HaNotsri
Regstred User
- Dec 29, 2013
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Murray actively dismantled our d.Murray didn't address D
Botterill failed.
We didn't have anyone to take those minutes
Botts had a rhd hoarding problem.
Murray actively dismantled our d.Murray didn't address D
Botterill failed.
We didn't have anyone to take those minutes
yes, risto was a bust. On paper he is what you want but it takes time for D to develop. you could blame how he was brought up in the org.I’m watching Reinhart this morning, and can’t help but think how so many of our former core has gone on to have amazing success. ROR and Eichel obviously, but also Lehner and Ullmark, complimentary guys like Kane, Montour, Rodriguez, Kulikov, etc. How did it not work out here? And it hit me - the entire time these guys played here, we judged Rasmus Ristolainin to be a 25 minute, all situations, no. 1 workhorse. Nobody played more hockey than him. And it turns out, he’s a complete disaster, here or anywhere else. A possession black hole. It honestly makes me think that this one misjudgment is what brought down the entire house of cards. How did we get it so wrong with him?
And I just want to clarify, this isn’t just a Ristolainin thread, this is my thesis for why the old core didn’t succeed here.
View attachment 856748
This is the organization asset chart at the time Murray was fired. They were ok on draft capital, but dead in the water on forward depth, forward roles, all things defense, and sketchy at best on goaltending due to Lehner's well-documented issues.
Their best forward prospect was Alex Nylander, a bust.
Their best defense prospect was Brendan Guhle, a bust who retired at 25.
yes, risto was a bust. On paper he is what you want but it takes time for D to develop. you could blame how he was brought up in the org.
hw seems to be the one you blame
The problem was TM.
for the 15/16 teams. you have some young players from recent drafts in 2012-2015, but there was the players from 2005-2011? You had your acquired players of Lehner, ROR, and Kane, Ennis ,Foligno was still around. Many of them were traded to acquire those players
2012-2015 Girgs, Risto, reinhart, Eichel, Ullmark ,prospects
you look at today with 2024/25 team
you have players from 21-24 draft--Power, Rosen, Benson, Kulich, Ostlund, savoie, other prospects
what do they have from 2015-2020 draft--
Eichel--Greenway, Tuch, Krebs
Reinhart--Levi (drafted in 2020)
Mitts--Byram
acquired Tage*
Nylander--Joker
drafted---Sam, Dahlin, Bryson, RyJo* Cozens, JPP, Quinn, UPL, Rousek
*--acquired through trading of ROR, Lehner, Kane
they appear to have more on he team now than the 15/16 team
This sabres club is better off that the post Eichel tank because there was more in the system prior to that new GM
Those teams sucked because they were poorly constructed and horribly coached. Risto’s usage was a symptom of both.I’m watching Reinhart this morning, and can’t help but think how so many of our former core has gone on to have amazing success. ROR and Eichel obviously, but also Lehner and Ullmark, complimentary guys like Kane, Montour, Rodriguez, Kulikov, etc. How did it not work out here? And it hit me - the entire time these guys played here, we judged Rasmus Ristolainin to be a 25 minute, all situations, no. 1 workhorse. Nobody played more hockey than him. And it turns out, he’s a complete disaster, here or anywhere else. A possession black hole. It honestly makes me think that this one misjudgment is what brought down the entire house of cards. How did we get it so wrong with him?
the 05-07 clubsBriere and Drury at least arrived with holdovers from the cup run, a previous winning group.
ROR may have had the Briere quality of embracing BUF (I'm dubious, we didn't get enough time to know), but Bogosian and Kane sure as shit didn't.
Murray tried to fast track the rebuild and Risto was one of the biggest victims.Rasmus Ristolainen, the prospect, was incredible. Big, right shot, growing two way game with offensive flair (see: gold medal wjc winner).
To me, he'll always be the story of the greatest era of Sabres non-development ever. He went to the NHL too soon (that entire 2012-2015 group did). Furthermore, too many awful coaches (Rolston, Nolan, Bylsma, Housley, Krueger).
With hindsight, they shouldn't have tanked in 2014-2015, BUT if you make them do it again, no prospect they mattered (like Risto, Zadorov, Girgensons, Reinhart, etc) should've been in the NHL. EVERYONE should've been in Rochester. Look today. Kulich in 2014 would already be in the top 6.
(Sidebar: You can hate Adams all you want. He's nailed fixing the part that doomed Risto.)
Defense is much better today. More depth at forward coming this summer, probably better goaltending and a coach that at least knows his elbow from his left toe. The forward star power may not be as strong as some of those seasons but might be.Rasmus Ristolainen, the prospect, was incredible. Big, right shot, growing two way game with offensive flair (see: gold medal wjc winner).
To me, he'll always be the story of the greatest era of Sabres non-development ever. He went to the NHL too soon (that entire 2012-2015 group did). Furthermore, too many awful coaches (Rolston, Nolan, Bylsma, Housley, Krueger).
With hindsight, they shouldn't have tanked in 2014-2015, BUT if you make them do it again, no prospect they mattered (like Risto, Zadorov, Girgensons, Reinhart, etc) should've been in the NHL. EVERYONE should've been in Rochester. Look today. Kulich in 2014 would already be in the top 6.
(Sidebar: You can hate Adams all you want. He's nailed fixing the part that doomed Risto.)
Instead of 'drafting and developing' we run 'drafting and divesting'
It's odd the complete 'purge' of previous eras. Tim Murray emptied the Regier era war chest to get O'Reilly. Kane, and Lehner. That left us with Reinhart, Eichel, and Risto. Botterill sent off Lehner, Kane, O'Reilly, added Mittelstadt, Dahlin, Thompson, Skinner, Samuelsson, UPL. Adams sent off Eichel, Reinhart, Risto, and now Mittelstadt, and added Power, Byram, Quinn, Peterka, Tuch, and Levi.
Every time we transition GMs it seems to set us back a few seasons, until we are suddenly starting at our 4th rebuild and 13 years no playoffs.
He failed because no one moved him to RW
Some day I will be vindicated
Eh, teams roll over pretty fast. There are what, 12?, guys from the Avs 2022 Cup team still in Colorado and it hasn't even been two years yet. Teams change. Tampa from 2021 has 10 and that's including Daniel Walcott's single game this year.