Buffalo's Ristolainen finally growing into his big shoes with the Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres boast a handful of young players who are finding their way in the NHL this season, Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart included. But aside from the young guns on offense, the Sabres are also enjoying a breakout year by 21-year-old defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen, who was one of the worst players on defense for the Sabres last season but is now one of their top blue-liners this year.
Ristolainen has received important minutes as he leads the team in average time-on-ice with a 24:48 mark -- nearly three minutes more than any other Sabre -- and he improved from a minus-32 rating last season to a minus-7 rating so far this year. Ristolainen is also making significant strides on offense, where his 29 points in 45 games (eight goals, 21 assists) rank him second on the team in scoring behind All-Star Ryan O'Reilly. Ristolainen's D-partner, Josh Gorges, told NHL.com that a team-wide improvement in play and a focus on the little things has helped Ristolainen take those steps forward so far this year.
Via NHL.com:
"This year, he's really taking control of his own game and trying to get better and using those details of stick position, feet position, when to attack, when to be patient, finding plays; all those little things has made the structure in his game," Gorges told NHL.com. "When he has that base, his skill and talent is able to do the rest of the work. When he gets those little things down, he's now able to do those things that make you go, 'Wow, he's a special player.'"
Now in his second full NHL season, Ristolainen's obvious growth is a boost to a team which is trying to rebuild as a postseason contender. Buffalo's main offseason additions came on offense and in goal, and it looks as if the team is hoping to grow on the blue line by developing players in its own system. Ristolainen and 22-year-old Jake McCabe are two of the prime candidates to play that role for Buffalo, and with McCabe still making the jump to the NHL level, Ristolainen is setting a strong example for how to make that NHL transition.
