Quoting: Jdfitz77
I don’t think we’d have to give up Risto to get him
I think they’d be happy just to get the contract off the books
So maybe just a pick/prospect?
What pick or prospect did you have in mind.
I like Ristolainen, IMO we have not seen the best of him.
In 15 years will he be our Zdeno Chara?
I never heard him say, I lost my love of the game and I am excited about playing in Europe. If he ever said that, I would trade him for a bucket of pucks.
The entire year could be boiled down to the team's performance after the TDL. We get our physical forward and a talented young forward and the team loses 6 in a row. Goes from being in the hunt for the last playoff spot to being out of the preliminaries.
Quoting: SalamiCheese
It all depends on how you value Risto and how you feel about Henrique.
My opinion:
Risto - I think he has outlived himself in Buffalo, it's time to move on, he already wants to leave Buffalo. We must build a defense around Dahlin and Jokiharju. Yes, he is physical, he can consistently gain his 35-40 points, but he is also not the best guy in defense, and another question is who we want to protect in the expansion draft besides Dahlin and Jokiharju.
Henrique - I think that this is not the best option for the role of 2C, but not the worst. The only thing that bothers me is his contract, on the other hand he is a fairly stable player and you know what to expect from him, he is not traumatic, he will always gain his 40-50 points, he can be a good mentor for such a young center as Cozens, and then to fall on the role of 3C. How it will grow old is unknown, but I would not mind this deal, we have been choosing options for all these centers for too long and have been sitting without them for two years, so this would not be the worst option for me. This is the usual hockey trade.
I completely respect your point of view and appreciate your explanation.
NP I do not want to get into a huge dog fight here.
TBH, I am happy when I hear a player say, I hate losing it is time to win, that does not mean "Trade Me".
Yes, I value Ristolainen higher than most. He is only 25, he hits, he is big, he is improving, he wants to win, he plays hard, he scores pts, he has top minutes for four different head coaches and I never remember him being benched for not playing well.
I think Henrique on this team would be great. But will he be getting $5,825,000 the last 2 or 3 years of his contract playing 3rd line center as Cozens take over the 2nd line chores?
Burns and Chara were 29 when he got their 3rd 40 pts season.
BTW, yes I watched Chara early in his career and he was worse than Ristolainen, so I think Rasmus has that much potential.
That may also be a hint on where I think Dahlin will be in two years.
So my bottom line, I would not trade Ristolainen for less than a good 2nd line forward and a good draft pick, Henrique and 38th over all.
As to the expansion draft protect Dahlin, Jokiharju and Ristolainen then let Seattle pick their poison.
Losing a good player in the draft is a good sign not bad.