2019/2020 Trade Speculation and Rumors 2.0

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Really embarrassing story

go on

[dammage79]

Snow and Pringle basically advanced stat buried the Ristolainen deal.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Yeah. Shame that he totally sucks though.

His advanced stats aren’t great but I’m not actually sure it’s fair to say he totally sucks.

One thing that advanced stats haven’t fully been able to adjust for is d-men playing big minutes on bad teams, and guys that are playing above their heads on bad teams. Ristolainen fits both of those criteria.

He’s not suited to be playing 24 minutes a night against top lines in a shutdown role but I feel like he could be much better in a second pairing role where he’s a bit more sheltered.

I wouldn’t give up anything of value for him, but if Buffalo is looking at him as a cap dump then I do think he’s a guy that could look better in a different situation/role. I could see him meshing well with fellow Finn Valimaki to be honest.

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Really embarrassing story

Not embarrassing at all.

It’s good to have a GM that actually trusts and listens to what his support team and analytics staff has to say.

[Roof-Daddy]

I know the advanced stats take a dump on Risto amd I know the Burke story about the Flames turfing any deal for him, but other than that there is a lot to like about him. He's big, he's physical, he skates well, he's young, he puts up points.

[ComixZone]

Risto led all defencemen in hits in the 2019/2020 season.

So...there’s that.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

He's big, he's physical, he skates well, he's young, he puts up points.

Sounds like you could be a GM

[Sandman]

Risto passes the eye test with flying colors much of the time, but not the fancy stat test. It's hard to say no to a player with the above qualities.

[Ashasx]

Risto certainly does not pass the eye test.

[bax]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

Risto led all defencemen in hits in the 2019/2020 season.

So...there’s that.

Means he rarely has the puck?

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Risto passes the eye test with flying colors much of the time, but not the fancy stat test. It's hard to say no to a player with the above qualities.

really? Not with me. He is regularly lost in his own zone.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

really? Not with me. He is regularly lost in his own zone.

That's why I used the term "much of the time". Like it was said a few posts ago, he's big, physical, can skate, is young, and puts up points. I've pointed out his shortcomings more than a few times on this board-don't worry, I'm not a fan.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Really embarrassing story

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Sounds like you could be a GM

[Saqe]

How many of you saying Risto sucks have actually watched Buffalo and Ristolainen with any regularity?

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by bax

Means he rarely has the puck?

Ah the old Russel Circumstance.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Sounds like you could be a GM

Sounds like you could use a break.

[Flash Walken]

You ever go to a work function or a dinner party and someone tells a story in which they think it makes them look good but you're struck with how it actually makes them look bad?

So the story as Burke tells it is that the Flames, at the time that means he and Treliving, are several calls deep into inquiring about Ristoleinen. Several calls deep of course means that this deal actually has traction.

So they loop in their analytics guy.

So right there, Burke is trying to make snow look good but is actually telling a couple of really interesting pieces about the Flames management workflow:

1) The Flames don't loop in their analytics staff from the start (bad)
2) The Flames are using the eye-test from senior management to on-board acquisitions (not great)

Ok, so they loop in snow who tells them they would be 'crazy' to trade for this player.

Ok, so the senior management of the team has their sights on a player, they like this player enough that they've gotten several calls deep about him. Presumably, they have watched this player and maybe even had scouts look at him as well. The cumulative management expertise of this team has them pursuing a player that their analytics guy says they would be 'crazy' to trade for.

So, not great.

The Flames are then so persuaded by Snow, Burke calls him a genius, that they immediately nix the trade.

So if Snow's opinion is so valuable, why didn't the Flames come to him immediately? If you've got a guy this talented in the organization, why are senior managers using the eye test to onboard trade discussions at all, why isn't Snow onboarding the trade discussions to them?

Anyway, just one of those things. Probably 10% true because it's a story from Burke on national TV, but if it is true or mostly true explains some of the talent evaluations that have happened during the last several years. Maybe the Flames understand how to use snow's abilities better now but I don't think that story is flattering to the Flames as Burke thought it was going to be when he told it.

[mrdonkey]

Taking the quality of the player out of the equation entirely, does it concern anyone else that once again this team is being tied to high priced defensemen?

[browna]

Nm

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by mrdonkey

Taking the quality of the player out of the equation entirely, does it concern anyone else that once again this team is being tied to high priced defensemen?

Not really.

Unless they commit to being bad, they are going to need to added at least 2 defenders in the ~4 million dollar range.

If you can add one guy at 8.25 and another guy at 900k you're within your budget.

If murray edwards wants to throw his wallet around, buying up high priced defenders might actually be the cheapest way to fill out the roster.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

You ever go to a work function or a dinner party and someone tells a story in which they think it makes them look good but you're struck with how it actually makes them look bad?...

If there is anyone who knows anything about making up stories, it's FW.

Holy Crap. So much supposition. I suspect that had Burke's anecdote been about any other NHL team, he would not have been nearly so interested in fabricating such a colourful narrative. What's embarrassing are the elaborations to which he extends in order to bolster his own ideas about how the Flames are the worst franchise in the history of the NHL.