This is what O’Connor said about Ristolainen recently when a fan asked about pursuing him:

“ . Trust me, you don't want Rasmus Ristolainen. I agree he was good in this two-game series, but historically he's basically been a more physical Andrew MacDonald who is good on the power play. His underlying numbers are notoriously horrific in a top-pair role, and considering he has a $5.2 mil cap hit, it wouldn't make sense to acquire him just to be a 3rd pair defenseman, either.

Flyers should stay far, far away from this guy.”
- Djapana

I have a ton of respect for Charlie and consider him a friend but we disagree on this one and, in general, he weights in analytics more heavily than I do.

My take on Ristolainen: He is extremely toolsy and that has actually worked to his developmental detriment because he got rushed to the NHL on a bad team with too much responsibility too soon. I don't know if he has the greatest innate hockey sense and he may never consistently display what his talent ceiling once seemed to suggest he was capable of becoming. I wouldn't cross my fingers and hope to hit a home run with him magically turning into a franchise D-man. But I would aim for him to play about 20 mins a night within the group of D that on hand.

I get Charlie's point about Ristolainen's career analytics. He's played in a large sampling of games by this point and his splits are poor. But I'd say what it shows mainly is that he hasn't been able to rise above the caliber of the (mostly poor to mediocre) teams he's played on in Buffalo for his career before this year.

He can sometimes play at a high level. The flashes of brilliance have always been there, and it's why he can be frustrating. I wouldn't expect him to play consistently like he played in the back-to-back against the Flyers, where he was a force on both sides of the puck and played with snarl, too. If he could do that, quite frankly, he'd be untouchable in a trade especially after the Sabres lived through all the growing pains beforehand.

But as long as the trade price tag were within reason and the expectations bar was not that he'd need to routinely play like a top-pairing guy, I'd gladly take him on my team. There aren't many 26-year-old right-shot D with his size, mobility, decent offense and physicality. I'd live with the flaws because, even with them, there aren't that many D-men around with his positives.

If the cap hit aspect could be worked out, I would be quite happy to have a D with Provorov, Sanheim, Myers and Ristolainen on it right now. If you lose one of the latter three to the expansion draft or a trade, then you work around it.

for the JVR lovers

https://phillysportsnetwo...ames-van-riemsdyk-starts/

Does anyone think that Ivan Provorov has played poorly this season?

Does anyone think that Ivan Provorov has played poorly this season?
- MJL

He came close to scoring on us what, twice now.

Wouldn’t classify his play as bad due to him being our best defender still but also wouldn’t say it has been great either. Same as all have been discussing. Early in season working out the kinks. I will say I thought he played better with ghost. Being familiar and not having as much of a rotating partner. Two games with 5 d men.

I have a ton of respect for Charlie and consider him a friend but we disagree on this one and, in general, he weights in analytics more heavily than I do.

My take on Ristolainen: He is extremely toolsy and that has actually worked to his developmental detriment because he got rushed to the NHL on a bad team with too much responsibility too soon. I don't know if he has the greatest innate hockey sense and he may never consistently display what his talent ceiling once seemed to suggest he was capable of becoming. I wouldn't cross my fingers and hope to hit a home run with him magically turning into a franchise D-man. But I would aim for him to play about 20 mins a night within the group of D that on hand.

I get Charlie's point about Ristolainen's career analytics. He's played in a large sampling of games by this point and his splits are poor. But I'd say what it shows mainly is that he hasn't been able to rise above the caliber of the (mostly poor to mediocre) teams he's played on in Buffalo for his career before this year.

He can sometimes play at a high level. The flashes of brilliance have always been there, and it's why he can be frustrating. I wouldn't expect him to play consistently like he played in the back-to-back against the Flyers, where he was a force on both sides of the puck and played with snarl, too. If he could do that, quite frankly, he'd be untouchable in a trade especially after the Sabres lived through all the growing pains beforehand.

But as long as the trade price tag were within reason and the expectations bar was not that he'd need to routinely play like a top-pairing guy, I'd gladly take him on my team. There aren't many 26-year-old right-shot D with his size, mobility, decent offense and physicality. I'd live with the flaws because, even with them, there aren't that many D-men around with his positives.

If the cap hit aspect could be worked out, I would be quite happy to have a D with Provorov, Sanheim, Myers and Ristolainen on it right now. If you lose one of the latter three to the expansion draft or a trade, then you work around it.
- bmeltzer

I agree that Charlie can go overboard with the analytics but I still respect his opinions as I do yours. Thanks for your perspective Bill

This early in the season wouldn’t rush Myers back. He may feel ok but if it’s not fully healed could just fracture again or just break. No need to push yet.

Does anyone think that Ivan Provorov has played poorly this season?
- MJL

At times yes, and I wonder if that is because of 1. he is playing too many minutes and 2. he has not had a consistent D partner

you would think with JVR's success in front on the PP the Flyers could scheme plays from the high slot and work down low, quick from the point to G, or from point to goal line then back to slot for G to shoot. Devils have to game plan for JVR tonight, you would think.

At times yes, and I wonder if that is because of 1. he is playing too many minutes and 2. he has not had a consistent D partner
- jd250

He's not playing too many minutes in my opinion.

He's not playing too many minutes in my opinion.
- MJL

He is not and he is struggling, signs last game that he is coming on but he has struggled with break outs, tape to tape passing and one that really shows no training camp, he has fumbled the puck a good bit.

Whole team struggles, he is not immune, specifically when the D has the issues it has had.

I think if we are looking for potential trade partners with the Flyers for an upgrade on defense, you have to look at what teams will be looking to trade for prospects and picks at the deadline. In the Central it most likely will be the Red Wings. Would they be willing to let go of a guy like Danny DeKeyser? In the East, probably Buffalo and the Rangers. The Rangers would not trade with us, and from Buffalo we have been talking already about Ristolainen. In the West maybe the Sharks and Coyotes, from the Sharks how about getting Burns or Vlasic? From the Coyotes, how about Nicholas Hjalmarsson? In the North Edmonton and Calgary most likely. From Edmonton I always liked Darnell Nurse, and from Calgary how about Tanev or even Hanifan?

I don't mean to imply I think these are all viable options, in terms of cap and expansion draft. Just trying to identify teams that might be willing to trade defenseman and who potentially we might be interested in.

He is not and he is struggling, signs last game that he is coming on but he has struggled with break outs, tape to tape passing and one that really shows no training camp, he has fumbled the puck a good bit.

Whole team struggles, he is not immune, specifically when the D has the issues it has had.
- wcorvette

I think he has been okay. For the amount of time he has to spend defending, he has done a good job keeping the puck out of the net.

The main reason I asked is if someone like Charlie O'Conner was commenting on him from afar and had not watched him play, he would look at Provorov's "underlying" numbers and say he's playing awful.

He's not playing too many minutes in my opinion.
- MJL

Out of the 7 games the Flyers have played so far, Provorov has played more than 27 minutes in 3 games already. I know he is young and I'm sure in good shape, but this still a lot of minutes. I don't blame the Flyers for doing so given the options they have.

Out of the 7 games the Flyers have played so far, Provorov has played more than 27 minutes in 3 games already. I know he is young and I'm sure in good shape, but this still a lot of minutes. I don't blame the Flyers for doing so given the options they have.
- jd250

He is not playing too many minutes in my opinion.

He is not playing too many minutes in my opinion.
- MJL

Well guys. Nate Prosser is playing for the flyers tonight

At times yes, and I wonder if that is because of 1. he is playing too many minutes and 2. he has not had a consistent D partner
- jd250

1 isn't the issue!

Well guys. Nate Prosser is playing for the flyers tonight
- Tfaehner

I just saw this. In place of who?

Out of the 7 games the Flyers have played so far, Provorov has played more than 27 minutes in 3 games already. I know he is young and I'm sure in good shape, but this still a lot of minutes. I don't blame the Flyers for doing so given the options they have.
- jd250

Provy is 11th in the league in average toi. With several minutes more than him a game. San Jose has 3 guys over 26 a night

I just saw this. In place of who?
- Ftown19125

Id assume over friedman and gus. Since he's rhd. I mean I guess it can't be worse

Well guys. Nate Prosser is playing for the flyers tonight
- Tfaehner

Why? Is he being showcased for a trade??!

Why? Is he being showcased for a trade??!
- BroadSTmayhem

Idk russo from the athletic reported it. Haven't seen any other info about it.

I think he has been okay. For the amount of time he has to spend defending, he has done a good job keeping the puck out of the net.

The main reason I asked is if someone like Charlie O'Conner was commenting on him from afar and had not watched him play, he would look at Provorov's "underlying" numbers and say he's playing awful.
- MJL

Same reason why Tanner is the biggest buffoon on the internet. Doesn’t watch and then comments on the game due to underlying numbers , it’s ridiculous.

It appears that York is a work out freak so I think you do see him the end of the college season. I don't think that he will go next to Provy but he will bring balance to the D. He seems to be a 2 way D, calm, good skater etc. Then you have Zamula, it will be fun watching him in the A and then his off season. I think his metabolism is a lot like Sanheims, I think adding weight for his size will take some time. If all goes well that makes Braun and Hagg expendable. If all goes well then 2 years is the mark.


Provy in his prime and leader of the D
Sanheim with added weight and in his prime
Myers 3 years experience
York and Zamula with 2-3 of pro experience.

That slots well for the D and allows Ghost to play a hand picked roll
- wcorvette

Why waste a year if York’s entry level deal for a few games ? Rather wait as will need him cheap for 3 years.

For the right price, he would be a solid addition. He’s exactly the type of dman, size-and physicality-wise the Flyers sought when drafting Morin. There would be zero downside in adding Oleksiak to our d-line.
- BroadSTmayhem

He would immediately become the new whipping boy, no thank you oleskiak.

Same reason why Tanner is the biggest bafoon on the internet. Doesn’t watch and then comments on the game due to underlying numbers , it’s ridiculous.
- ClaudeFather

Analytics need to be used to match the eye test not disprove it imo. I still feel like the eye test holds more weight while analytics certainly have a complimentary purpose.