I've been intrigued by Ristolainen, and if he plays the left side very often, so I've been watching videos of games with him recently, and the same thought comes to mind over and over, what the hell is he doing?? Why is he doing the same idiotic risk over and over?
He keeps pinching in about 1/3 way into the offence zone along the boards, to block the puck from exiting the zone, but there's an opposing player there as well, and at least one other behind him. It looks like he's trying to make a hit and block at the same time. Even if it works, it's a very risky move, and I kept seeing it against different teams, each time like he's trying to make a hit, and letting the puck get behind him.
This is a play that's done countless times a game, shooting the puck around the boards to get it out.
Watch these, pause them at 31 seconds in and 30 seconds in
https://youtu.be/zuL7X6sabwQ?t=22
https://youtu.be/fFSaKBMoMBQ?t=30
Or chasing forwards away from the goal in his own zone, getting drawn out.
He has real defensive issues. I've read up on Ristolainen, and the comments are just, defensive issues, without specifics. Difficulties exiting the zone with the puck has been the only specific issue I've read.
His coach needs to sit his ass down and tell him, do that again, and next time you do it, you sit, and each time you do it, you sit. If you don't want to play smart, then you don't play.