him, he needs complete sheltering:
- play with the right partner, Pilut on this team
- get 60% OZ starts
- play against inferior competition
- get tons of PP time
- play less than 17 minutes a night.

If that sound like a 2nd pairing, ok then.
Does not to me, sounds like a 3rd pairing, and overpaid at that.
- IonSabres

Risto plays a lot of minutes ...... if we trade him. Who is taking his minutes?

Risto plays a lot of minutes ...... if we trade him. Who is taking his minutes?
- Sabretooth9

Sabres No Doubt need a RhD on the top pair, as he is not yet on the roster. (is "he" being presumptuous?). I doubt anyone would trade the Sabres one for Risto.
Montour took his place on the 2nd pairing right side.
For now, Nelson holds the 3rd pairing probably, until Bogo comes back, the presumptively Borgen takes it on either at the TDL or next season.

The hole is a top pairing RhD.

Risto has proven he is ineffective as a top pairing D, cause he sucks at the defense, is horrible in transition, cannot play in a system for 3 coaches.
Harsh, but factual.

Now, the suggestion is to optimize him as outlined above...including limiting his time to less than 17:00 per night.

Who plays 1-RhD? I don't know, but it isn't Risto for sure.

Sabres No Doubt need a RhD on the top pair, as he is not yet on the roster. (is "he" being presumptuous?). I doubt anyone would trade the Sabres one for Risto.
Montour took his place on the 2nd pairing right side.
For now, Nelson holds the 3rd pairing probably, until Bogo comes back, the presumptively Borgen takes it on either at the TDL or next season.

The hole is a top pairing RhD.

Risto has proven he is ineffective as a top pairing D, cause he sucks at the defense, is horrible in transition, cannot play in a system for 3 coaches.
Harsh, but factual.

Now, the suggestion is to optimize him as outlined above...including limiting his time to less than 17:00 per night.

Who plays 1-RhD? I don't know, but it isn't Risto for sure.
- IonSabres

You can’t give up Risto and hope / pray that montour. bogo and Nelson can hold down the right side of the defense. That would be horrible and not even close to playoff caliber.

At a surface level, that is correct.

However, as we have seen he is a big defensive liability, who plays the position of Defenseman, not LW.
Further, to optimize him, he needs complete sheltering:
- play with the right partner, Pilut on this team
- get 60% OZ starts
- play against inferior competition
- get tons of PP time
- play less than 17 minutes a night.

If that sound like a 2nd pairing, ok then.
Does not to me, sounds like a 3rd pairing, and overpaid at that.
- IonSabres

This feels like just as much of an over exaggeration the other way compared to those that think he is invaluable.

You can’t give up Risto and hope / pray that montour. bogo and Nelson can hold down the right side of the defense. That would be horrible and not even close to playoff caliber.
- Sabretooth9

Obviously, we think much differently on Risto.
So be it.

This feels like just as much of an over exaggeration the other way compared to those that think he is invaluable.
- kingcong39

Those points to optimize come from Chad D at Die By The Blade, he had a very interesting argument leveraging his data driven analysis to support his theory...very, very well done...you should read it.
https://www.diebytheblade...astically-change-his-role

JCrag also voiced a similar strategy earlier in this forum, just not as defined as Chad presented...credit to him.

I happen to agree with their analysis, just do not support paying a 3rd pairing $5m.

Obviously, we think much differently on Risto.
So be it.
- IonSabres

I am just saying ...... if you remove a defensemen that plays 20ish minutes a night ..... you need to replace those minutes with someone

If you trade Risto .... you have an injured bogo. Montour and Nelson as your replacements. That right handed d side is very weak without Risto. Not even close to a playoff caliber d

I am just saying ...... if you remove a defensemen that plays 20ish minutes a night ..... you need to replace those minutes with someone

If you trade Risto .... you have an injured bogo. Montour and Nelson as your replacements. That right handed d side is very weak without Risto. Not even close to a playoff caliber d
- Sabretooth9

You think Nelson doesn’t know this?

He’s been on the phones like crazy, brace for radical change, Nelson is as bold off the ice as on

You think Nelson doesn’t know this?

He’s been on the phones like crazy, brace for radical change, Nelson is as bold off the ice as on
- washedup20

Okay. You move Risto. Name me a few defensemen you can replace him with?

Right handed d are in high demand and aren’t many of them on the market

Are we getting an all-white alternate jersey ???

https://twitter.com/cmded.../1140242745992372227?s=21

Not sure if true but if so, I don't hate it. But like most of us, was hoping for royal blue.

Edit : https://twitter.com/cmded.../1140243931957014528?s=21

(Royal blue coming, but not just yet)

Toronto getting Trouba helps them more than Kadri helps the sabres, and it's not even close
- jcragcrumple

I completely disagree.

You are in ❤ with trouba. You are completely overvaluing him.

Trouba had 1 good year - last year. On a really good team.

Are we getting an all-white alternate jersey ???

https://twitter.com/cmded.../1140242745992372227?s=21

Not sure if true but if so, I don't hate it. But like most of us, was hoping for royal blue.

Edit : https://twitter.com/cmded.../1140243931957014528?s=21

(Royal blue coming, but not just yet)
- kritter65

The Sabres keep making more and more terrible decisions. The Pegulas are NHL owners. If you want the royal blue back. Do it. Don’t half a s s it with jerseys fans will barely buy

The Sabres keep making more and more terrible decisions. The Pegulas are NHL owners. If you want the royal blue back. Do it. Don’t half a s s it with jerseys fans will barely buy
- Sabretooth9

Yet it’s there fault because they have an agreement and they can’t break it smh

Research

I am just saying ...... if you remove a defensemen that plays 20ish minutes a night ..... you need to replace those minutes with someone

If you trade Risto .... you have an injured bogo. Montour and Nelson as your replacements. That right handed d side is very weak without Risto. Not even close to a playoff caliber d
- Sabretooth9

Agreed.
2019-2020 will be difficult for them to make the playoffs anyway.
I'm not writing it off completely, I just don't expect it.

That as a backdrop, coupled with a major overhaul coming next offseason when they have much more flexibility due to the Cap space to work with, I'm not worried about having the roster settled for a playoff run this upcoming season. Rather, using this offseason to set-up that next season and take some of the To Do's off the list. I see moving Risto as a way to upgrade their Top 6, and I think removing a defensive liability who plays the position if Defenseman on a horrible defensive team doesn't hurt as much as others think. But, the return has to be right, therein lies the challenge for Botts.

I think it comes down to one's expectations for next year.

All that said, the only question is if Ralphie-boy can improve Risto to at least be neutral in the defensive end...which is a tall task IMO.

Agreed.
2019-2020 will be difficult for them to make the playoffs anyway.
I'm not writing it off completely, I just don't expect it.

That as a backdrop, coupled with a major overhaul coming next offseason when they have much more flexibility due to the Cap space to work with, I'm not worried about having the roster settled for a playoff run this upcoming season. Rather, using this offseason to set-up that next season and take some of the To Do's off the list. I see moving Risto as a way to upgrade their Top 6, and I think removing a defensive liability who plays the position if Defenseman on a horrible defensive team doesn't hurt as much as others think. But, the return has to be right, therein lies the challenge for Botts.

I think it comes down to one's expectations for next year.

All that said, the only question is if Ralphie-boy can improve Risto to at least be neutral in the defensive end...which is a tall task IMO.
- IonSabres

The off-season really hasn’t started and we haven’t given botts time to draft or sign guys. So of course right now, we are not a playoff team.

Let the summer pan out then let’s make some educated guesses. It’s too early right now

Okay. You move Risto. Name me a few defensemen you can replace him with?

Right handed d are in high demand and aren’t many of them on the market
- Sabretooth9

Oddly enough, the Lightning have 3 suitable for a year or three in
Girardi, Stralman, Coburn.
All old, so need to be short contract lengths.

Colin Miller from VGK is said to be available.

I don't speak to GM's in the league, so I'm sure who else is available.

Sign 1 of the 3 above old guys to a 2 year deal to play next to Dahlin.
Trade for Colin Miller.

Stralman, Girardi, Coburn
Montour
Miller
Nelson.

Not a horrible RhD.

Oddly enough, the Lightning have 3 suitable for a year or three in
Girardi, Stralman, Coburn.
All old, so need to be short contract lengths.

Colin Miller from VGK is said to be available.

I don't speak to GM's in the league, so I'm sure who else is available.

Sign 1 of the 3 above old guys to a 2 year deal to play next to Dahlin.
Trade for Colin Miller.

Stralman, Girardi, Coburn
Montour
Miller
Nelson.

Not a horrible RhD.
- IonSabres

Good lord .... those are terrible replacements.

Dan girardi is josh gorges 2.0 and a human pylon.

No thanks on the other 2.

Miller from Vegas isn’t a top pairing d and montour isn’t a 1st pairing d.

That’s a very very weak right side d.

Okay. You move Risto. Name me a few defensemen you can replace him with?
- Sabretooth9

So you're asking how can we replace the guy that isn't qualified to play the minutes that he has been playing?

Also, Risto was playing second pair minutes at the end of the season. Lets not let fear keep us from making improvements.

Are we getting an all-white alternate jersey ???

https://twitter.com/cmded.../1140242745992372227?s=21

Not sure if true but if so, I don't hate it. But like most of us, was hoping for royal blue.

Edit : https://twitter.com/cmded.../1140243931957014528?s=21

(Royal blue coming, but not just yet)
- kritter65

They have to wait a year to go royal blue. They removed the under armpit pattern two year ago. They cant alter the main Jersey for another year.

Royal blue will be in our primary jerseys starting next year.

Good lord .... those are terrible replacements.

Dan girardi is josh gorges 2.0 and a human pylon.

No thanks on the other 2.

Miller from Vegas isn’t a top pairing d and montour isn’t a 1st pairing d.

That’s a very very weak right side d.
- Sabretooth9

Risto isnt a top pairing D man either, yet they are playing him up there.

Also, Risto was playing second pair minutes at the end of the season.
- Slump Buster

This is just not true.

Risto isnt a top pairing D man either, yet they are playing him up there.
- Mentalorgasm5

Not to mention him and Dahlin are an awful match together

They’re both (both try, one is successful) puck carriers.

At a surface level, that is correct.

However, as we have seen he is a big defensive liability, who plays the position of Defenseman, not LW.
Further, to optimize him, he needs complete sheltering:
- play with the right partner, Pilut on this team
- get 60% OZ starts
- play against inferior competition
- get tons of PP time
- play less than 17 minutes a night.

If that sound like a 2nd pairing, ok then.
Does not to me, sounds like a 3rd pairing, and overpaid at that.
- IonSabres

Which is what he would probably be here, and why I think he'll be traded this off-season. It doesn't make sense to keep Montour, Bogo and Risto as the RHD, when none of them can play of the top pair. Montour isn't going to be traded, Bogo most likely can't be traded, so that leaves Risto to go.

There's not a fit for him anymore. JB needs to get a good return though, and then go about identifying someone who can play big minutes with Dahlin, and focus on the defensive side, probably in a separate trade.