Change your mind or I'll report you lol

Just resign Barrie if you want a player like that. Or move Nylander to 1st pair RD, basically the same thing

Basically, Ristolainen is a forward playing defence!

Hes everything Tyson barries worst critics think barrie is

I'm not going to try to change anyone's mind because that seems to be pretty impossible nowadays, but I will say the Leafs biggest need seems to be defense on the right side(when I say defense I mean someone defensively responsible, not offensive) so wouldn't Risto be a bad option? Most Buffalo fans I've spoken with say he tends to lack effort in the defensive end, but can be a good offensive threat as well as a PP QB.

I'm honestly confused as to why people think he's a good option for our team. He doesn't provide much offensively and is statistically one of the worst defensemen in the league defensively. We could get a more defensive guy that brings similar offensive value for much less (guys like Weegar, McCabe, Oleksiak, etc.).

Change your mind.... Sign DeMelo for less, and then if you need cap, trade assets for futures. Leafs would be 10 times better off than this trade.

Risto will constantly beat Eichel, better send it west.

I agree with you on Risto. However, if you expect those names you mentioned to be the defensive RD that Toronto has long been seeking then you are mistaken. Not to mention at least 2 of those guys are left handed, I don't remember what side Weegar shoots.

Is he capable of filling the right side on the top line? That takes a whole different caliber of defenseman to play against top lines.

Weegar is a right shot

I know. Those aren't necessarily the guys I'd be targeting in particular. Just those kind of players.

Everything about the way the Leafs play is geared to possession and play in the O zone which Risto is relatively strong at, also size and heavy hitter also missing on that blue line which Risto also accomplishes. There has also been this fasination with finding "Rielly's" partner and I'm like Dermott is not yet a full-time 2nd pairing player but has shown growth and the tools to do so, maybe I'll aquire Muzzin's partner and possibly look to move Rielly in the 2021 offseason for a fairly substantial futures package instead - I mean I do have Sandin and Liljegren who are ready to play 3rd pair and almost certainly ready to be #5 - #3 Dmen come the 2021 season

So you haven't put forward a better player that could be aquired or meets the needs, all you did was yell out names and a type of Defense man you want who will also have fit cap structure and play 25 mins a night with experience in all situations

His effort is always there.. it’s just he’s always out of position and is careless with the puck in the defensive zone.

I understand that's the way they play, but that doesn't change there defense issues. It's obviously it can't be filled in house. There are many better options to satisfied your wants.

1.You want a heavy hitter.
2.You want a two way defenseman.
3.Toronto needs a defensively responsible partner for Rielly.


1, Heavy hitter: Sign Gudas for 1 or 2 years. Even if Lily is ready next year, it's not very logical to play 2 rookies together on the same pair even if it's the 3rd. Especially if you want to be a contender. Hence signing him for only 1 or 2 years.

2 and 3, Two way Dman: Montour. Yes he had an off year in Buffalo, but that whole team was off. He fits the bill, two way, puck moving dman with good defensive ability.

Yes these propositions are expensive, but can be done.

Reilly Montour
Muzzin Holl
Sandin Gudas

That looks like a Stanley Cup contending blueline to me!

No, Just no, Risto sucks, we dont need him

I do believe Montour to be a fine player, I do think he'll be more expensive to aquire and likely won't come in at a lower AAV than Risto - Gudas again I like but Leafs will ultimately be outbid for his services

Risto lacks effort? He leads the team in hits and is 2nd in blocked shots? Whoever said that has no idea what theyre talking about

Sabres defense were top 12 in the league

The team as a whole was off and did not play well hence why they aren't in the qualifying round. You mistake the point I am trying to make in this particular discussion. Yes I am aware of there defense while even strength.

I am aware of the hits and shot blocking, but those two things don't necessarily equate good defense, part of it though. I've had MANY Buffalo fans tell me he lacks effort in a lot of defensive areas and you are the first that has told me otherwise. I guess I'll just have to watch him myself. Doesn't change the fact that he is not the right fit for the Leafs.

If you are for this trade, with Dahlin and other players that soon need increases, do you really want to retain 2M or more for 3 years? Because that's the only way a trade with Risto is going down for the Leafs.

So his effort is not there...

i will let statistics do it

I like the kid but his style of play and his defensive woes would not fit well with Rielly who also has defensive woes at times

You specifically said Sabres fans addressed his effort. Those 2 stats address effort. Theirs a lot of people, specifically Sabres fans, that say things that make no sense. But they get enough of themselves together to repeat the same made up garbage over and over again that everyone starts to believe. Thats why 3 years on im still having to defend McCabe who has statistically been one of there better d men over that period of time, but because he has like 13 points every defaults to calling him bad, and then you call those people out stats and data and they have no answer for you