5.8 for 6 years sure, but not for 8.

Ristolainen is not Gaudreau kind of good yet, he has horrible defensive analytics, I know that it's not all his fault, but I think $5.8M for 8 years is realistic.

If Risto signs for a cap hit over 5 a year i'm done with GMTM and this team

It's not realistic whatsoever. He faces against top competition, and has been murdered with defensive zone starts, also goalies affect advanced stats. If Lehner knew how to control the pucks, Risto's advanced stats would improve.

Goalies effect advanced stats.... That's new and funny.

Also compared to the other sabres he doesn't make the players he's on the ice with better. Tanev deals with the same **** and has good numbers and improves teammates. Most signes point to him needing to be sheltered to have good shot metrix. But people you know.

You don't think $5.5M would be great for 8 years?

Lehner will be better this year, but it still doesn't mean that GMTM should overpay for Ristolainen when he don't have to. I say trade for Fowler, and get Ristolainen signed for $4.5-6M and we make playoffs.

I think that would be terrible. I hate long contracts to begin with, and his stats have not earned him 5.5. If he doesnt get better, or worse, starts getting hurt, thats more dead weight on the cap after years of trying to clear the dead weight. Same reason I think the Okposo signing was awful. 6 year 30 mill would be the most I would offer him, even the 6 years suck but idk if they can get away with less.

when Eichel and Reinhart need new deals you don't want them signed for 8 years?

Goalies absolutely have an effect on advanced stats. Goalies with great puck handling, puck moving, puck freezing, etc. skills naturally help the defense and forward with breakout and preventing dangerous chances. Goalies who stop the initial shot are again also good at enhancing players advanced stats. Granted advanced stats have minimal effect on goalies shoulders, they absolutely affect it, and it's a lot more underrated than people think. People think goalies have no control in shot quality, adjusted save percentage, expected save percentage, etc. They absolutely do. Goaltending positioning affecs adjusted and expected save percentage, initial shot quality doesn't have much to do with goalies, but secondary chances a lot of times do.

Brodeur, Rinne, Holtby, Bishop, etc. faced very little shots yes because they do have excellent defense, but also because they help their players out. Rinne this year however fell off a cliff in actually stopping the puck, especially secondary chances, despite his still excellent puck skills. On the other end of the spectrum goalies like Crawford, Halak, and Elliott make it more difficult for their team's defense with their play, however at least they play very well under secondary chances, especially Crawford. And then there's Pavelec who sucks at puck control and actually stopping the puck...