But he's not great at defense, and his coach doesn't ask him to be, unlike risto
- jcragcrumple

But there’s a giant difference to being bad at defense and being so bad that you can’t transition the puck from defense to offense which gets you stuck playing defense all the time.

Risto’s problem is the latter and it won’t ever change

But he's not great at defense, and his coach doesn't ask him to be, unlike risto
- jcragcrumple

60, 75, 76, 67, 83...that is absurd point production from a defenseman.

Burns can pass and skate out of the zone like an elite player

Burns gets beat in his own end a lot

Ristolainen Cannot pass or skate out of the zone effectively, at all

Ristolainen gets beat in his own end, a lot

Burns can pass and skate out of the zone like an elite player

Burns gets beat in his own end a lot

Ristolainen Cannot pass or skate out of the zone effectively, at all

Ristolainen gets beat in his own end, a lot
- sbroads24

You better hope there's a gm out there who looks at him a bit more positively than you, because we're either "stuck" with him or the return isn't going to be very good

But there’s a giant difference to being bad at defense and being so bad that you can’t transition the puck from defense to offense which gets you stuck playing defense all the time.

Risto’s problem is the latter and it won’t ever change
- sbroads24

Being sheltered defensively and being on an elite team for 5 years has made burns look great.

If they had been swapped for the last 5 years, the gulf between them would have been way smaller. Would risto have won the Norris with them? Probably not, but Burns wouldn't have won a Norris here, that's for damn sure

You better hope there's a gm out there who looks at him a bit more positively than you, because we're either "stuck" with him or the return isn't going to be very good
- Powerslave

I think he will get a decent return because NHL GM’s ignore numbers and don’t watch all of his games like we do

Being sheltered defensively and being on an elite team for 5 years has made burns look great.

If they had been swapped for the last 5 years, the gulf between them would have been way smaller. Would risto have won the Norris with them? Probably not, but Burns wouldn't have won a Norris here, that's for damn sure
- jcragcrumple

Except Burns is maybe the biggest to top 3 biggest reasons SJ is elite.

Because he is actually good

Check this out Homie:
Another internet opinion:


RB T.J. Yeldon

You hear that sound? It’s T.J. Yeldon plummeting to the bottom of the Bills running back depth chart. Yeldon entered Thursday night well behind the likes of LeSean McCoy, Frank Gore and Devin Singletary. After Thursday night, it may be safe to push him down past the likes of Senorise Perry, Christian Wade and Marcus Murphy.

Yeldon had two carries against the Colts that went for eight yards. One of the carries resulted in a lost fumble with the Bills in scoring range. It is hard to envision a scenario where Yeldon makes the 53-man roster.
- Boss34

2 snaps in pre season trumps 4 years of work

gerbe logic

errr boss logic

Burns can pass and skate out of the zone like an elite player

Burns gets beat in his own end a lot

Ristolainen Cannot pass or skate out of the zone effectively, at all

Ristolainen gets beat in his own end, a lot
- sbroads24

risto might have had the 4 worst coaches ever in the nhl guiding him over the years, so there is that

risto might have had the 4 worst coaches ever in the nhl guiding him over the years, so there is that
- homiedclown

Not that I disagree, but how was Dahlin able to have a historic rookie season, and Skinner and Reinhart have career years under him?

Some players just kinda suck

I always thought ROR was over rated (still do) and even I will say they aren’t in the same league as players.

Ristolainen is and always has been a below average defensemen.
- sbroads24

Did you pull a muscle missing on two in one post? Come on, now fawn over Armia and Tyler Myers to make this a complete debacle.

They aren’t in the same stratosphere man. You gotta stop with these comps.

Brent Burns is a guy who can pot 20-30 goals from the D spot.

Ristolainen has never scored 10 in a seasons.

It’s like saying Sam Reinhart can play like Ovechkin
- sbroads24

First 5 full seasons.
Risto 4/5 with over 40 points
Burns 1/5 seasons over 40 pts

First 5 full seasons.
Risto 4/5 with over 40 points
Burns 1/5 seasons over 40 pts
- Fattony1187

Do you know how rare it is that someone becomes what Burns became after 5-6 years in the NHL? Like one in hundreds.

It’s a beyond bad comparison

Not that I disagree, but how was Dahlin able to have a historic rookie season, and Skinner and Reinhart have career years under him?

Some players just kinda suck
- sbroads24

So...should’ve kept Phil???

So...should’ve kept Phil???
- PrinceChill

Nah, Phil sucked, but bad coaching is always used as an excuse for bad players


He gets blame for Risto sucking but no credit for Skinner or Dahlin?

Do you know how rare it is that someone becomes what Burns became after 5-6 years in the NHL? Like one in hundreds.

It’s a beyond bad comparison
- sbroads24

Yet you just compared him to Skinner who had his first 40 goal season and highest point total of his career at age 26 ? Sure Eichel was like 80% of the reason but it still applies.

Yet you just compared him to Skinner who had his first 40 goal season and highest point total of his career at age 26 ? Sure Eichel was like 80% of the reason but it still applies.
- Swedish_Jesus

He had 37 two years ago.

That’s a hefty difference from a guy who went from a 30-40 point D man to a 20 goal 80 point D man

Nah, Phil sucked, but bad coaching is always used as an excuse for bad players


He gets blame for Risto sucking but no credit for Skinner or Dahlin?
- sbroads24

I dunno. Botts picked Phil, and Botts doesn’t make mistakes.

I dunno. Botts picked Phil, and Botts doesn’t make mistakes.
- PrinceChill

Phil was a Botts mistake

risto might have had the 4 worst coaches ever in the nhl guiding him over the years, so there is that
- homiedclown

Homie logic:

I live in Jacksonville, I read the paper. The paper writes nice things about tj yeldon.

4 NFL years and 12 tds is hardly someone who is gonna beat out our 3rd round pick ( who we traded up for) for a roster spot or even playing time.

Singletary is electric. The Bill's brass wanted him badly.

The NFL is full of young legs at rb.
Cant believe you haven't noticed the trend

Homie logic:

I live in Jacksonville, I read the paper. The paper writes nice things about tj yeldon.

4 NFL years and 12 tds is hardly someone who is gonna beat out our 3rd round pick ( who we traded up for) for a roster spot or even playing time.

Singletary is electric. The Bill's brass wanted him badly.

The NFL is full of young legs at rb.
Cant believe you haven't noticed the trend
- Boss34

He's not beating out Singletary, not even close.

And Senorise Perry is a stud on special teams.

Yeldon definitely has his work cut out.

Not that I disagree, but how was Dahlin able to have a historic rookie season, and Skinner and Reinhart have career years under him?

Some players just kinda suck
- sbroads24

Dahlin could have had a more historic season with good coaching .

Dahlin did not match his hype train

Didnt win rookie of the year either

Phil was a Botts mistake
- sbroads24

I was just seeing if people were going to insist that because Phil failed, he must’ve been Kim Pegula’s idea.

I was just seeing if people were going to insist that because Phil failed, he must’ve been Kim Pegula’s idea.
- PrinceChill

I'm not insisting that the pegulas hired phail. But they may have?

Are you insisting they didnt hire him?

No question: Kruger is a jbotts hire, they have a history.

No cute stories about botts watching his sister play Olympic hockey or their paths ever crossing.(phil)

Dahlin could have had a more historic season with good coaching .

Dahlin did not match his hype train

Didnt win rookie of the year either
- Boss34

Hype train? As a rookie 18/19 yr old?

Rookie of the year? After Pettersson went off like he did the first 30 games?

As a long time, season ticket holder, in person, evaluator of elite talent, cmon man.