BUFFALO, N.Y. — Buffalo Sabres defenceman Rasmus Ristolainen says he’s happy to report for the start of training camp despite off-season suggestions he’d prefer a change of scenery.
What Ristolainen declined to say Thursday was whether he’d still be happy being in Buffalo in March following the NHL’s trade deadline. He said he intends to stay in the moment.
The sixth-year player’s future with the Sabres has been uncertain since expressing frustrations on several occasions since the end of last season, when Buffalo extended its playoff drought to eight years.
Saying he was mentally drained, he declined to say if he wanted to return when cleaning out his locker. In August, Ristolainen referred to his situation as being “open” during an interview with Finland’s MTV Sports.
Ristolainen said Thursday he was merely expressing frustration over being on a team that’s yet to finish with a winning record. He declined to say whether he’s asked to be traded.
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John Wawrow, The Associated Press