What do you expect from: #25 Arttu Ruotsalainen?

[dudacek]

Small and undrafted, Ruotsalainen has done a pretty good job so far of crafting his career into one of those great underdog stories

He scored one point in 34 games as a 19-year-old in SM-liiga, the Finnish elite league. Two years later, his improved play earned him a free agent contract with the Sabres. Two years after that he was in the NHL.

Short and not particularly fast, Ruotsalainen is a competitive fireplug who combines hockey sense and body positioning to overcome those shortcomings and spices up the mix with a deadly shot. The Sabres have moved him back to his usual centre position this year after he broke in last year as a winger.

https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=186152

The pandemic season went about as well as could have been expected for R2. He spent the early part leading the Finnish league in scoring, transferred to Rochester where he put up a point per game as a rookie in the 2nd best league in North America, and finished it with a regular shift on the big club in Buffalo.

What do you expect from Ruotsalainen this season?

[PASabreFan]

I'll be annoyed by Rick's pronunciation. And Dan's inevitable R2D2. "IN FRONT! R2D2. And the Sabres are within striking distance at 4-1!"

[GASabresIUFAN]

Unless a miracle occurs and Jack is traded before the season and we get a proven center in return, R2 will center our 3rd line, get PP time and surprise with a 35-40 pt season.

[Buffalonill]

4 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

Unless a miracle occurs and Jack is traded before the season and we get a proven center in return, R2 will center our 3rd line, get PP time and surprise with a 35-40 pt season.

Where's girgensons the 4th line ? 

[Doohickie]

37 goals.  I'll accept nothing less.

3 minutes ago, Buffalonill said:

Where's girgensons the 4th line ?

1st line. 

 

 

 

 

😉

 

[Buffalonill]

6 minutes ago, Doohickie said:

37 goals.  I'll accept nothing less.

1st line. 

 

 

 

 

😉

 

He is the best option to be honest

[bob_sauve28]

Sniper 

[GASabresIUFAN]

21 minutes ago, Buffalonill said:

Where's girgensons the 4th line ? 

Yep.  Where he belongs.  😁

I wouldn’t read to much into the line numbers.  DG is going to match up lines as best he can.

[nfreeman]

I think he has a chance to lead them in scoring, but unfortunately that’s because the competition for that honor won’t be too daunting.

I do really like the story though, and I think he has excellent offensive hockey IQ, a tough fire hydrant frame and a good shot, and is a pretty decent passer too.

I expect him to be a solid contributor with upside for more.  

[Digger]

I see him having regular minutes and sharing a center spot with Asplund.  The line combo that I would like to see with him is Asplund, Ruotsalainen, Olofsson to see if they could develop some chemistry and perhaps a few 5 on 5 goals.  

[Weave]

JAG

[dudacek]

Many of you have said it: somebody is going to have to step up into that hole and produce some offence for Buffalo.

R2 is at the right stage of his development and has the right skillset to be my best bet to capitalize.

I can't pick him as our leading scorer, but I think he will be one of them.

[Curt]

I think he has a legitimate chance to be Buffalo’s best forward this season.

I think he is the favorite to lead the team in ES goal scoring.

I think he has a good chance to be decent middle 6 forward for 5+ years.

[JohnC]

4 hours ago, Weave said:

JAG

I don't see him as a top two line player but I see him being a good third or even fourth line player who can contribute. Don't knock the importance of those lower line players. For the past number of years our lower lines have contributed little offensively. Getting something from those lower lines helps out. 

[Andrew Amerk]

I’m going with option 1. He has steadily progressed every season, and there are no signs pointing to that stopping this season. 

He will potentially be a threat to lead the Sabres in scoring, largely because of who his competition will be. 

He should finish 5th behind Skinner, Dahlin, Cozens, and Olof, but you never know.

[Pimlach]

A small JAG.