I don’t think Provorov, Sanheim or Myers were nearly as physically as Ristolainen. Plus, believe Ristolainen would be better served on another team. He’s on my wish list because of his physicality on the back end, where we lack. Right handed shot. Plus I think he’d be an awesome compliment to Provorov.
- SuperSchennBros

They aren't. And the point i think you're trying to make is things like winning board battles which we definitely don't do enough of. And we lose a lot behind our own net. Myers is really the only physically imposing d man we have. And he doesn't use it quite the same. Zamula is paper thin.

Honka on waivers. He can’t possibly be worse than our trio of defensemen, right?
- Striiker

Wrong .. have you seen him play? Is Dallas this world-beater of an organization with such a rich and talented system of players and prospects that they can just jettison a legitimate NHL defenseman on a whim for nothing?? I mean, no offense but this is getting sad now, we are 4 games into this season and the Flyers are 3-1, without even playing a great game yet, and some already want the Flyers to dismantle their entire system, pickup players off waivers and trade picks and assets for other players which are not even that good!

They aren't. And the point i think you're trying to make is things like winning board battles which we definitely don't do enough of. And we lose a lot behind our own net. Myers is really the only physically imposing d man we have. And he doesn't use it quite the same. Zamula is paper thin.
- Tfaehner

I agree that we do lack physicality on the backend, but I don't think Ristolainen is the answer to this problem and I can't imagine why Buffalo would want to part ways with a player they just resigned. I was thinking maybe the Flyers get Chara for this year only and hopefully Morin would be ready, but alas Chara signed elsewhere and Morin is toast as far as I am concerned. Unfortunately Chara type defenseman don't grow on trees. I like Ian Cole but he just got traded to the Wild, but a solid veteran guy like this is what we need. I think the trade deadline is the best bet, there should be someone like this available then.

I agree that we do lack physicality on the backend, but I don't think Ristolainen is the answer to this problem and I can't imagine why Buffalo would want to part ways with a player they just resigned. I was thinking maybe the Flyers get Chara for this year only and hopefully Morin would be ready, but alas Chara signed elsewhere and Morin is toast as far as I am concerned. Unfortunately Chara type defenseman don't grow on trees. I like Ian Cole but he just got traded to the Wild, but a solid veteran guy like this is what we need. I think the trade deadline is the best bet, there should be someone like this available then.
- jd250

Ristolanein wasn't just signed. He signed 6 year 30 something million in 2016. I think if there wasn't expansion looming you'd have already seen fletcher make a move to address the need for another impact defender.

Wrong .. have you seen him play? Is Dallas this world-beater of an organization with such a rich and talented system of players and prospects that they can just jettison a legitimate NHL defenseman on a whim for nothing?? I mean, no offense but this is getting sad now, we are 4 games into this season and the Flyers are 3-1, without even playing a great game yet, and some already want the Flyers to dismantle their entire system, pickup players off waivers and trade picks and assets for other players which are not even that good!
- jd250

Bill covered Dallas and suggested it on Twitter. The caveat of depending on how long myers is out which suggests he believes Honka > friedman. Nothing more. To me at least.

I think we didn't play great in the bubble and we continued that into this year. Addressing the defense which seems to be much of the problem is something everyone wants to see.

Honka would be another Ghost, Gus, all offense and scary on D, but RHD. I’m not sure that is what they need although he would be no risk at 1year, 700k, two way contract.

Ristolanein wasn't just signed. He signed 6 year 30 something million in 2016. I think if there wasn't expansion looming you'd have already seen fletcher make a move to address the need for another impact defender.
- Tfaehner

Yes, that makes sense. He can only protect 10 players and two of them have to be Giroux and Hayes because of their NMCs, so that leaves only 8 other players. I really do not want to lose a guy like Laughton, so if Fletcher has to hold onto his hand for this season I am fine with it. I think we are going to have to accept we will lose either NAK or Haag in the expansion draft, a bummer but not the end of the world.

They aren't. And the point i think you're trying to make is things like winning board battles which we definitely don't do enough of. And we lose a lot behind our own net. Myers is really the only physically imposing d man we have. And he doesn't use it quite the same. Zamula is paper thin.
- Tfaehner

The overall problem with the Flyers right now is not defending in their own zone. Although there have certainly been a number of individual coverage errors that have hurt them. The issue is that they don't have the puck enough. They aren't carrying play enough. They're defending too much. They aren't getting enough play driving and puck possession out of their top players. Look how much Eichel had the puck in the two games. Did Voracek or Giroux have the puck as much? Couturier, who is a premier play driver out is a big factor. However they need more from their offensive players if they want to be a contending team. Patrick is playing a real solid game away from the puck. Playing well physically down low in puck battles. He's not creating enough, not possessing the puck enough as a center on a scoring line. It's not all individual and team related but this is what I see that is the biggest issue so far. Individual mistakes can be cleaned up.

Wrong .. have you seen him play? Is Dallas this world-beater of an organization with such a rich and talented system of players and prospects that they can just jettison a legitimate NHL defenseman on a whim for nothing?? I mean, no offense but this is getting sad now, we are 4 games into this season and the Flyers are 3-1, without even playing a great game yet, and some already want the Flyers to dismantle their entire system, pickup players off waivers and trade picks and assets for other players which are not even that good!
- jd250

Right. The 3 defenseman in question have more than a 4 games do they not?

Who wants them to dismantle their entire system? What players have been suggested to acquire are "not" that good?

Honka would be another Ghost, Gus, all offense and scary on D, but RHD. I’m not sure that is what they need although he would be no risk at 1year, 700k, two way contract.
- Djapana

Again the bar is set low on who he or anyone else needs to replace.

Right. The 3 defenseman in question have more than a 4 games do they not?

Who wants them to dismantle their entire system? What players have been suggested to acquire are "not" that good?
- Striiker

Murphy and Honka.

Murphy and Honka.
- MJL

Murphy is 100% better than 3 mentioned. Not even debatable. Though please educate me on how that isn't the case.

I'd prefer Reijo Ruotsalainen. And he's available.

Where has Potty Trained at 21 been? Haven't heard anything ignorant from him in a while. Must be watching the inauguration and telling anyone who will listen that the revolution starts today.

Murphy is 100% better than 3 mentioned. Not even debatable. Though please educate me on how that isn't the case.
- Striiker

I didn't say that he wasn't. Murphy is better than Gustafsson and Haag. The question is how much better. Then the next question is how much does he cost to acquire? He's RH and is in a leadership position in Chicago. So the next question is why is Chicago willing to trade him? Then the next question is are you going to protect him in the expansion draft and if so, who are you prepared to lose in order to protect him? So when looking at any potential trade, there are many variables to consider.

As my interactions with you have confirmed, it is not possible to educate you.

I'd prefer Reijo Ruotsalainen. And he's available.

Where has Potty Trained at 21 been? Haven't heard anything ignorant from him in a while. Must be watching the inauguration and telling anyone who will listen that the revolution starts today.
- Levit8

How do you know he is available?

The overall problem with the Flyers right now is not defending in their own zone. Although there have certainly been a number of individual coverage errors that have hurt them. The issue is that they don't have the puck enough. They aren't carrying play enough. They're defending too much. They aren't getting enough play driving and puck possession out of their top players. Look how much Eichel had the puck in the two games. Did Voracek or Giroux have the puck as much? Couturier, who is a premier play driver out is a big factor. However they need more from their offensive players if they want to be a contending team. Patrick is playing a real solid game away from the puck. Playing well physically down low in puck battles. He's not creating enough, not possessing the puck enough as a center on a scoring line. It's not all individual and team related but this is what I see that is the biggest issue so far. Individual mistakes can be cleaned up.
- MJL

Really good points! The thing I noticed with Patrick is he seems to be focusing so much on being sound defensively that he is not hanging in there enough offensively. I am sure as the season goes along he will find that balance. Couturier had the same problem for a few years also.

I didn't say that he wasn't. Murphy is better than Gustafsson and Haag. The question is how much better. Then the next question is how much does he cost to acquire? He's RH and is in a leadership position in Chicago. So the next question is why is Chicago willing to trade him? Then the next question is are you going to protect him in the expansion draft and if so, who are you prepared to lose in order to protect him? So when looking at any potential trade, there are many variables to consider.

As my interactions with you have confirmed, it is not possible to educate you.
- MJL

You said Murphy is not that good by your response to my post. Nothing more nothing less. That is 100% false.

Still waiting on you to educate me on Fletcher not filling the Niskannen void and what it tells you.

How do you know he is available?
- MJL

Speed dial contact #7.

I didn't say that he wasn't. Murphy is better than Gustafsson and Haag. The question is how much better. Then the next question is how much does he cost to acquire? He's RH and is in a leadership position in Chicago. So the next question is why is Chicago willing to trade him? Then the next question is are you going to protect him in the expansion draft and if so, who are you prepared to lose in order to protect him? So when looking at any potential trade, there are many variables to consider.

As my interactions with you have confirmed, it is not possible to educate you.
- MJL

Too much to acquire. Too much to protect in expansion. Would absolutely love to have him post expansion draft on an expiring contract if Chicago decides to tear it down.

Flyers recall pouliot to taxi squad. Suggesting myers will miss multiple games. No official word on myers or frost though

The overall problem with the Flyers right now is not defending in their own zone. Although there have certainly been a number of individual coverage errors that have hurt them. The issue is that they don't have the puck enough. They aren't carrying play enough. They're defending too much. They aren't getting enough play driving and puck possession out of their top players. Look how much Eichel had the puck in the two games. Did Voracek or Giroux have the puck as much? Couturier, who is a premier play driver out is a big factor. However they need more from their offensive players if they want to be a contending team. Patrick is playing a real solid game away from the puck. Playing well physically down low in puck battles. He's not creating enough, not possessing the puck enough as a center on a scoring line. It's not all individual and team related but this is what I see that is the biggest issue so far. Individual mistakes can be cleaned up.
- MJL

They lose far too many puck battles in their own end, and when they do gain possession, they fail to clear via a breakout. They dump it back out and lose possession.

Right. The 3 defenseman in question have more than a 4 games do they not?

Who wants them to dismantle their entire system? What players have been suggested to acquire are "not" that good?
- Striiker

There have been other posters, just today in fact, that want Fletcher to go all in this year, so that is what I referring to. Yes the 3 Dman have more than 4 games in their careers, however this is a new season with new D partners, and in the case of Gust an entirely new system to learn, so for him its going to take some time, more than 4 games. heck a normal (wow, I wonder if we will ever see this again?) pre-season has 6 or 7 games, the Flyers haven't played a pre-season schedule yet.

There have been other posters, just today in fact, that want Fletcher to go all in this year, so that is what I referring to. Yes the 3 Dman have more than 4 games in their careers, however this is a new season with new D partners, and in the case of Gust an entirely new system to learn, so for him its going to take some time, more than 4 games. heck a normal (wow, I wonder if we will ever see this again?) pre-season has 6 or 7 games, the Flyers haven't played a pre-season schedule yet.
- jd250

If come the deadline or whenever, if the GM determines he is a top 4 defenseman away from winning a cup then he should do what he can to acquire said player. Then you plan accordingly for the fallout after said move. The goal is to win the cup I think.

New season same results. They are not going to get any better. Nothing but excuses.

You said Murphy is not that good by your response to my post. Nothing more nothing less. That is 100% false.


- Striiker

Yes, based on all the parameters and factors involved, he is not that good.

Still waiting on you to educate me on Fletcher not filling the Niskannen void and what it tells you.
- Striiker

I realize that you can't figure out the obvious.

You said Murphy is not that good by your response to my post. Nothing more nothing less. That is 100% false.


- Striiker

Yes, based on all the parameters and factors involved, he is not that good.

Still waiting on you to educate me on Fletcher not filling the Niskannen void and what it tells you.
- Striiker

I realize that you can't figure out the obvious.