Archives for June 2013

“In his first Ontario Hockey League season, Zadorov led all rookies with a plus-33 rating and ranked second among first-year defensemen in points (6-19–25), helping London finish first in the 2012-13 standings (50 wins, 105 points). It was the seventh time in the last 10 seasons the Knights have posted more than 100 points.”

“Zadorov made huge strides in his first season with the Knights, developing a reputation as a physical, two-way defender. He jumped up in the rush at a moment’s notice and displayed soft hands around the goal area. He can make a strong first pass and start the rush offensively. Zadorov plays a solid defensive game, underlined by a bruising and punishing physical style. He has the size, at six-foot-four and 200 pounds, that can stand to add another 30 pounds of muscle once he fills out. He’s far from a finished product, but his development is on the right track towards becoming a big-time defender.”

Zadorov is a project 2-way defenseman. He has a hard shot from the point, lays open ice hits and uses his premier size all over the ice. He’s an average skater who likes to rush the puck. (EP, 2013)

“Good pick!  Risto is exactly what the Sabres are missing in their pipeline.”

“Ristolainen, No. 4 on NHL Central Scouting’s final ranking of the top draft-eligible European skaters for the 2013 NHL Draft, doesn’t shy away from the fact he enjoys that style of play, either. But he also supplies a solid offensive element.”

“One of the best defensemen of his age group, Ristolainen was/is a top-prospect for the 2013 NHL Draft. He is a calm player with good two-way ability and a mature style of play, though his defensive awareness still needs work. Ristolainen moves the puck with confidence and though he’s not a big-time hitter, he plays the body and likes to get physical in front of the net. He also has good mobility. Ristolainen has an excellent frame and has gained a lot of strength while playing in SM-liiga. He is good with the puck and solid defensively and has also displayed ability to work the powerplay in Finland’s SM-liiga.”

“Rasmus Ristolainen is a big, powerful Finn. He plays with an edge and makes his opponents earn possession and space against him. He’s a tough character to play against and has a little nastiness to his game. Ristolainen possesses a good shot from the point.”

‘“I entered this weekend recognizing that they both are in the last year of their contracts, and I have a responsibility to see what that means both with those players and also within the marketplace,” Regier said. “Unless you’re a highly competitive team, it’s very difficult to have players on your roster whose contracts are going to expire if you either choose not to or don’t have the ability to re-up them.’

‘That can only mean Fucale, the 18-year-old who backstopped Halifax to the Memorial Cup. How curious are the Sabres about Fucale? He told The News at Friday’s draft prospects luncheon in Weehawken, N.J., that the only two teams that brought him in for private combine workouts were the Sabres and Montreal Canadiens. The Sabres haven’t spent a first-rounder on a goalie since taking Mika Norenen in 1997.’