Risto Under Ralph Krueger

[WildCard]

Well, it's early but how has he looked?

 

So far, the whole 'cut his minutes' has gone nowhere as Ristolainen is averaging 24:14 minutes/night, tops on the team by 3 minutes over McCabe

Edited October 10, 2019 by WildCard

[LTS]

I'll be curious how minutes might get distributed when Montour is back.  I think with the other pairings have young D on them it's leaning towards a bit of sheltering.  I have missed a few games.. but I'll say this.

they are competing and winning so I'm happy at the moment.

[...]

Risto looks like Risto.  I think the only thing I have seen less of from him, but not by much, is errant dump-ins.

[SwampD]

4-0-1

 

[bob_sauve28]

He's our thug! I love him! 

[LGR4GM]

3 minutes ago, ... said:

Risto looks like Risto.  I think the only thing I have seen less of from him, but not by much, is errant dump-ins.

Basically yea. 

[jsb]

3 minutes ago, ... said:

Risto looks like Risto.  I think the only thing I have seen less of from him, but not by much, is errant dump-ins. outs

FIFY...

I will say if/when they make the playoffs, they'll want a big physical Dman along with McCabe to put a little fear in the little/fast/forward group.

Edited October 10, 2019 by jsb

[WildCard]

Jeremy/Howard on WGR mentioned a few possible ideas of why he's still getting so many minutes

1) Showcasing him: they dismissed this because really he already has such a large body of work there's no need for this

2) See how he does with Krueger: load him up early and see what Krueger can do/thinks of him and see if he's worth keeping

[LGR4GM]

3 minutes ago, WildCard said:

Jeremy/Howard on WGR mentioned a few possible ideas of why he's still getting so many minutes

1) Showcasing him: they dismissed this because really he already has such a large body of work there's no need for this

2) See how he does with Krueger: load him up early and see what Krueger can do/thinks of him and see if he's worth keeping

2 makes the most sense if Krueger is the type of person we think. He wants data before he makes a decision. 

[woods-racer]

 

He's getting the minutes because no other D-man is stepping up to take them away.

 

Dahlin's play hasn't been good, if it where him and Miller would be eating up more minutes.

 

 

[Scottysabres]

He's physical from time to time, I like that.

But if you can get a top 6 RW'er with speed for him (Ehler's) you pull the trigger and don't look back imo.

 

[miles]

Would you swap him for spurgeon on Minnesota straight up. Spurgeon is an incredible defenseman. 

 

Miles ducks at eggs being tossed his way

Edited October 10, 2019 by miles

[Cascade Youth]

Was hoping for a picture.

[miles]

Just now, Cascade Youth said:

Was hoping for a picture.

Here you go

[bg17]

Every coach Risto has played for has seen fit to play him big minutes. Does Risto actually suck? 

[That Aud Smell]

He seems to be playing more within himself than in the past. I don't notice nearly as many (and sometimes no) low hockey IQ gaffes. The proverbial "he was trying to do too much" may apply.

[darksabre]

2 minutes ago, That Aud Smell said:

He seems to be playing more within himself than in the past. I don't notice nearly as many (and sometimes no) low hockey IQ gaffes. The proverbial "he was trying to do too much" may apply.

Yup. It's what I'm seeing so far. And I think it helps that McCabe just seems to be a good hockey player to pair with him. I don't know if I like Risto with anyone else on his left.

[GASabresIUFAN]

1 minute ago, bg17 said:

Every coach Risto has played for has seen fit to play him big minutes. Does Risto actually suck? 

It’s a great question. Offense is always good. He’s physical and skates very well for big man.  I know early in his career we had no one else, and despite acquisitions of Bogo, Scandella, Kulikov and others he remained the man.  Now we have Dahlin, McCabe, Miller, and Joker yet Risto is still eating big minutes.  I don’t get it either.  Maybe our lack of Montour is showing.  

He made similar mistakes last night that he always makes that resulted in two goals.  Overall he does seem defensively more sound but 3 games is a tiny sample size.  It will be interesting to see his minutes when Montour returns.  Until then I think HCRK believes Risto is our top LHD option over the defensively challenged Miller (who I don’t like) and the rookie Joker. 

When Montour returns I’d like to see Montour, Risto and Joker as our top 3 LHD.

[WildCard]

1 minute ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

Offense is always good.

Is it though? I'm curious to see what Risto's points look like now that he's not getting all of this powerplay time

[Weave]

3 coaches now.  Or is it 4?

I think the fanbase is missing something.  

[bunomatic]

 30 scouts don’t just miraculously appear at most games. They did last night. They are showcasing him. Brian Burke and Elliot Freidman said as much.

[WildCard]

Just now, bunomatic said:

 30 scouts don’t just miraculously appear at most games. They did last night. They are showcasing him. Brian Burke and Elliot Freidman said as much.

Interesting I missed that. Where'd you see/hear that?

[nfreeman]

15 minutes ago, That Aud Smell said:

He seems to be playing more within himself than in the past. I don't notice nearly as many (and sometimes no) low hockey IQ gaffes. The proverbial "he was trying to do too much" may apply.

I thought Risto committed a major gaffe on Montreal's 2nd goal -- although he was contested by a Hab, Risto didn't push hard enough to get the puck out along the wall and it ended up on Armia's stick for an easy PPG.  (Good for Armia, btw, getting 2 goals and an assist in his return to Buffalo and coming very close to a natural hattie.)

[...]

Just now, bunomatic said:

 30 scouts don’t just miraculously appear at most games. They did last night. They are showcasing him. Brian Burke and Elliot Freidman said as much.

Did they now?  Interesting.

[bunomatic]

Just now, WildCard said:

Interesting I missed that. Where'd you see/hear that?

On sportsnet with Burke and Freidman.