TORONTO – Oh, it’s for show, but for a handful of World Cup participants without a 2016-17 NHL contract, it’s also for dough.
The unsigned Rasmus Ristolainen, a top-pair defenceman of the Buffalo Sabres, believes his performance on the world stage can affect his bottom line.
“Right now I don’t have a contract,” Ristolainen said Thursday. “It doesn’t bother me, but I’m not happy about it, that it took this far, but I trust we can make the deal before the regular season starts.”
One of several restricted free agents skating at the World Cup, the Finnish blueliner said a strong showing against the world’s best players could speed up the negotiating process with Sabres general manager Tim Murray—“if I can show them what kind of player I am, that I’m going to be better than I was last year.”
The 21-year-old set a high bar in 2015-16 as a sophomore, recording nine goals and 32 assists, pacing all Sabres in ice time, and establishing himself as a power-play threat.
He’s done the same with Team Finland, seizing the role of workhorse in his country’s pre-tournament games. When it comes to D-men, only Canada’s Drew Doughty had more points than Ristolainen’s three in the tune-up contests.
Jack Eichel, 19, has been watching Finland’s games and is eager for his Sabres teammate to wrap up a contract. It’s not farfetched to imagine the two anchoring a perennial playoff team in Buffalo as No. 1 centre and No. 1 defenceman in a few years’ time.
“As someone who plays with him, you want to see him get the deal done. You want to see him at camp,” Eichel said.
“He’s a physical player. He’s tough to play against. Seeing Risto playing for Finland now, he’s leading their team in ice time.”
Running a nation’s blue line at 21? The confident Ristolainen said he had a hunch he’d be leaned on heavily by coach Lauri Marjamaki.
“That’s when I’m at my best, when I get a big role and a lot of ice time. That’s my goal here. I’m going to be a leader on the back end and a leader on the ice. I’m trying to get penalty-kill and power-play ice time,” Ristolainen said.
“All the best players are here, so you can show where you’re at against the best players.”
Fellow Finn Teuvo Teravainen says Ristolainen has been the most vocal younger member of the club’s veteran-heavy dressing room. Eichel says Risto can be “a smartass.”
But, y’know, in a good way.
“I love being around the guys, I can’t be quiet. Sometimes I should,” Ristolainen deadpans. “I’m a social person, so that’s it.”
Buffalo was the most improved club in the NHL last season. If the Sabres are to build on that upward trend, they’ll need Ristolainen in the fold, even if his defensive-zone play is still a work in progress.
Ristolainen refused to specify whether he’s seeking a short- or long-term deal from GM Tim Murray, but he did give us the ol’ playoff guarantee.
“I like it [in Buffalo]. Great people, top fans, first-class organization. I like the guys I’m playing with,” he said.
“There’s still disappointment for us. We have to bring playoff hockey back to Buffalo, and that’s what we’re going to do next year.”
