spndnchz Posted October 8, 2013 Report Posted October 8, 2013 Been very unimpressed with risto so far. He has been a absolute train wreck defensively and unspectacular offensivly. Hopefully he calms down and settles in ?
drnkirishone Posted October 8, 2013 Report Posted October 8, 2013 ? your not seeing him constantly exploited on d? Cause almost every shift i have had a wtf reaction to him
SwampD Posted October 8, 2013 Report Posted October 8, 2013 your not seeing him constantly exploited on d? Cause almost every shift i have had a wtf reaction to him I'm not either. I've seen train wrecks before. He ain't one. And you know he's 18 years old, right?
nfreeman Posted October 8, 2013 Report Posted October 8, 2013 Been very unimpressed with risto so far. He has been a absolute train wreck defensively and unspectacular offensivly. Hopefully he calms down and settles in I don't agree at all (although I did skip about half of the Pittsburgh game). I think he's got the whole package and while he certainly makes some rookie mistakes, there aren't that many of them.
darksabre Posted October 8, 2013 Report Posted October 8, 2013 I don't agree at all (although I did skip about half of the Pittsburgh game). I think he's got the whole package and while he certainly makes some rookie mistakes, there aren't that many of them. +1. Ristolainen is well ahead of the curve for a defenseman.
Taro T Posted October 8, 2013 Report Posted October 8, 2013 +1. Ristolainen is well ahead of the curve for a defenseman. I expect most of the disappointment stems from wishing he'd be a bruiser. That's not his game; but it sounds like it's Zadorov's style.
qwksndmonster Posted October 8, 2013 Report Posted October 8, 2013 I'm impressed with how well he's been playing on the smaller ice. I figured he'd be running into the boards a bunch in his first month.
That Aud Smell Posted October 8, 2013 Report Posted October 8, 2013 While I wish he'd choose another number (but I looked and it appears that he wore 55 when he played back home), the 18 year-old Finn's competent blue line play has been one of the few things I've liked about the team this year. He looks like a keeper with upside.
Huckleberry Posted October 8, 2013 Report Posted October 8, 2013 Havent seen a game yet, but still it amazes me how much different opinions i read on here about our players. Guess some need to ditch the debby downer routine
MattPie Posted October 8, 2013 Report Posted October 8, 2013 Havent seen a game yet, but still it amazes me how much different opinions i read on here about our players. Guess some need to ditch the debby downer routine Cognitive Bias.
darksabre Posted October 8, 2013 Report Posted October 8, 2013 I expect most of the disappointment stems from wishing he'd be a bruiser. That's not his game; but it sounds like it's Zadorov's style. I still want Zadorov on the team right now. I think he's more than ready.
nhl2012 Posted October 8, 2013 Report Posted October 8, 2013 Could have had Sam Morin in this draft. He is hard to play against and mean. The Sabres' future hitter is obviously Zadorov. But there will be great pressure on him to be physical every game and protect the weakling crew. This is stressful for a player -- especially a young one. He should be kept away from the shy Myers. McNabe seems willing to use his stick and his fists to police his shifts. However, he is skinny, not very well balanced, and not crazy enough to be a true Dman enforcer (crease clearing bastard ala Boston's Dman -- McQuad).
Jsixspd Posted October 8, 2013 Report Posted October 8, 2013 I'll be impressed with his addition to the team when I see some good numbers. Right now he's minus 2. Until then it's all theoretical/hypothetical, although I suppose he's already ahead of Weber who is -3.
Jsixspd Posted October 8, 2013 Report Posted October 8, 2013 Additionally people are talking about him being big and a physical threat. But ESPN shows him as 6' 3" and only 201 lbs. Leino is 6' 1" and 190, so he's on the slender side like Leino. That's pretty thin for that height - he needs to put on 15-20 lbs of muscle before he's going to be a 'physical" player in this league. He's built more like a basketball player right now. For comparison, Crosby is 5' 11" and only 1 lb lighter. Right now he's another Thin Finn, like Leino.
Ghost of Dwight Drane Posted October 8, 2013 Report Posted October 8, 2013 One thing I like about him is he is confident with the puck and is not afraid to shoot. That's nice to see. He has just played very passive in his own zone on a team where 7 of 8 dmen play that style. He has a frame he can grow into, moreso than Myers...so maybe in 2 to 3 years he will play with more body....but ususally what you see is what you get in the physical department. You either like to get dirty, or you don't.
LGR4GM Posted October 8, 2013 Report Posted October 8, 2013 Could have had Sam Morin in this draft. He is hard to play against and mean. The Sabres' future hitter is obviously Zadorov. But there will be great pressure on him to be physical every game and protect the weakling crew. This is stressful for a player -- especially a young one. He should be kept away from the shy Myers. McNabe seems willing to use his stick and his fists to police his shifts. However, he is skinny, not very well balanced, and not crazy enough to be a true Dman enforcer (crease clearing bastard ala Boston's Dman -- McQuad). Zadorov has an offensive side that Morin will never have.
qwksndmonster Posted October 8, 2013 Report Posted October 8, 2013 Additionally people are talking about him being big and a physical threat. But ESPN shows him as 6' 3" and only 201 lbs. Leino is 6' 1" and 190, so he's on the slender side like Leino. That's pretty thin for that height - he needs to put on 15-20 lbs of muscle before he's going to be a 'physical" player in this league. He's built more like a basketball player right now. For comparison, Crosby is 5' 11" and only 1 lb lighter. Right now he's another Thin Finn, like Leino. Why are you going to ESPN for hockey information? The Sabres have him at 6'4 219. He's a large kid, and he's only going to get bigger. I'll be impressed with his addition to the team when I see some good numbers. Right now he's minus 2. Until then it's all theoretical/hypothetical, although I suppose he's already ahead of Weber who is -3. Are you really using +- to judge an 18 year old defender on a sucky Sabres team that has scored 2 goals in 3 games? Really?
dudacek Posted October 8, 2013 Report Posted October 8, 2013 I have consistently seen Risto described as being in the 220 range, including by Darcy. I've never seen him listed below 213. It wasn't remarked on during the game, but he knocked a guy almost into the Detroit bench, I think it was late in the second, early in the third. He also went for a big hip check another time and missed totally; I think it was an Ottawa player that embarrassed him and sped past him. There are YouTube highlights of big hits in the Finnish league. I haven't seen much nasty early either, particularly in front of the net, but the guy is 18, his career is three games old, and he has a reputation for picking his spots. I see him developing into a Matthias Ohlund type - he won't scare you with his physicality, but tough to get around and not a guy you ever mess with either.
LTS Posted October 8, 2013 Report Posted October 8, 2013 Why are you going to ESPN for hockey information? The Sabres have him at 6'4 219. He's a large kid, and he's only going to get bigger. Are you really using +- to judge an 18 year old defender on a sucky Sabres team that has scored 2 goals in 3 games? Really? I was going to respond this way.. and you said it best.
drnkirishone Posted October 8, 2013 Report Posted October 8, 2013 I do realize he is a 18 year old rookie. And i do think they are simply rookie mistakes. But i stand by my opinion that he has been very bad in his end. For someone that is the most nhl ready i expected more.
TrueBlueGED Posted October 8, 2013 Report Posted October 8, 2013 I'll be impressed with his addition to the team when I see some good numbers. Right now he's minus 2. Until then it's all theoretical/hypothetical, although I suppose he's already ahead of Weber who is -3. I'll be impressed when you stop using +/- in a vacuum to evaluate players.
Ghost of Dwight Drane Posted October 8, 2013 Report Posted October 8, 2013 I do realize he is a 18 year old rookie. And i do think they are simply rookie mistakes. But i stand by my opinion that he has been very bad in his end. For someone that is the most nhl ready i expected more. And I will say this....people can't have it BOTH ways. They can't keep coming up with the teenage excuse, then profess what great talent is in the pipeline with McCabe, McNabb, Armia, yadda yadda. If the guy is playing in the NHL, then he should have some NHL skill. If he is beating out other guys that are 3-5 years older....and you need to come up with the teenage excuse for crappy play...then don't tell me how stacked we are since guys that are older can't beat him (them) out. I'm sure this kid has a real shot at being a nice player. If we need constant excuses though, then let him play in a lesser league until he can function. I'm not there yet....but the excuse train is steaming up it's engine. I can feel the heat all the way back in the caboose.
TrueBlueGED Posted October 8, 2013 Report Posted October 8, 2013 And I will say this....people can't have it BOTH ways. They can't keep coming up with the teenage excuse, then profess what great talent is in the pipeline with McCabe, McNabb, Armia, yadda yadda. If the guy is playing in the NHL, then he should have some NHL skill. If he is beating out other guys that are 3-5 years older....and you need to come up with the teenage excuse for crappy play...then don't tell me how stacked we are since guys that are older can't beat him (them) out. I'm sure this kid has a real shot at being a nice player. If we need constant excuses though, then let him play in a lesser league until he can function. I'm not there yet....but the excuse train is steaming up it's engine. I can feel the heat all the way back in the caboose. I think you're conflating talent with maturity as a hockey player.
Randall Flagg Posted October 8, 2013 Report Posted October 8, 2013 Claude Giroux is -1. Brian Flynn is -1. throw in a second, and I see no reason for the Flyer's not to take the trade.
Jsixspd Posted October 9, 2013 Report Posted October 9, 2013 I was going to respond this way.. and you said it best. Let's see him do something on the positive side, and then I might develop a favorable opinion. I'm neutral/slightly negative because the lines he's been on have been scored against, with no positive contribution as yet. Again, all benefits to his addition remain purely speculative at this point.
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