Connect with us

NHL

NHL TRADE: Buffalo Sabres To Sign 24-Year-Old Defenseman — See Huge Announcement…

Published

on

Buffalo Sabres team

BUFFALO — Rasmus Ristolainen remains in the plans of the, general manager Jason Botterill said Saturday.

“We continue to interact with ‘Risto,’ we’re continuing to try to set this team up where we’re putting Risto in positions to have success,” Botterill said. “And, yeah, he wants to win, we also want to put him in a situation where he plays very well.”

The Sabres have needs at right wing and center, and the 24-year-old defenseman has been mentioned in trade rumors as the player with the most value to fetch that help. Ristolainen this month reportedly did not commit to being with the Sabres when training camp opens.

“I cannot say anything other than the fact that on the 12th of September, I will be at one of the NHL team’s training camps,” Ristolainen said in remarks translated by the Buffalo News.

The Finland outlet MTV Sports said Ristolainen wanted to keep his conversations with the Sabres private.

“I haven’t been able to help the team win,” he said. “Recent seasons have been tough and I haven’t been able to enjoy hockey.”

Ristolainen wires home wrister

Ristolainen has averaged a little more than 24 minutes of ice time per game in his six seasons in the NHL and has not played less than that since his second season. The Sabres have finished no higher than sixth in the eight-team Atlantic Division in those seasons, and that was last season, which was their eighth straight season missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the longest active drought in the NHL.

Ristolainen, the No. 8 pick in the 2013 NHL Draft, has three years remaining a six-year contract worth $5.4 million per season he signed Oct. 11, 2016 under general manager Tim Murray.

Ralph Krueger said he spoke with Ristolainen after he was hired as Sabres coach May 15. It was a long call and the coach listened to what the defenseman had to say. With training camp a few weeks away, Krueger said he is planning for his first season in Buffalo with the mindset that Ristolainen will be there.

“I really think it’s important for me to listen when the players are talking to me, and the messages I received from him was, if I’m his coach, he’s willing to do this and that and look for the next level of Rasmus Ristolainen,” Krueger said. “That’s my job right now. He’s in our lineup, he’s on our roster, and I look forward to coaching him.”

The offseason additions of Colin Miller and Henri Jokiharju, in separate trades with the Vegas Golden Knights and Chicago Blackhawks, gives the Sabres five right-shot defensemen who could play in the NHL. Ristolainen, Brandon Montour and Zach Bogosian are the others, although Bogosian could miss the start of the season after having hip surgery in April.

“That’s what we’ve tried to do with some of the acquisitions: Add depth to our defense. Add competition to our defense but also add depth,” Botterill said. “At the end of the regular season, [we] talked a lot about forwards and having four lines that can score. But it’s the same thing from a defense standpoint. That’s why we’ve tried to add [to] our group, to ease some of the responsibility from certain players.”

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Advertisement

Recent Posts

Serena Williams dazzles on party Serena Williams dazzles on party
News8 months ago

Look at Six Serena Williams’s private photos that dazzled everyone…. looking provoking

  Serena Williams made one of the most common fashion blunders last night when she flashed her underwear when climbing...

Serena Williams walks red carpet at King Richard Premiere Serena Williams walks red carpet at King Richard Premiere
Celebrity8 months ago

For The Sake Of Sex: Serena Williams drops panties and gets people talking…

  Let’s talk about sex: More specifically Serena Williams’ sex life. The video below is Serena Williams wearing a butt-bearing...

Serena Williams who have dated her Serena Williams who have dated her
News8 months ago

Serena Williams: 14 eye-popping killer body pictures you can’t stop looking at

  Serena Williams looks incredible in a colourful swimsuit as she jumps into the water and cosies up to husband...

Serena Williams shows off her butt in a new Bikini photo Serena Williams shows off her butt in a new Bikini photo
Celebrity8 months ago

12 Serena Williams’ incredible powerhouse swimsuit pictures you can’t stop looking at

  Serena Williams looks incredible in a colourful swimsuit as she jumps into the water and cosies up to husband...

Venus Williams is pictured at wedding Venus Williams is pictured at wedding
Celebrity8 months ago

Venus Williams || Six private photos that dazzled everyone and got fans talking

  As for her biggest role models, Serena Williams says she really doesn’t have to look beyond her own mother...

Serena Williams Shreds Tennis Star Surfing Serena Williams Shreds Tennis Star Surfing
News9 months ago

Serena Williams posts Six private photos: Everyone is talking about

  Serena Williams is one of the top athletes in the world. But the Los Angeles native still likes to...

Serena Williams Soaks Up the Sun in Croatia photo Serena Williams Soaks Up the Sun in Croatia photo
News9 months ago

Serena Williams posts 8 provoking bikini pictures and got fans talking

  The 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams looks fine, sweet and sexy once she wore a bikini on holidays...

Serena Williams’ overwhelming photos everyone talks about Serena Williams’ overwhelming photos everyone talks about
Celebrity9 months ago

17 overwhelming pictures Of Serena Williams we can’t stop looking at…

  Tennis legend Serena Williams is rewarding herself with some fun in the sun following an extremely action-packed schedules in...

Venus Williams wedding pics, Venus Williams wedding pics,
News9 months ago

In Photos: Tennis Superstar Venus Williams tie Knot with Boyfriend

  Legendary athlete Venus Williams is commonly regarded as one of the best tennis players of all time. And while...

Rapper Sean Kingston talks tennis star Serena Williams Rapper Sean Kingston talks tennis star Serena Williams
News9 months ago

“Serena Williams and I had several Exhausting Marathon S*x and I still miss her s*x… “She just knows how to do it very well,” — Sean Kingston opens up

  Sean Kingston has finally revealed the truth about what really happened between him and Serena Williams having Exhausting Marathon...

Advertisement

Copyright © 2017