JohnC

This is a 14 min WGR segment with Marty Biron. The majority of the discussion dealt with our goalie situation and the struggles of Hutton. https://wgr550.radio.com/media/audio-channel/01-16-marty-biron-with-howard-and-jeremy

There are more than a few reasons why Risto's play is elevated. As he noted the forwards are playing a more defensive and responsible style of play that doesn't leave the defensemen as vulnerable. That surely has impacted his game. In addition, there is a unity of play in the defensive zone with the forwards and defensive pairings that didn't exist so much before. Another factor is that the coach has a system that allows a player to simply play with less thinking. I'm not saying the defensive system is easier to play because it is not. It is a more rigorous system in that it requires more cohesion between the pairings and forwards. An individual lapse becomes more evident to the unit. Risto has been on a team that has lost more than it has won. He has played in an organization that lacked stability with the constant churning of coaches and players. Now he is playing under a coach who has brought order and direction. When you are optimistic about your future your outlook becomes more positive. Without a doubt the organization is putting together a good defensive unit. It now needs to address some of the deficiencies on the forward line in the near future and make this a more complete team. You are being punctilious. ? I tried to emphasize that the interview he gave the day after was a different interview from the post-game interview he gave the previous day.

The below WGR link is a 9 min Krueger interview the day after yesterday's game. A segment of the interview talked about Risto and his play. https://wgr550.radio.com/articles/news/ristolainen-enjoying-his-playing-time-under-krueger?view=getnewpost

I agree with you that acquiring a top shelf receiver is a priority. Whether it is through the draft or free agency that deficiency must be addressed. I wouldn't be against using a high pick (1st or 2nd) on a receiver and also bringing in an established player from the free agent market. I would also like to add a good back either through the draft or free agency to add depth to the backfield. I would be ecstatic to get a back in maybe the third round like LSU's Edward-Helaire. As you noted this regime has worked hard to put itself in a good position to catapult itself to the next level. This organization had a plan when it took over and has systematically executed its plan. What a difference from the chaotic Ryan era!

The NY City Bill that I once knew would have gone ballistic seeing 6 DBs drafted in the first round on a mock. ? What I foresee happening is that a number of teams will be attempting to move up to get Tua. I still see him going very high in this draft.

The below link is a post-game interview of Risto. After last year's season he expressed his desire to be traded. In this 4 minute clip in an interview with Paul Hamilton he seems very happy with his play and with the team's play. Krueger has done well putting him and other players in a position to succeed. Coaching matters! https://wgr550.radio.com/media/audio-channel/01-15-rasmus-ristolainen

I thought he was flopping too much and leaving the crease exposed. There were more than a few occasions where the net was wide open with the goalie on his belly or back with the opposition in position for an easy tap in. We were fortunate that the Knights were not being able to get a stick on the puck during those glaring opportunities.

Until recently, Jack seemed determined to pass instead of shoot. It didn't matter how incapable the players were on his line were at scoring whether it was Asplund, Vesey or Girgs. Even with Olofsson on his line, who was a finisher, Jack was too fixated on assisting rather than scoring. That has recently seemed to change where he is more determined to take the bull by the horns and shoot more. The same shooting passivity that has plagued Dahlin is now changing where he is also being more aggressive in shooting the puck instead of passing it.

The below link is a BN column by Mike Harrington. The core of the article deals with Krueger being able to get his team to refocus on their own play even after tough losses. It quotes Jack saying something to the effect that even against superior teams if the team plays within itself it can compete with the better teams. https://buffalonews.com/2020/01/14/buffalo-sabres-nhl-jack-eichel-ralph-kreuger-vegas-golden-knights-news-game-score-2020/

The Sabres home record is 14-6-3. That's impressive. They have to be better on the road. I thought the Sabres played a simple and sound game against a tough and good team. The difference for us is that our PP is starting to click. Risto playing low instead of high has made a difference. With Risto playing near the crease on the PP it has opened up space for Reinhart and his quick shot. The pass from Risto to Reinhart was pretty. When our goalie plays well we usually are in the game. I thought Ullmark kept us in this game although he seemed to scramble a tad too much. Buffalo is privileged to have a player like Eichel playing for us. The Sabres have certainly had their ups and downs this season. The difference is that after their down games this team is able to rebound. It is a much more mentally tough and resilient team. What's obvious is that the HC sets the tone. The link includes a number of post-game comments from the coach and some players. https://wgr550.radio.com/media/audio-channel/1-14-ralph-krueger-post-game

What you are seeing is not what I am seeing. Based on his play he is positioning himself to earn a lucrative contract. So far he has 16 goals and 23 assists for 39 points. He is on pace to have the best year of his career.

The below link is a 17 min segment with Botterill on WGR's Shopp and the Bulldog Show. I thought the radio hosts asked the right questions but there is a limit to the candidness of the GM. https://wgr550.radio.com/media/audio-channel/1-14-jason-botterill-with-schopp-the-bulldog

What makes this injury even more frustrating is that having this surgery and adding in his post surgery rehab time it will preclude him from doing a lot of strength work which he still needs to do to become the player he needs to be. It's a shame that this surgery was delayed so long but it is understandable because I'm sure the medical staff was hoping that this surgery could have been avoided. I still have some hope that Tage and Mitts will eventually become contributing players to this roster. This roster is thin to begin with. When you have long term injuries to players such as Skinner and Olofsson it depletes an already less than potent lineup. Skinner might be ready shortly after the all-star break. Olofsson is still far away from getting back on the ice. This Paul Hamilton WGR link explains why there was a delay before surgery. https://wgr550.radio.com/articles/news/tage-thompson-has-shoulder-surgery

The fighting response by Kassian wasn't due to the hit that preceded the fight. It was an accumulation of hits between the parties that escalated to an eruption. What many reports are suggesting is that Thachuk is known to be an agitator who plays beyond the the border of what is acceptable player's code. So the arse kicking player took it upon himself to unleash his punishment. I don't like fighting in the game. I'm one of the few posters here who believe that it should be outlawed. But in this case player self-policing for questionable physicality might be the best response to maintain fairer and safer play among the players.

I didn't read your post as saying anything negative about him. And I agree with you that although he played well for us he is not in the same top tier strata as the players you compared him to.

We are both on the same wave length on this issue. Whether one likes the dueling responses coming from social media it is the way of the world, although not part of my world. To his credit Phillips played well for the Bills and was a mainstay player on the line for us. And to his credit Phillips and his teammates in general followed the recommendation of the HC of not allowing oneself to be distracted by the distractors. The culture that this regime has created has influenced him and his teammates. To a great extent the coach is selective in the type of person/player that he wants on his team. And to a large extent that selective personnel approached has worked out well.

What Phillips's performance demonstrated is that this coaching staff knew how to put a player who was released by one team and put him in a position to succeed. He's not a top 3 type of player but for us he was certainly a stalwart on the line. Getting a lineman who can give you interior pressure is a major asset. Wherever he ultimately ends up I have to give the player credit for increasing his value by his consistently good performances.

Let's wait and see on this. We don't know exactly know what the facts of the case are. I'm sure Chung will have a discussion with the league office but the outcome doesn't mean that he will be suspended.

Boasting through social media is the way of the world whether you like it or not. He is promoting himself and his claim to a big contract like almost everyone else does in his profession.

I doubt that he will because there is no case. This was a face saving response by the authorities for a questionable case.

Whether those interested parties are reading his tweets doesn't alter the reality that players promote themselves through social media. He is communicating in the same fashion as almost all of his peers are doing. I agree with you that he is not a top three interior lineman. But what did you him expect to say and do? Make a case against himself? You may be surprised that he is maximizing/exaggerating his talents now that he is a free agent but I'm not. When promoting oneself modesty usually isn't the best tactic

He's doing what most players of today do in arguing their case for a future deal through social media. He's putting up his stats as an interior pass rusher and establishing his rational why he should be paid at near the top of his position. His value to us is probably not as high as it would be to another team. More power to him.

The attached link is from a mailbag column by the BN's Lance Lysowski. He gives his opinions on questions issued by fans which are similar to the questions that we debate in this forum. Some of his views are that he doesn't believe that a major in-season trade will be made because of the cap situation. He also believes that Risto should be retained because he has elevated his game and is an important player. His response to a Colin Miller question indicates that the team has not handled him well with the constant changing in pairings and that the player has not fully adapted to Krueger's system. https://buffalonews.com/2020/01/13/buffalo-sabres-ralph-krueger-jack-eichel-jason-botterill-sam-reinhart-jeff-skinner-nhl-analysis-2020/

Speaking in general recognizing where your team is at and understanding where it is in a rebuild relates to the more important issue of being wise rather than being expedient because of one's impatience and perceived fan pressure. I believe that Pegula learned from his disastrous experience as a new owner of both of his franchises in wanting to win right away. Without a doubt the high cost player decisions that were made when he took over set this hockey franchise back. Does Pegula understand and support what our GM's strategy is in rebuilding this franchise? I believe so. It takes a lot of fortitude to endure the frustrations of going through this rigorous process. My belief is that he supports the course that has been set.

The attached link is by BN's Lance Lysowski giving a brief update on Luukonen, Pekar and Mittelstadt. Regarding Mittelstadt he simply needs to play down on the farm and forgotten about. Ultimately, he is going to demonstrate whether he has what it takes to become an effective NHL player. Although "draft and develop" sounds like a cliché there is no better way to build a winning franchise. https://buffalonews.com/2020/01/12/buffalo-sabres-rochester-americans-cincinnati-cyclones-ukko-pekka-luukkonen-echl-ahl-nhl-news-2020/?view=getnewpost