Carmel Corn

What a bunch of crap! Risto is the product of a horribly managed organization. He had NO development from year 1, which is essential. He was immediately thrown into the ring with no seasoning to the North American rink and had to be better than most everybody because he is a first rounder. The crap organization gave him little else to work with and he had to be the 'man'. He is NOT what the statistics say he is....ridiculous point.

Beagle could bring a work ethic and winning attitude to the locker room.

We already have one bad long-term contract with a former Isles player. Let's not make it a matching pair.

Big

My guess is Washington will take Veleno...they need to think about replacing the Beagle.

First, yes I would agree....Walhstrom would be awesome too, maybe for other reasons and strengths. However, I think you are missing my point. Tkachuck brings both grit and scoring that can help create more space for Jack or Casey. He has the hands to play on first or second line vs. just being a gritty 4th liner.

I would disagree on the "fast" assertion. Speed is still something he needs to work on. However, name one person on our existing roster that is not 4th line that brings an edge to his game and causes the other team's D to look over their shoulder. Who on our roster has a net front presence to "push back" vs. just take it or avoid contact. He has better hands than Wilson as a comparison. He is absolute top 5 talent in this draft in a fairly strong class....maybe not a lot of generational talent in this class, but good depth. Is there another Tkachuck further down? Maybe, but I like Brady Tkuchuck because he is naturally 'wired' to play a tough aggressive game vs. having to be taught to hopefully do so.

I would love to see this. Tkachuk may or may not have the speed to keep up with Jack, but you really need this kind of player in post season. We have too many "soft" players which may get you into the playoffs during the regular season, but not enough to prevail in post season.

I think Risto brings a couple of attributes that we need. He is still one of the more physical D-men and brings an edge to his game that our others are lacking. Second, he brings offense to support the attack. Granted his play declined last year and my own bias is that Hajt is not the right coach for him. If there is an addition by subtraction situation, I am in the camp of those who believe a reduction in his playing time will result in better quality of play on his end. We keep trading our D-men talent wishing we could do a "re-do" and get them back (ex. McNabb, Myers, maybe even Zadorov and Pysyk) with very little in return. Let's not contribute to this terrible trend and focus on "tweaks" to Risto's game that can make him indispensable.

Risto is the least of our problems and is part of the long term solution. Absolutely disagree with the idea of sending him away. Why weaken the team in an area where we need strength...makes no sense to me. This is not an addition by subtraction situation with Risto. Others, absolutely....don't let the door hit you on the way out.

Bull! It is needed in the regular season and especially in the playoffs!

Trading Risto??? Ridiculous idea, sorry!

He won't be in the lineup for sure...more likely at the surgeon's office, or Physical Therapy, or getting fit for a cast, or passing the weeks and months with strength and conditioning staff, etc.

I might be able to support Housley to December, but on the condition he changes his assistants to ones that have more credible experience coaching in the NHL. No matter what, I still blame Housley for the demise of our once respectable powerplay. He did to the Sabres last year what Rex Ryan did to the once mighty Buffalo Bills defense. I blame nobody but Housley for the PP.

Keep Risto - ridiculous to trade him. Better idea, fire Hajt and get an experienced defensive coach.

Don't forget Pommers as well. JBOT inherited a nightmare. KO may be a good guy, but his contract is our biggest liability based on how many years that are left. I would love to see a deal where it can be purged. Next season is tough because they are still in cap jail. Hopefully a buyout can happen as well

Maybe under the coaching of the 2016-2017 staff. You could have the NHL all-star team with Crosby, Ovi, Laine, etc. and they would fizzle under the powerplay coaching of the current staff.

Trading Risto? Hogwash! Aside from him and Guhle (maybe Scandella), any other current d-man is expendable. The problem with the D this year is we have two rookie coaches who tried to coach them and they were both in over their heads. Housley is not a bonafide HC and Hajt is not a credible NHL defense coach either. Risto would flourish under a coaching staff that actually knew what they were doing.

IMHO - watching this year's playoff's I have to disagree. Tkachuk is exactly the kind of player this team needs.

Any chance Kane tipped ROR's shot?

Well, some people think ROR is a "two-way" player.....guess it is true....in a sick kinda way.

Somebody should have tackled Hall and pounded him....no response...pathetic!

Wow Wee Housley is a rookie NHL head coach. He should have had the common sense to hire EXPERIENCED NHL assistants vs. the unproven ones now (ex. Hajt). I also blame him for the complete destruction of the powerplay from last year. The talent is not much different, so it has to be the scheme. Kind of reminds me how Rex Ryan destroyed a highly effective Bill's defense.

A naturally "slow" center

Worst case scenario - Middlestadt does not sign and goes into free agency (ala Vesey)