Ristolainen Upside

[SergeP]

Is this guy a future top 10-15 dman? I'm thinking of making a big play for him in the league in my signature. Something like Maata, E. Kane and maybe a pick if I have to. Thoughts?

[RizzeeDizzee]

If you look for defensemen since 1990-91 who, like Ristolainen, had a season of 40+ points and 200+ SOG by age 21, you get four other players - Erik Karlsson, Dion Phaneuf, Alexei Zhitnik, Roman Hamrlik. The good news is all four had at least 52 points in a single season, with three of the four tallying 60+ at least once.

The bad news is I don't think he's cut from the Karlsson cloth, and after their initial success the other three ended up being leaned upon more for their defense than for scoring from the blueline. I see that Risto's fate as well.

[SergeP]

How would you compare his upside to a guy like Maatta?

[hipcheck]

Risto should be a lock @ 40 P with very solid multi cat scoring to go with it. He has a floor of 40P and ceiling @ 60P ......but that would take the team having some good luck and the power play clicking at a really solid rate. There is some youth to continue getting better in Buffalo so you would expect his 55-60P mark to be a year or two away. There is no one pushing for his spot as #1 D in Buffalo and he should get most power play time of the guys they have now.

I would place him a very solid tier above Maatta at the least!

If this is your team in the signature, then his development should match that of your top 3 forwards Eichel, Mackinon, McDavid perfectly (and Huberdeau).

[RizzeeDizzee]

How would you compare his upside to a guy like Maatta?

In fantasy, leaps and bounds above Maatta