After months of speculation it looks like Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen will be on the ice when the Sabres open up the regular season.
The Sabres announced Tuesday the team has re-signed the 21-year-old defender to a long-term extension. The deal with Ristolainen is six-years and worth $5.4 million annually.
TIM MURRAY IS SMIRKING https://t.co/3QeXNF42Pl
— Matthew Bové(@Matt_Bove) October 11, 2016
In 2015, Ristolainen finished the season with 41 points, the most among Sabres defenseman.
My take:
Rasmus Ristolainen is a good young defender and an important piece of the Sabres organization moving forward. He has shown a lot of offensive upside – but still needs to improve in his own end.
Regardless, Ristolainen is the Sabres best defenseman and has the potential and talent to eventually be considered one of the elite defenders in the league. $5.4 million for a 21-year-old player with Ristolainen’s talent is a great deal. If a player with Ristolainen’s talent hit the open market they’d easily get $8M annually.
That's a good deal for the #Sabres https://t.co/Mao08NvOdh
— Matthew Bové(@Matt_Bove) October 11, 2016
Now, the Sabres have Ristolainen during his prime – and if you ask me, in a few years the Sabres should be a very good hockey team.
