[Signing] Sabres re-sign Ristolainen (6 yrs, $5.4m AAV)

[devo22]

fantastic deal for Buffalo. Every time I see the Sabres, I'm extremely impressed by Ristolainen. Kid is going to be a star.

The fact that the Oil could have had him and took Nurse makes things just sweeter from a Flames fan perspective. Probably doesn't matter though, they surely would have ruined Risto too.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

Trouba just died a little inside. Ristolainen is a tremendous player.

Can you imagine if the Oilers actually scouted players instead of skimming TSN.ca? Who thought it was a good idea to take Darnell Nurse over Rasmus Ristolainen?

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

At the time, basically everyone.

Trevor Kidd was rated higher than Martin Brodeur in the 1990 draft. Scouting 18 year olds is hard.

Which is why the Oilers only draft well at #1 overall, and even then, their record is spotty.

[TurdFerguson]

Prior to his draft year, Risto was talked about as a potential top 3 pick. Not sure his drop in his draft year was as much about a drop in his play. More likely getting jumped by North American players that had increased viewings - but that's just my speculation.

Kid's a stud though. OEL with more edge.

[ricardodw]

Is Ristolainen better or worse than Hamilton was when we signed Hamilton?

Ristolainen (21) 6-4 207 81 games 9 goals 41 pts -21 25:17 1.7 hits/game

Hamilton (22) 6-6 210 72 games 10 goals 42 pts -3 21:10 1.5 hits/game

they seem really close stats-wise.... far bit of Ristolainsen's ice time came on the PK.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Both are really good players, signed to comparable deals. Give it a rest.

[nemanja2306]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

Is Ristolainen better or worse than Hamilton was when we signed Hamilton?

Ristolainen (21) 6-4 207 81 games 9 goals 41 pts -21 25:17 1.7 hits/game

Hamilton (22) 6-6 210 72 games 10 goals 42 pts -3 21:10 1.5 hits/game

they seem really close stats-wise.... far bit of Ristolainsen's ice time came on the PK.

What does Hamilton have to do with Risto?

[FlamesAddiction]

I just remember last year he got a hat trick and made a monster hit when he played us. Much respect.

[devo22]

both awesome young defensemen with upside signed to comparable deals. No idea what your point is but I'm not sure I even want to know.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by nemanja2306

What does Hamilton have to do with Risto?

you honestly don't see them as comparable?

I would be pretty sure that Hamilton's contract was mentioned more than once in their negotiations.

Try to find a d-man more comparable to Ristolainen than Hamilton.

[nemanja2306]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

you honestly don't see them as comparable?

I would be pretty sure that Hamilton's contract was mentioned more than once in their negotiations.

No, I see that. But nobody brought up Hamilton, so I fail to see your point.

But you've made yourself a little clearer now.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by nemanja2306

No, I see that. But nobody brought up Hamilton, so I fail to see your point.

But you've made yourself a little clearer now.

Would you trade Hamilton for Ristolainen?

[TurdFerguson]

yes without hesitation. I've been pretty big on Risto for a while though so probably some bias.

[devo22]

yes. I really like Hamilton, but Risto is awesome.

[East Coast Flame]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

Is Ristolainen better or worse than Hamilton was when we signed Hamilton?

Drink!

[nemanja2306]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

Would you trade Hamilton for Ristolainen?

No, it seems to be a pretty lateral trade to me.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

Is Ristolainen better or worse than Hamilton was when we signed Hamilton?

Ristolainen (21) 6-4 207 81 games 9 goals 41 pts -21 25:17 1.7 hits/game

Hamilton (22) 6-6 210 72 games 10 goals 42 pts -3 21:10 1.5 hits/game

they seem really close stats-wise.... far bit of Ristolainsen's ice time came on the PK.

Hamilton was 21 with the Bruins. Hamilton also had quite a bit better PPG in their short careers, but yeah they were super comparables. Offensively I think you have to go with Hamilton. Hamilton's 48 point pace would have put him second on his team behind only Bergeron's 55 points while Ristolainen had O'Reilly, Reinhart and Eichel ahead of him. But Ristolainen was a bit less sheltered than Hamilton was in his last year with the Bruins.

[FlamesAddiction]

I would do that trade as well, but it's fairly even for the most part. Risto just has so much energy.

They are both effective defensemen and worth their contracts though. If the point is to say that Risto's contract makes the Hamilton contract look bad, that is not the case. Both are on good contracts and are in the same tier of defensemen.

[ricardodw]

Ristolainen's contact stands out as reasonable in Buffalo's sea of bad contracts (Kane, Bogosian, Ennis, Moulson, Gionta) Luckily they have 2 seasons before they have to have cap space for Eichel and Sam R.

Hamilton fits in better with the Flames pay scale.

[automaton 3]

Ristolainen is a player - really good signing.

Seems like fair value for Buffalo, in particular compared to the deal Florida handed out to Ekblad.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by automaton 3

Ristolainen is a player - really good signing.

Seems like fair value for Buffalo, in particular compared to the deal Florida handed out to Ekblad.

Ekblad's extenstion will be 4 years RFA and 4 years UFA. Ristolainen is 5 years RFA, 1 year UFA.

Ekblad as a 19 year old was already better than Ristolainen has ever been. When Ristolainen was 19 he wasn't quite an NHL player, Ekblad was a number 1. Obviously growth is different, but if Ekblad improves even slightly as a 20 or 21 year old, he easily becomes the franchise player for the Panthers. At 7.5M for the next 8 years after that, that's a huge steal. Obviously the Panthers took a gamble signing the extension when Ekblad had only played 2 seasons instead of waiting for his contract to expire, but if Ekblad improves this gamble will pay off.