Ditto

Mmmmm boobs.

No. He isn't stupid. But he is somewhat predictable.

Yzerman built his Tampa teams on the blueprint of the Detroit teams he played on, focusing on stockpiling the league's best offensive defensemen, to generate puck movement, so that whatever forwards get called up from the AHL can succeed and chip in some offense. This seems like a risk/reward move he'd consider, in order to get better puck movement onto a very stay-at-home blue line he inherited, under the theory that even if he loses one terrific forward, he'll get enough extra offense out of his remaining top-six that it won't matter, just by having someone on the ice for 24 minutes a night who's good at breakouts and stretch passes.

What Yzerman won't do is expect Ristolainen to play a shutdown role, because that is clearly not something Ristolainen has been ready for, so far. It hasn't worked yet, and it may not work for a long time.... although Mike Green seems to be adapting to a two way game, finally, so never say never.