Buffalo Sabres Ink Rasmus Ristolainen, Finally!

The Buffalo Sabres will have their best blueliner in time for their season opener, thank goodness!

You may breathe now Buffalo Sabres fans.

The “Will they or won’t they?” saga involving blueliner Rasmus Ristolainen has finally come to a close, and none too soon.

It’s time for Rasmus Ristolainen to start house-hunting in Buffalo. https://t.co/Jfjs5ltoaO

— NHL (@NHL) October 11, 2016

Yep: after months in which the Sabres and Ristolainen appeared to be on different pages, the two parties have agreed on a 6-year, $32.4 million contract.

Here’s what Buffalo Sabres GM Tim Murray had to say about the signing in a statement released by the team today:

Rasmus has already proven to be a pivotal player on our blue line, and we are eager to have him back with the team. This deal is a reflection of the hard work and improvement Rasmus has shown since being drafted. And we hope to see him continue on this trajectory moving forward.

Don’t you love how GMTM has to add that little note of pessimism – sorry, cautious optimism – to his statement? Jeez, man: just be happy the kid signed!

As Greg Wyshnyski pointed out over at Puck Daddy, Risto’s deal is essentially the same as what Seth Jones got when he signed a long-term contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets, and is a little bit more than what Morgan Rielly is getting paid with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Based on the HERO charts I created over at Own The Puck, it would seem like Risto got slightly overpaid, although you need to understand: I’m not complaining.

With the status of both Ryan O’Reilly and Kyle Okposo still uncertain, the Buffalo Sabres absolutely needed Rasmus Ristolainen on the ice in their season opener Thursday against the Montreal Canadiens. Better late than never, GMTM!