10 Jul 2019 19:10:20
Tor:Nylander,Lilijegreen

Buff:Ristolainen


1.) 10 Jul 2019
10 Jul 2019 20:18:45
Thats a nope from da Leafs.


2.) 10 Jul 2019
10 Jul 2019 21:55:57
Leafs would not be adding In a Ristolainen/ Nylander swap.


3.) 11 Jul 2019
11 Jul 2019 03:30:17
Ya they would. Risto had more points then Nylander as a defensemen last year and could possibly next year as well. he's also solid defensively and would make the Leafs defence one of the best in the nhl.


4.) 11 Jul 2019
11 Jul 2019 06:42:20
Nylander only played half a season. And Risto is not solid defensively, he might be one of the worst defensively on Buffalo. I know they aren’t a good team but I maintain from a defensive standpoint I’m not sure he isn’t part of the problem, top pair offensively 3rd pair defensively. Just because someone plays bad defence on a bad team doesn’t mean moving him to second pair on a good team is going to make him above average defensively, he will still be a defensive liability fewer minutes just means it’ll be less of an impact and easier to help hide.


5.) 11 Jul 2019
11 Jul 2019 07:26:21
Not totally true jbs Jeff petry was much better defensively on the 2nd pair then when he was filling in for Webber on the top pair. Jordie Benn was awful when he played against the other teams top line but was really good as a 3rd pair. that's two times i saw it happen first hand just this season. Mike komiserek was useless without Markov Eric weinrich was a real good defensive defenseman until the habs forced him to be a number one then he looked awful. Now risto isn't the top tier dman manta is saying he is but he's still good. Players can be better depending on the situation they are in defensive assignments defenseman partners systems etc. The skill set is there for risto to succeed he was just rushed into a role he wasn't ready for and didn't have a partner to guide him along like mcdonagh muzzin etc he can easily reach that level in the right situation.


6.) 11 Jul 2019
11 Jul 2019 13:22:50
i disagree Habby. Whether Petry is on the first or second pair he is the same player. He isn’t any better defensively, he is just playing against lower competition. Playing in a role you’re ready or suited for doesn’t make you a better player it just optimizes your skill set. Risto playing with a McDonagh doesn’t make him a better defensive player, it allows him to excel offensively while hiding his defensive shortcomings. There’s a difference between being better and being more effective. Ristolainen would be extremely effective as a 3rd pair D man leading the PP. That doesn’t mean in that role he’s any better than he is today, he’s just utilized differently to play on his strengths and hide his weaknesses. Obviously guidance from a solid stay at home D could help him develop that side of his game, but I don’t see taking responsibility away from someone as making them a better player, just gives them a role they are better suited for.


7.) 11 Jul 2019
11 Jul 2019 13:35:37
Well Risto làcks hockey sense and speed so
That takes away from his skill set.


8.) 11 Jul 2019
11 Jul 2019 15:28:19
Risto. lacks more than just hockey sense. He lacks common sense. Some of those mistakes he makes leads me to believe he is uncoachabke.


9.) 11 Jul 2019
11 Jul 2019 16:07:04
Well mcdonagh for example when he came into the league wasn't that great either till he got paired with Dan girardi does that mean he wasn't good? No it means when he was put in the right situation to best display his abilities he developed into a real good player. Now you may not think he is so good considering he blocked like 40 more shots then Risto this year which means he didn't have the puck a lot lol. it's the same thing for a forward when they have a breakout season after 3 or 4 years of underachieving like mackinnon for example a lot of people said he was a bust his first four years . knowing what we know now does this mean he was a bad player then and just magically got good?


10.) 11 Jul 2019
11 Jul 2019 16:18:54
Also all dmen have shortcomings some are less effective against bigger more physical players and others against faster skaters for instance only a handful of dmen in the league are elite against all forms of competition. It's up to their partner and the coaching staff to help keep them in the area they are best at. If a defenseman was great no matter what you wouldn't see any difference in their production depending on who they play with or against. But for the most part you do.


11.) 11 Jul 2019
11 Jul 2019 17:10:22
I’m not arguing any of the Habby. What I’m saying and will continue to say is Petry was NOT a better player when he played on second pair as opposed to top pair covering for Webber last year. McDonagh developed with Girardi but he was not a better player because he was on a pair with Girardi. Playing with another player can help cover weaknesses and allow you to play more on strengths like I have stated. MacKinnon making great plays his teammates don’t finish to making the same plays and his teammates finishing help Macs stats but did many make him a better player. Chemistry helps effectiveness but not talent, why is that so hard to understand. Kucherov doesn’t get a more accurate or powerful shot because he’s playing with Stamkos or Point. He isn’t able to deke better. He’ll put up more points and be more effective because of the talent around him but it doesn’t make him a better player. Same with Risto, Petry, McDonagh. Playing a role you’re suited for with better players/ against worse makes you more effective but not a better player. I’m not a better player in a rec league than I would be in the NHL, I’m the same player just more effective against other scrubs.


12.) 11 Jul 2019
11 Jul 2019 18:48:43
Of course he doesn't instantly become better but your leaving out the fact that players can improve. Mcdonagh is better today cause he had a good steady partner through the years he leaned the most of his career. Some people like Risto didn't get that oppuntunity, not yet anyway. When nhl teams are scouting they look at skill set first and foremost not whether a player spent a little more time in his own zone. Analytics can help in certain areas but they don't mean close to everything especially when it comes to defence.


13.) 11 Jul 2019
11 Jul 2019 18:55:11
Karlsson is an analytic darling so was subban but I wouldn't call either great defensively. Having the puck on your stick makes it easier and looks better on the analytic eye test but if your prone to giveaways at bad times, if your not clearing the crease, if your not blocking shots, if your not dishing out hits and playing physical (especially playoff time) and if your not keeping the other team honest in your end of the rink then your not playing defence anyway. Risto is well above average in 4 of those 5 categories plus he's good for 40 plus points a year I'd call that pretty good.


14.) 11 Jul 2019
11 Jul 2019 19:02:31
There are 5 other teammates on the ice with you at most times any of them can make the rest look bad with bad coverage. When Buffalo is getting out classed almost every shift its only logical to think the guy playing the most against the tougher competition is going to look the worse.


15.) 11 Jul 2019
11 Jul 2019 19:35:38
Your right jbs32, not every D is Drew Doughty. Playing him more sheltered minutes doesn’t magically make him Doughty. But that’s not the expectations. He’ll continue to put up 40+ points and be less of a defensive liability playing on the 2nd pair and peoples view of him will change. His fancy analytics will improve then everyone will think he magically become Doughty though.


16.) 11 Jul 2019
11 Jul 2019 20:37:34
I’m not failing to take into account that players can improve, I’m saying that you don’t improve as a player by being put on a different line or being given different responsibilities. Analytics aren’t bad, most people just misuse them and then go all old man yells at cloud about them. Defense is about keeping the puck out of your own net right? Analytics doesn’t have an eye test, that’s the traditional way of looking at Defense and the two work best when used together. There is value in blocking shots sure, but would you rather have the guy giving up 100 shots and blocking 5 or the guy spending more time in the other end giving up 50 shots and blocking 3? I think the view of what Defense is is part of the problem here, Defence isn’t just hits and blocked shots it’s puck retrieval, zone exits and preventing zone entries. Analytics looks at these while traditional stats don’t, and they are things often missed with the eye test because they are small boring things. The Athletic actually just posted an article today about Ristolainen speaking both to how he’s miscast but he was bad even by Buffalo D standards last season, and does not excel defensively, or offensively 5 on 5 his value is really on the PP.


17.) 12 Jul 2019
12 Jul 2019 00:04:51
So how do players improve? Also if you switch bogosian or scandella with Risto and they play his minutes over the course of a season and face his competition and he plays their minutes could you see where there is a chance the analytic numbers might flip flop a little? Or a lot for that matter.