Michael Pachla: Sabres in New Jersey tonight in a battle of two struggling franchises

First!!!

I just can’t wait for this misery to end.

2 things that are a must for me this off season

Fire Housley
Trade Risto and his league leading -42. I still can’t believe that number. JFC -42!!!

I just can’t wait for this misery to end.

2 things that are a must for me this off season

Fire Housley
Trade Risto and his league leading -42. I still can’t believe that number. JFC -42!!!
- hehateme

agreed on the first part Phil must go get a coach with some emotion behind the bench, something anything other than Housley, Not trading Risto unless we get a great return...

I just can’t wait for this misery to end.

2 things that are a must for me this off season

Fire Housley
Trade Risto and his league leading -42. I still can’t believe that number. JFC -42!!!
- hehateme

talk on twitter from a couple of Edmonton guys have a link between risto and rnh

Michael Pachla: Sabres in New Jersey tonight in a battle of two struggling franchises
- Michael Pachla

5-1 devils

waits for post game interviews

talk on twitter from a couple of Edmonton guys have a link between risto and rnh
- Michael Pachla

right now, I would pass on that deal

risto is locked up for 3 more years

RNH for 2 more years

BUT....................................

If there is a lockout in 20-21 we only get him for 1 year

right now, I would pass on that deal

risto is locked up for 3 more years

RNH for 2 more years

BUT....................................

If there is a lockout in 20-21 we only get him for 1 year
- homiedclown

good thinking...what's amazing is that this is how jim matheson approached rnh possibly being traded:

"sorry but this isn't new news. Trading Nuge? There are lots of teams looking for centres but I agree you don't trade a C for a winger. You trade a C for a top pairing D which is why an RNH for Buffalo's Ristolainen scenario is out there."

agreed on the first part Phil must go get a coach with some emotion behind the bench, something anything other than Housley, Not trading Risto unless we get a great return...
- gordong

Did you see where I said he is a -42!!!

Did you see where I said he is a -42!!!
- hehateme

I thought plus/minus didn't matter in the world of advanced stats?

talk on twitter from a couple of Edmonton guys have a link between risto and rnh
- Michael Pachla

Great. I would do that deal. I really don’t think Risto is that good. Stats say it. My eyes say it, his -42 screams it and if we can get a decent center for him I say do it.

Maybe if the forwards would learn how to play a little defense or his d partner would know which side of the ice he is supposed to cover, Risto's +/- wouldn't be so bad. It seems that the majority of the goals he's on the ice for he is trying to cover 2-3 guys or someone on the opposite side of the ice is left wide open. He also has 36 less points than Eichel who is a -10. If Eichel had a 10-12 game slump like a few others he could easily be in the -20s range. Add 16 empty net goals doesn't help, nor does questionable goal tending the 2nd half of the season. On December 31st he has a -11. Just saying, the whole team was bad since the new year.

Maybe if the forwards would learn how to play a little defense or his d partner would know which side of the ice he is supposed to cover, Risto's +/- wouldn't be so bad. It seems that the majority of the goals he's on the ice for he is trying to cover 2-3 guys or someone on the opposite side of the ice is left wide open. He also has 36 less points than Eichel who is a -10. If Eichel had a 10-12 game slump like a few others he could easily be in the -20s range. Add 16 empty net goals doesn't help, nor does questionable goal tending the 2nd half of the season. On December 31st he has a -11. Just saying, the whole team was bad since the new year.
- adambuffalo

this is a good post

I’m just happy Nylander is just proving everyone wrong

Like I said his game is Meant for the NHL not the AHL

Great. I would do that deal. I really don’t think Risto is that good. Stats say it. My eyes say it, his -42 screams it and if we can get a decent center for him I say do it.
- hehateme

Risto may or may not be good for this team, but he is a tremendous asset to have, and I have no doubt that he would be highly coveted by GM's throughout the league if he were made available. We know Tampa wanted him, right? That says it all right there.

I’m just happy Nylander is just proving everyone wrong

Like I said his game is Meant for the NHL not the AHL
- gerbe75pts

as someone posted the other day, I would like nothing better than for him to prove us all wrong (even if it means giving you bragging rights )

I’m just happy Nylander is just proving everyone wrong

Like I said his game is Meant for the NHL not the AHL
- gerbe75pts

Still too small a sample to draw any lasting conclusions, but props to you for being one of the only Nylander champions I saw. I certainly had given up hope.

Maybe if the forwards would learn how to play a little defense or his d partner would know which side of the ice he is supposed to cover, Risto's +/- wouldn't be so bad. It seems that the majority of the goals he's on the ice for he is trying to cover 2-3 guys or someone on the opposite side of the ice is left wide open. He also has 36 less points than Eichel who is a -10. If Eichel had a 10-12 game slump like a few others he could easily be in the -20s range. Add 16 empty net goals doesn't help, nor does questionable goal tending the 2nd half of the season. On December 31st he has a -11. Just saying, the whole team was bad since the new year.
- adambuffalo

regarding the +/-

risto has played 420 games as a sabre

the sabres have been really bad for those 420 games

-38 goal differential this year
-81 last year
-36 the year before
-21 the year before
-113 the year before
-91 in his rookie year


he was on the ice for 33 to 45% of the time during those seasons


he was probably on the ice for 80% of the short handed goals scored against during those 6 seasons

probably 95% of those empty net goals allowed during those 6 seasons


right now, as bad as some people think risto is, the team is much worse leaning on nelson or borgen for 23 minutes a night next season

I'd move risto for the right price, but I would not move him just to move him

Risto may or may not be good for this team, but he is a tremendous asset to have, and I have no doubt that he would be highly coveted by GM's throughout the league if he were made available. We know Tampa wanted him, right? That says it all right there.
- SoCalPucks

He SUCKS. He is a -42. Look at just the last 5 games, Dahlin, Montour and Risto have all played just about the same number of mins and shift give or take a bit, Montour -1, Dahlin -3, Risto -8.

I think as a fan base we have to stop making excuses for Risto. He is not good enough to play against the other teams top lines.

regarding the +/-

risto has played 420 games as a sabre

the sabres have been really bad for those 420 games

-38 goal differential this year
-81 last year
-36 the year before
-21 the year before
-113 the year before
-91 in his rookie year


he was on the ice for 33 to 45% of the time during those seasons


he was probably on the ice for 80% of the short handed goals scored against during those 6 seasons

probably 95% of those empty net goals allowed during those 6 seasons


right now, as bad as some people think risto is, the team is much worse leaning on nelson or borgen for 23 minutes a night next season

I'd move risto for the right price, but I would not move him just to move him
- homiedclown

This.

He SUCKS. He is a -42. Look at just the last 5 games, Dahlin, Montour and Risto have all played just about the same number of mins and shift give or take a bit, Montour -1, Dahlin -3, Risto -8.

I think as a fan base we have to stop making excuses for Risto. He is not good enough to play against the other teams top lines.
- hehateme

regarding the +/-

risto has played 420 games as a sabre

the sabres have been really bad for those 420 games

-38 goal differential this year
-81 last year
-36 the year before
-21 the year before
-113 the year before
-91 in his rookie year

he was on the ice for 33 to 45% of the time during those seasons


he was probably on the ice for 80% of the short handed goals scored against during those 6 seasons

probably 95% of those empty net goals allowed during those 6 seasons

right now, as bad as some people think risto is, the team is much worse leaning on nelson or borgen for 23 minutes a night next season

I'd move risto for the right price, but I would not move him just to move him
- homiedclown

PK doesn't equate to plus minus but I get it. If we had a say, sit him down for 5 games. I am sure the Sabres will win because his -42 will go away.

talk on twitter from a couple of Edmonton guys have a link between risto and rnh
- Michael Pachla

Hmmm. I don't hate this idea, but I just can't see it being a one for one swap.

He SUCKS. He is a -42. Look at just the last 5 games, Dahlin, Montour and Risto have all played just about the same number of mins and shift give or take a bit, Montour -1, Dahlin -3, Risto -8.

I think as a fan base we have to stop making excuses for Risto. He is not good enough to play against the other teams top lines.
- hehateme

So you use the last 5 games to show he is a -8 but don't mention that the team gave up 23 goals in those 5 games. Against Pittsburgh, Washington and Tampa Bay he is a combined +3.

Edit: Eichel is also a -8 in his last 5 games and he missed the 5-0 penguins game. Reinhart is a -6, and Okposo is a +1 in the last 5.

PK doesn't equate to plus minus but I get it. If we had a say, sit him down for 5 games. I am sure the Sabres will win because his -42 will go away.
- Tragically Buffalo

if you are on the power play, and you give up a shortie, you get a minus