Yes!

Finally with some sense. Draft pics aren’t as valuable as everyone is making them out to be. 1st rounders seem to bring NHL regulars, but that’s it. Not stars. And you can still get a NHL regular all the way to undrafted players, and still find some stars all the way through the draft.

Everyone needs to focus on the fact: this team is better. Stop complaining about every move. This Risto move was a heavy price but he is EXACTLY the kind of player they needed. Physical. Mean.

If the flyers get to 3rd round next year, or gasp, win…was this a bad move?!
- AngryJoe

I wish people would stop characterizing Risto as "he is physical", as if that is the only thing he does. I know the football helmet wearing corsi superstars will say otherwise, but it doesn't matter because its embarrassing enough for them that they use meaningless charts as fact.

I wish people would stop characterizing Risto as "he is physical", as if that is the only thing he does. I know the football helmet wearing corsi superstars will say otherwise, but it doesn't matter because its embarrassing enough for them that they use meaningless charts as fact.
- Glak18

The Flyers D is much better today . I have always like Risto, played on a terrible team and usually had a top line assignment nightly. Let's see what he can do with a fresh start and perhaps better matchups. This team did need a bigger body on the back and a smart puck moving Dman and they got both, lets see how it works out. My concern is what would Savard have cost as UFA? I am sure the Flyers must have looked at what it would take to get him
I may be one of the few but I would still really like to see Tarasenko here. Provide G with a true sniper for once. I dont want Tarasenko ending up on the Isles or Rangers. I

ellis-timmonen 2.0
risto-young Shea Weber

hagg, ghost , Myers, stupid draft picks will do nothing to help us reach the next level, Fletch is doing awesome, I love the guys he brought in and I'm sure he will be doing more.

The Flyers D is much better today . I have always like Risto, played on a terrible team and usually had a top line assignment nightly. Let's see what he can do with a fresh start and perhaps better matchups. This team did need a bigger body on the back and a smart puck moving Dman and they got both, lets see how it works out. My concern is what would Savard have cost as UFA? I am sure the Flyers must have looked at what it would take to get him
I may be one of the few but I would still really like to see Tarasenko here. Provide G with a true sniper for once. I dont want Tarasenko ending up on the Isles or Rangers. I
- 3flyerkids

I talked to some friends who are Sabres fans and they said his reputation was a bit unfair. The consensus I got was that he’s definitely a second pairing guy who was miscast because Buffalo didn’t have the right personnel during his tenure. Ristolainen seems like a prime candidate for a bit of bounce back: new team, expiring contract, a bit of a chip on his shoulder.

The Flyers D is much better today . I have always like Risto, played on a terrible team and usually had a top line assignment nightly. Let's see what he can do with a fresh start and perhaps better matchups. This team did need a bigger body on the back and a smart puck moving Dman and they got both, lets see how it works out. My concern is what would Savard have cost as UFA? I am sure the Flyers must have looked at what it would take to get him
I may be one of the few but I would still really like to see Tarasenko here. Provide G with a true sniper for once. I dont want Tarasenko ending up on the Isles or Rangers. I
- 3flyerkids

Well looking at the Flyers lineup on paper, I am extremely optimistic. No matter who they got or who they should of gotten, the same questions exist and there are still A LOT of IFs.

I don't like what they gave up to get these changes, but it is what it is. Did they pay too much to get rid of a specialized defenseman who will probably be out of the league in 2-3 years, yup. Did they pay way too much to get a #4 defenseman who isn't guaranteed to be here after this year, no questions.

The fact is the defense is exponentially better than it was last year by losing bad character and gaining diverse traits that were sorely lacking.

Hart will bounce back with a more confident core in front of him. Now just needs a partner that can fill in when needed for rest and emergency.

The forward group is a whole other situation. The players they have need to uphold their part for their paychecks and the younger guys need not regress.

ellis-timmonen 2.0
risto-young Shea Weber

hagg, ghost , Myers, stupid draft picks will do nothing to help us reach the next level, Fletch is doing awesome, I love the guys he brought in and I'm sure he will be doing more.
- mydoglicks

I like the way you think.

I hope it turns out this way.

Are there any existing Weber/Risto comps from legitimate reporters?

I like the way you think.

I hope it turns out this way.

Are there any existing Weber/Risto comps from legitimate reporters?
- DrMidnite

I have not seen any from reporters, it is my own evaluation , opinion after researching Webers past stats and videos in which I believe he was 26-28 when he peaked

I believe the comparison was mentioned when he was drafted

the similarity in stats are uncanny, rh shot, goals, assists, points, pim, the only real difference is +-, I have accepted that as poor team play of the sabres vs the excellent play of Nashville during that time

Gotta think an Eichel trade is coming sooner rather than later. There is no way he stays in Buffalo now with them moving everything of value for kids.

as to the Risto trade: Flolyers

https://www.nbcsports.com...-rasmus-ristolainen-trade

cf is a winner

I agree completely.

I just hope Coutourier gives us a home team discount.

OR if we are a mess again? Next off-season, Fire Fletcher, let Coutourier walk (ugh), trade Ellis and do the TRUE rebuild we have always needed leading up to the 2023 draft.
- DrMidnite

Home run discount? He already did on last contract. He’s gonna break the bank.

There's Dr. Pepper cream soda down there?! Are there other types of Dr. Pepper too?

I gotta get down there for a cheesesteak and some of these pops.
- Zezel

I’m in Buffalo suburbs

Everyone appears to agree that Patrice Bergeron is a good comparison for Couturier. Well Bergeron makes $6.8M per so is it feasible Couturier takes $7M per and stays with the Flyers? I honestly don't know how the Bruins do it, not one of their top players make more than Bergeron on the team! Marchand, Pastrnak, McAvoy, and now Hall all make under $7M. Some Flyer players must want to stay here for less money, at least that is the hope.
- jd250

Who’s everyone?
Sorry to my fellow philly fans but coots is NOT in Bergy s league. BOTH players BEST asset and what makes them special is their DEFENSIVE play. Bergy is better offensively but arguement COULD be made that Bergy simply has better wingers and that’s fair enough. But on strength of the players

Bergy 4 selke’s
Coots 1 selke

Bergy IS much better than coots

https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/flyers/flyers-fans-analysts-shred-illogical-rasmus-ristolainen-trade

cf is a winner
- corduroy

He's a bumbling stooge. Everyone knew that from his resume.

Here is question to ponder. If Ristolainen plays like poop then what? Compound the asinine trade by giving him a contract? If they don't, essentially gave a first and second round pick away for nothing. Its a joke. Franchise can't get out of their own way.

Bergeron signed that deal like 7 years ago dude. Cmon.
- Ftown19125

Yes, that's true. However, my real point is that a lot of Bruins top players have taken less money to stay with the Bruins. Not sure why but somehow that is what they wanted to do. I am just asking, why is so impossible for Couturier to want to stay here and do the same? I mean, wouldn't it be nice is some players actually preferred to play in Philly and took less to do so?

So much for my theory that no players were going to get overpaid this off season. I don't understand these owners and GMs. They keep saying, flat cap, flat cap ... but then Chicago goes out and does this. This deal for Jones is a real overpay IMO. I know he has the leverage, but this is too much for this type of player.
- jd250

He's 26, RH and a legit all situations top pairing defenseman.

Who’s everyone?
Sorry to my fellow philly fans but coots is NOT in Bergy s league. BOTH players BEST asset and what makes them special is their DEFENSIVE play. Bergy is better offensively but arguement COULD be made that Bergy simply has better wingers and that’s fair enough. But on strength of the players

Bergy 4 selke’s
Coots 1 selke

Bergy IS much better than coots
- Stayin alive

Ok, I think Bergeron is better, but not much better. So isn't is possible then that Cout's next deal is for less money than we perceive?

He's a bumbling stooge. Everyone knew that from his resume.

Here is question to ponder. If Ristolainen plays like poop then what? Compound the asinine trade by giving him a contract? If they don't, essentially gave a first and second round pick away for nothing. Its a joke. Franchise can't get out of their own way.
- PLindbergh31

Everyone did know this from his resume, but how many times on this board have people screamed, "He learned from his mistakes?"

I can't wait to see what chuckles does in FA

It is hard to get excited to follow this team any longer

The one thing that CF and his scouts have shown so far is that they are finding good players in the later rounds of the draft. I am confident CF will pick a few good prospects today. Not sure what the internal opinion is on Brink, but I know they liked him a lot when he was drafted. I was not high on him because he was the worst skater I have ever seen play in the WJCs. We will see how he develops.
- jd250

Draft picks are nothing, unless they're helping you win games.

I know this is tough to hear but to the it’s been 7 years crowd and should’ve done a full rebuild crowd.

You can’t say it’s been 7 years the first 3 years literally we’re trying to get AND actually getting rid of horrible team breaking contracts.

Also we had absolutely the worst prospect pool in the league. All we had was a young g/Jake entering prime and a young coots. The first 3 years literally was gaining as many picks as possible to build any type of base to even speak of.

I know it sucks but it is was it is. This is what happens when you sign players to deals you KNOW will be bad at or toward end golf the deals and when you trade picks especially 1st and 2nd round picks and take the low cost stream of higher end players from coming.

Does this sound familiar at all? Coots pending contract? Trading these picks this year. Doesn’t look awfully familiar? Hopefully cf phone was taken away before he fully goes does this path. It doesn’t work. We’ve seen this movie a thousand times

First question is, why do you need to sign another goaltender in the 3m range, if that is the case then he better be the starter for the coming season for me at least.
- Glak18

If I'm not mistaken, most good backups go for about $2.5-$3 per. Starting Goalies make more than double this.

Now I agree the Flyers have more tweaking to do, but if the Flyers (or any team) can't find a way to utilize other players in their organization to fill minor holes then those players really are pointless.
- Glak18

Yes, especially in a flat cap world, you must draft and develop players that can fill the gaps, because otherwise you can't afford to ice a competitive team.

I know the talk surrounding Voracek, but it really does come down to others teams more than the Flyers if this trade occurs. Voracek for Tarasenko isn't going to be solution to the situation you are talking about because they are still in the same spot with a "sniper" hole filled. So instead they HAVE to trade Voracek for the cap space, ok which 1st round pick or high end prospect are we trading just to get that conversation started?
- Glak18

I'm not in favor of a Jake for Tarasenko swap, though it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world cap wise, but I do believe the cat is out of the bag now, and Jake is getting moved. I do not believe CF will trade any 1st round pick or high end prospect for cap relief, so I think it will be in the form of taking salary back.

Yes, that's true. However, my real point is that a lot of Bruins top players have taken less money to stay with the Bruins. Not sure why but somehow that is what they wanted to do. I am just asking, why is so impossible for Couturier to want to stay here and do the same? I mean, wouldn't it be nice is some players actually preferred to play in Philly and took less to do so?
- jd250

Lmao. I mean it would be nice but what advantage are there ? I mean unless the players really like seeing trash all over the thruways on way to rink?

https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/flyers/flyers-fans-analysts-shred-illogical-rasmus-ristolainen-trade

cf is a winner
- corduroy

A few people spouting of on Twitter the day of a trade before the dust has settled. Chortle.

Staying alive makes a lot of understandable points, given that he’s from Buffalo

ESPN isn’t even covering day 2. Jesus.