Totally agree
That’s why I qualified the idea with Risto still doing good on the PP
If he’s not, obviously u don’t keep him there
Or if Dahlin is significantly better,
then u can’t hold him back either
- jdfitz77

Exactly. IF you can maximize Risto's return AND not hurt the team in the process, have at it.

I would wager they start with Risto on top, but by mid December, Dahlin has taken that spot (assuming Risto is here still).

No offense, but how do you think he is more offensively gifted when in the 3 seasons he's played he has not even hit 40 points and Risto did it in his 2nd full season and hit over 40 for 4 consecutive seasons?
- adambuffalo

Member that TOI you mentioned? That’s why

He was 9th in the league in TOI. Of the players with more TOI only Provorov had a lower Ozone start %. Brent Burns, who averaged about 30 seconds more TOI started 63.4% of the time in the Ozone (even higher than Eichel). 611 players that played in an NHL game last year had a higher Ozone start % than Risto. Cherry picking stats does not change the original point that Risto should have a higher Ozone start rate.
- adambuffalo

And factor in that because he will be on a lower pairing, his TOI with Eichel and Skinner will dramatically drop.

Then when he’s a 30 point 2nd pairing D man, getting a lot of ice time with the Kyle Okposo’s and Evan Rodrigues’s, the narrative will change to “Why is he scoring less”

The idea that reducing his role and zone % will make him look better in terms of trade value is patently false

No offense, but how do you think he is more offensively gifted when in the 3 seasons he's played he has not even hit 40 points and Risto did it in his 2nd full season and hit over 40 for 4 consecutive seasons?
- adambuffalo

Watching both of them play after we acquired him. Risto has gotten so many points on the PP in his career. He doesn't join the rush as frequently as Montour or get involved deep in the offensive zone nearly as much. Risto has been the top guy (point man/QB etc.) of a pretty decent first PP unit. Montour comes from a team that had been deeper than ours on the back end. It has everything to do with the type of player they are when watching them and very little to do with past point totals. Also, analytics are great but it is and will be the reason the "eye test" will always matter.

And factor in that because he will be on a lower pairing, his TOI with Eichel and Skinner will dramatically drop.

Then when he’s a 30 point 2nd pairing D man, getting a lot of ice time with the Kyle Okposo’s and Evan Rodrigues’s, the narrative will change to “Why is he scoring less”

The idea that reducing his role and zone % will make him look better in terms of trade value is patently false
- OneKaneOneCup

Is strength of opponent a factor at all?

He would play lesser competition on a lower pair.

And factor in that because he will be on a lower pairing, his TOI with Eichel and Skinner will dramatically drop.

Then when he’s a 30 point 2nd pairing D man, getting a lot of ice time with the Kyle Okposo’s and Evan Rodrigues’s, the narrative will change to “Why is he scoring less”

The idea that reducing his role and zone % will make him look better in terms of trade value is patently false
- OneKaneOneCup

Increasing his o zone starts and limiting his minutes to 20 a night tops will almost certainly mean he won't "lead" the league in minus again

That would help his trade value

Is strength of opponent a factor at all?

He would play lesser competition on a lower pair.
- RhinoFan

Lesser quality of teammates will dramatically effect his scoring numbers.

You already saw it happen in the last 25-ish games of the season when Dahlin became the primary D man out with the Eichel line.

Risto had like a 4 point in 23 game stretch or something crazy like that

Increasing his o zone starts and limiting his minutes to 20 a night tops will almost certainly mean he won't "lead" the league in minus again

That would help his trade value
- jcragcrumple

Man. I can't wait til Risto comes up while building this roster

Watching both of them play after we acquired him. Risto has gotten so many points on the PP in his career. He doesn't join the rush as frequently as Montour or get involved deep in the offensive zone nearly as much. Risto has been the top guy (point man/QB etc.) of a pretty decent first PP unit. Montour comes from a team that had been deeper than ours on the back end. It has everything to do with the type of player they are when watching them and very little to do with past point totals. Also, analytics are great but it is and will be the reason the "eye test" will always matter.
- Bufsaints8

He's been a key piece of a below average PP (one great season, several terrible) for the majority of his time here. If you swap Montour in for Risto, you don't see a big difference.

Lesser quality of teammates will dramatically effect his scoring numbers.

You already saw it happen in the last 25-ish games of the season when Dahlin became the primary D man out with the Eichel line.

Risto had like a 4 point in 23 game stretch or something crazy like that
- OneKaneOneCup

When the Sabres were on their streak the pairings went:

McCabe/Risto
Dahlin Bogosian



We'll just let that sink in for a second

Increasing his o zone starts and limiting his minutes to 20 a night tops will almost certainly mean he won't "lead" the league in minus again

That would help his trade value
- jcragcrumple

So by sheltering him, thus admitting he’s really not that good, and not a product of a poopty team, he’s somehow going to get more valuable?

Man. I can't wait til Risto comes up while building this roster
- Michael Pachla

It'll be interesting to see how fans react to his switch to 2RW

Better then yesterday blog

So by sheltering him, thus admitting he’s really not that good, and not a product of a poopty team, he’s somehow going to get more valuable?
- OneKaneOneCup

2nd pair =/= admitting he's not that good

Playing him more strategically will produce better results

It'll be interesting to see how fans react to his switch to 2RW


- jcragcrumple

I don't like your altitude...

You're really high.

Better then yesterday blog
- gerbe75pts

You mean the comments.
Right?

It'll be interesting to see how fans react to his switch to 2RW


- jcragcrumple

Interesting thought. I happen to think Buffalo will have a pretty good d once they're healthy and if they stay that way

Interesting thought. I happen to think Buffalo will have a pretty good d once they're healthy and if they stay that way
- Michael Pachla

With the way things are starting, there's a very good chance they are never healthy. With the numbers they have, maybe they are counting on that.

Interesting thought. I happen to think Buffalo will have a pretty good d once they're healthy and if they stay that way
- Michael Pachla

I dont actually think that would happen for the record

I still am not sure who they intend to play defensive minutes, or if it'll just be everyone splitting evenly

I dont actually think that would happen for the record

I still am not sure who they intend to play defensive minutes, or if it'll just be everyone splitting evenly
- jcragcrumple

If they're confident in the pairings to have them play equal even strength minutes, that would be a good thing

Better then yesterday blog
- gerbe75pts

Let me put on my hard hat...

He's been a key piece of a below average PP (one great season, several terrible) for the majority of his time here. If you swap Montour in for Risto, you don't see a big difference.
- Lunaion

This is incorrect. Per NHL.com:
16-17 - 24.5% (1st)
18-19 - 19.5% (16th)
17-18 - 19.1% (20th)
15-16 - 18.9% (12th)

That is a "decent" powerplay. Slightly better than average over 4 years. Risto is probably a better PP guy than Montour.

This is incorrect. Per NHL.com:
16-17 - 24.5% (1st)
18-19 - 19.5% (16th)
17-18 - 19.1% (20th)
15-16 - 18.9% (12th)

That is a "decent" powerplay. Slightly better than average over 4 years. Risto is probably a better PP guy than Montour.
- Bufsaints8

He never admits he's wrong. He just tells you he disagrees with the author.

Your answer lies below.

https://wgr550.radio.com/...eger-still-listening-fans

Krueger has a big mandate for anybody on his staff. He said, “All of them are going to challenge me, come in here and challenge what I’m saying, challenge what I’m thinking, so when we leave our coaches room, we come out with one voice, but in that space I’d like to have a positive conflict, I love to put expectations on the table right away and then arguing with the people around me in a good way and I’m open to hearing what everybody thinks and then I have to process it and then my job as a head coach is to make decisions and they’re not always going to be popular and not everybody is going to like them, but in the end the only way that I go forward is my decisions will always be driven with what I believe with all the information and experience I have, what is best for the team.”
- TheSabresTaco

Isn’t that pretty much what every coach says?
Sounds like he’s just gonna do what’s best to help the team win now
Which is fine
All I’m saying is that I’d like to see the Coach & GM working together for what’s best for the team now, AND in the future

2nd pair =/= admitting he's not that good

Playing him more strategically will produce better results
- jcragcrumple

I guess I just don’t care about the optics.

You have a 5.4 mil D who in reality is a 2.5-3 mil D who’s role is going to get smaller and smaller if he even stays.

They didn’t trade for Miller/Joki/Montour, all RHD to still give Risto 20+.

In other words, this conversation is pointless because he’s 100% a goner