So how has Asplund/Lazar/Rodrigues/Sheary done?

Anything? 71 and 43 have made Skinner look like he wants to kill himself and we’re talking about the LOG line again?
- sbroads24

I think that kinda proves the point. There's not enough talent, which is why guys who are marginal NHLers are playing 13, 14 minutes a night. The same reason why Risto is still playing 24.

Dahlin now allows more EV goals per 60 than Risto, 3.0 to 2.9, and they both have the same GF/60, 2.8 which is tied for the most on the team for guys who've played every game. Montour and Scandella's are higher at 2.9 and 3.7 respectively, but have only played 6 and 14 games.

I think that kinda proves the point. There's not enough talent, which is why guys who are marginal NHLers are playing 13, 14 minutes a night. The same reason why Risto is still playing 24.

Dahlin now allows more EV goals per 60 than Risto, 3.0 to 2.9, and they both have the same GF/60, 2.8 which is tied for the most on the team for guys who've played every game. Montour and Scandella's are higher at 2.9 and 3.7 respectively, but have only played 6 and 14 games.
- Wetbandit1

We will be a better team the second Ristolainen is no longer treated as the #1.

I can’t even fathom thinking otherwise anymore

Olofsson + Ristolainen for Rakell
- sbroads24

Done.

rookie has 14 in 20, 6 of them even strength and you all want to trade him
- ieetbred

He had an assist tonight. That’s 15 in 21 on pace for just under 60 points and I would trade him in a second.

I am not rooting against the guy. I wish him the best and hope he succeeds but watching him I know his production is an anomaly.

He scored early in the season 6 of his goals on the PP because teams were geared to stop Eichel and didn’t realize we had a sniper on the other side of the ice. Once teams were wise to him, he hasn’t scored on the power play since. Besides that most of his points are a result from playing with two of the three forwards we have who can actually score. He is a passenger not a driver.

Take him off the top line and he would have Vesey production. He can’t win puck battles on the forecheck, doesn’t hit, he is smaller and soft, probably the softest player on our soft team. He tries to play perimeter hockey and has marginal NHL talent besides his outstanding shot.

Because he has the production he has, he has more value than he is worth, and we should capitalize on that immediately before other GMs realize what he really is.

Are we watching the same player? This seems obvious to me. Not sure how other people don’t see it.

I think that kinda proves the point. There's not enough talent, which is why guys who are marginal NHLers are playing 13, 14 minutes a night. The same reason why Risto is still playing 24.

Dahlin now allows more EV goals per 60 than Risto, 3.0 to 2.9, and they both have the same GF/60, 2.8 which is tied for the most on the team for guys who've played every game. Montour and Scandella's are higher at 2.9 and 3.7 respectively, but have only played 6 and 14 games.
- Wetbandit1

5 on 5 minutes with Jack Eichel

Ristolainen- 146
Dahlin - 88

And we still score about the same.

I just can’t believe what’s happened.

The entire offensive gameplan is

Line 1- let Jack Eichel do absolutely everything

Lines 2-4 - pray you can get possession long enough to take a harmless wrist shot from the point

And we have many injuries right now.
- Powerslave

Their average hasn't budged since the beginning of the year.

He’s legit done nothing since teams realized he’s going to shoot on the PP.

What exactly are you watching where you’d think he’s been anything but bad?
- sbroads24

Shelter him more then if you want, hes a rookie.

He has 3 points in his last 5, with an even strength goal. He had 4 really good chances tonight and it just didnt go

I was at the game

5 on 5 minutes with Jack Eichel

Ristolainen- 146
Dahlin - 88

And we still score about the same.
- sbroads24

I would hope that's at least the case, considering Risto sucks and Dahlin is Denis Potvin reincarnate.

Bogo is not the power forward this team wanted, but he's the one the team needs
- jcragcrumple

I don’t see the harm in trying it
Interesting idea

d!ck post beady



- homiedclown

Was that to me? Or Over50?
Looks like it got deleted
Just curious

I would hope that's at least the case, considering Risto sucks and Dahlin is Denis Potvin reincarnate.
- Wetbandit1

I think we’d all agree Dahlin isn’t playing well.

Ristolainen is doing the usual punting of every possible possession though.

Once again.... he’s a high priced player who’s scored on more than anyone else (besides his partner) and does almost nothing offensively, despite once again being the primary defender with our best forwards.

It’s ground hog day

I just cant understand why they stopped playing like they did against NJ... You showed you're capable of DOMINATING a game physically, but it seems we haven't seen that energy since. I just don't get jt...

Why they refuse to play Skinner with Eichel right now is legit pissing me off.

Was that to me? Or Over50?
Looks like it got deleted
Just curious
- jdfitz77

It had nothing to do with you attention mongrel

Olofsson + Ristolainen for Rakell
- sbroads24

I’ve seen a lot worse ideas
Kind of a lot though

It had nothing to do with you attention mongrel
- U Sir Name

Banned again huh?
Shocker

I think we’d all agree Dahlin isn’t playing well.

Ristolainen is doing the usual punting of every possible possession though.

Once again.... he’s a high priced player who’s scored on more than anyone else (besides his partner) and does almost nothing offensively, despite once again being the primary defender with our best forwards.

It’s ground hog day
- sbroads24

I don’t mind Risto at all. I agree with you on a lot but I just don’t blame Risto like you do. My friend thinks he’s terrible too so maybe it’s me.

I know what you hate about him. He doesn’t make crisp passes to exit the zone. He does make some bad decisions like finishing checks to allow other players to be wide open. However he is one of the few we have who can actually clear the front of the net. He is one of the few who is actually tough to play against. He hits, he can contribute on offense. And he isn’t having a bad year at all.

He is on the ice for more goals against than other defenders because he is on the ice more than any other defender.

IMO he is the least of our problems. Our problems are that we have no secondary scoring. Our PK sucks, it’s much worse when Risto isn’t out there than when he is. Our goaltending has been bad allowing soft goals almost every game lately. And we have so many players making mental blunders resulting in avoidable turnovers and great scoring chances against us. Mittelstadt tonight, Dahlin lately, Eichel many times trying no look passes along the blue line in the offensive zone that get picked off and result in breakaways and odd man rushes. Just to name a few.

This team isn’t sharp mentally right now. I don’t know why, but they aren’t. Add that to the lack of goal scoring and it’s a recipe to lose every game.

Anyways, having said that. I am all for trading Ristolainen for a top six forward. If we could package him with Olofsson for a top line forward all the better.

I am not married to Risto playing on this team. I just don’t think he is terrible like so many others do. And I don’t think we have anyone better suited for the role he is in until Dahlin realizes his potential, or even gets close.

Agree to disagree with you all who don’t feel this way. Just don’t think I don’t understand what you think. I do, I just don’t agree.

Fire Pegula
Fire Botts
Trade everyone
Goodnight

I’ve seen a lot worse ideas
Kind of a lot though
- jdfitz77

If we have to overpay to change the makeup of this roster, then so be it.

I don’t mind Risto at all. I agree with you on a lot but I just don’t blame Risto like you do. My friend thinks he’s terrible too so maybe it’s me.

I know what you hate about him. He doesn’t make crisp passes to exit the zone. He does make some bad decisions like finishing checks to allow other players to be wide open. However he is one of the few we have who can actually clear the front of the net. He is one of the few who is actually tough to play against. He hits, he can contribute on offense. And he isn’t having a bad year at all.

He is on the ice for more goals against than other defenders because he is on the ice more than any other defender.

IMO he is the least of our problems. Our problems are that we have no secondary scoring. Our PK sucks, it’s much worse when Risto isn’t out there than when he is. Our goaltending has been bad allowing soft goals almost every game lately. And we have so many players making mental blunders resulting in avoidable turnovers and great scoring chances against us. Mittelstadt tonight, Dahlin lately, Eichel many times trying no look passes along the blue line in the offensive zone that get picked off and result in breakaways and odd man rushes. Just to name a few.

This team isn’t sharp mentally right now. I don’t know why, but they aren’t. Add that to the lack of goal scoring and it’s a recipe to lose every game.

Anyways, having said that. I am all for trading Ristolainen for a top six forward. If we could package him with Olofsson for a top line forward all the better.

I am not married to Risto playing on this team. I just don’t think he is terrible like so many others do. And I don’t think we have anyone better suited for the role he is in until Dahlin realizes his potential, or even gets close.

Agree to disagree with you all who don’t feel this way. Just don’t think I don’t understand what you think. I do, I just don’t agree.

Fire Pegula
Fire Botts
Trade everyone
Goodnight
- Beethoven

Solid post
I don’t 100% agree with everything
But i don’t think any of this is unreasonable at all

If we have to overpay to change the makeup of this roster, then so be it.
- Beethoven

The only time we should overpay is to get top end talent

What I’m not ok with, is “selling low”

No more ROR trades
So if the best offers for Risto are a 3rd liner & a pick, then hard pass on that nonsense
Even if that means we gotta wait

Risto has his faults,
but he’s still a very useful defender


I think Risto & Dahlin should be paired at some point
Let Risto use his physicality in front
And Dahlin can be the guy skating the puck out or passing it up ice
Risto & McCabe are too similar in skill set
More balanced pairings might help

Just a thought

The only time we should overpay is to get top end talent

What I’m not ok with, is “selling low”

No more ROR trades
So if the best offers for Risto are a 3rd liner & a pick, then hard pass on that nonsense
Even if that means we gotta wait

Risto has his faults,
but he’s still a very useful defender


I think Risto & Dahlin should be paired at some point
Let Risto use his physicality in front
And Dahlin can be the guy skating the puck out or passing it up ice
Risto & McCabe are too similar in skill set
More balanced pairings might help

Just a thought
- jdfitz77

I don’t hate it at all. I wouldn’t mind giving Dahlin the most minutes possible for the rest of the season. There’s no denying his skill, and the sooner he works out the kinks in his game and adjusts to what works in the NHL the better off we will be longterm.

I was actually thinking about sitting him for a game. Not because I don’t want him on the ice, but as an attempt to light a fire under him to see if it works in getting him out of his funk.

But the more I think about it, the more I feel that playing him as much as possible is the way to go. He will get better with experience and the only way he is going to learn is by playing. The more he plays, the faster his maturation hopefully.

I know Kreuger is trying to win games and is sitting him in third periods because of it, but that is short term thinking. Giving Dahlin that experience in close games when the stakes are at the highest is what he needs. He will make mistakes and learn from them.

Dahlin is so gifted that he doesn’t need to play in a lesser league to develop. His skating, and puck skills are already elite. What he needs is to learn the mental parts of playing defense in the NHL on a smaller rink and against bigger, faster, and more skilled players. The only way to do that is with experience. The more he plays the sooner he will realize his potential.

I don’t hate it at all. I wouldn’t mind giving Dahlin the most minutes possible for the rest of the season. There’s no denying his skill, and the sooner he works out the kinks in his game and adjusts to what works in the NHL the better off we will be longterm.

I was actually thinking about sitting him for a game. Not because I don’t want him on the ice, but as an attempt to light a fire under him to see if it works in getting him out of his funk.

But the more I think about it, the more I feel that playing him as much as possible is the way to go. He will get better with experience and the only way he is going to learn is by playing. The more he plays, the faster his maturation hopefully.

I know Kreuger is trying to win games and is sitting him in third periods because of it, but that is short term thinking. Giving Dahlin that experience in close games when the stakes are at the highest is what he needs. He will make mistakes and learn from them.

Dahlin is so gifted that he doesn’t need to play in a lesser league to develop. His skating, and puck skills are already elite. What he needs is to learn the mental parts of playing defense in the NHL on a smaller rink and against bigger, faster, and more skilled players. The only way to do that is with experience. The more he plays the sooner he will realize his potential.
- Beethoven

I agree & disagree
While i think it’s best to at least try & pair Dahlin with Risto,
I also don’t wanna put him in a place that could crush his development
He is simply struggling too much right now to play him “Risto” minutes & situations
BUT...
play him & Risto in the most favorable of situations, and protect him a bit
At least for NOW
Step one to his development is to get his confidence back, which must be lacking
Then we can start to ask more out of them

And at the same time,
the “Risto haters” will be happy bc his minutes will be scaled down & he won’t be asked to do as much defensively
And in key situations like the PK or late in games,
we can always reunite him & McCabe for now


We don’t need to rush Dahlin though
There just isn’t a timeline for when the mental part of the game will catch up to his skills
When that happens...
then he’ll be the “Norris trophy” type guy we need
We just can’t make the mistake of asking too much soon & ruin him

The Sabres are just the remedy for the Leafs to get their season back on track
- sbroads24

Man the Leafs have been so bad. Shockingly so.

Man the Leafs have been so bad. Shockingly so.
- kingcong39

Maybe it's NOT a great idea to totally ignore your defense? Though the Sabres have ignored their forwards and are in basically the same spot, so...