I know we've beat the "Keep G on the wing" horse to death but what about this line-up...

Oskar Lindblom - Claude Giroux - Travis Konecny
Joel Farabee - Kevin Hayes - Cam Atkinson
James van Riemsdyk - Sean Couturier - Wade Allison
Scott Laughton - Nate Thompson - Nicolas Aube-Kubel

3 scoring lines. We could even flip JVR and Oskar. I also don't like a $7 mil player on 3rd line.

It cracks me up when some say our forward group is so soft and easy to play against. Keep in mind, as Bill mentioned, this forward group is not only the same as 20-21 (minus Jake) but it’s also the same group essentially from 19-20; the same year we were one of the most consistent teams in the NHL and eventually a favorite to win the Cup (per Vegas). Inb4 the Isles took it to us all series. I’d say the Isles tenacity and speed is what killed us over size and snarl.

Some creativity from Fletcher and Cizikas at near that number could have been an option.
- PLindbergh31

Possibly, but I think he resigns in NY to be perfectly honest.

Some players are fits for certain teams. If he came here at that salary he would be a whipping boy. No need to pay him that for how the flyers play. Not sure the coaching staff would use him properly.
- hello it's me 2050

Cizikas is a good player. I don't think he'd be a whipping boy. You aren't signing him for goal scoring. He's a solid veteran who plays PK and is a good faceoff guy. He can produce some offense playing with skillful wings.

Possibly, but I think he resigns in NY to be perfectly honest.
- MBFlyerfan

The Sabres are close to 30 million under the cap. Fletcher couldn't get them to retain some of Ristolainen's salary? I mean a first and second round pick for a UFA at year's end? That trade was malpractice.

I know we've beat the "Keep G on the wing" horse to death but what about this line-up...

Oskar Lindblom - Claude Giroux - Travis Konecny
Joel Farabee - Kevin Hayes - Cam Atkinson
James van Riemsdyk - Sean Couturier - Wade Allison
Scott Laughton - Nate Thompson - Nicolas Aube-Kubel

3 scoring lines. We could even flip JVR and Oskar. I also don't like a $7 mil player on 3rd line.
- cdearth23

Unless they play like crap to me Frost and Tanner are better options than Nate and NAK. Configure the lines with those 2 inserted. Need to see what they can do as you know what the other 2 bring.

If those 12 are the fwd whoever is on that 4th line wing (Laughton in your example) will be a waste and not produce offensively in any way.

Unless they play like crap to me Frost and Tanner are better options than Nate and NAK. Configure the lines with those 2 inserted. Need to see what they can do as you know what the other 2 bring.

If those 12 are the fwd whoever is on that 4th line wing (Laughton in your example) will be a waste and not produce offensively in any way.
- hello it's me 2050

Honestly think there will be a solid-healthy competition for the 4th line spots. Thompson hopefully is just the insurance policy. I really think 4th line spots will be battled out between NAK, Thompson, Sandin, Tanner, Bunny, Rubstov and would love to see Ratcliffe get in the mix after his past down year. May be forgetting a guy or 2 as well for 4th line

Cizikas is a good player. I don't think he'd be a whipping boy. You aren't signing him for goal scoring. He's a solid veteran who plays PK and is a good faceoff guy. He can produce some offense playing with skillful wings.
- PLindbergh31

He is a solid player who plays his role well. don't think that role would work here with this coaching staff. He doesnt produce any offense.

Is 3 million + possibly good value? He will be 31.

Honestly think there will be a solid-healthy competition for the 4th line spots. Thompson hopefully is just the insurance policy. I really think 4th line spots will be battled out between NAK, Thompson, Sandin, Tanner, Bunny, Rubstov and would love to see Ratcliffe get in the mix after his past down year. May be forgetting a guy or 2 as well for 4th line
- arichardson22

I just do not have any faith in AV choosing 1of them over Nate unless whoever that player is just blows it out of the water big time in camp. Hope I am wrong.

This site is exhausting

It cracks me up when some say our forward group is so soft and easy to play against. Keep in mind, as Bill mentioned, this forward group is not only the same as 20-21 (minus Jake) but it’s also the same group essentially from 19-20; the same year we were one of the most consistent teams in the NHL and eventually a favorite to win the Cup (per Vegas). Inb4 the Isles took it to us all series. I’d say the Isles tenacity and speed is what killed us over size and snarl.
- arichardson22

It’s the worst group in the league according to many, no chance of being successful

He is a solid player who plays his role well. don't think that role would work here with this coaching staff. He doesnt produce any offense.

Is 3 million + possibly good value? He will be 31.
- hello it's me 2050

I don't know if he's going to get 3+ million. I guess we will see where he signs and how it works out.

I just do not have any faith in AV choosing 1of them over Nate unless whoever that player is just blows it out of the water big time in camp. Hope I am wrong.
- hello it's me 2050

I do think AV deserves some criticism over player usage in his two years here, but to be fair, we saw him really, really give NAK room for error non stop last year. as fan it was beyond frustrating to see NAK take the dumbest penalties almost every game. Yet AV dressed him over and over. Maybe having someone to slot in such as Nate will make NAK think twice over his dumb decisions and play like his 19-20 self as an effective 4th liner with great forechecking

The other potential issue with the Ristolainen trade that isn't being discussed is this. What if he really struggles? What if the Flyers miss the playoffs? You will likely have Fletcher being fired, and the new GM facing a decision of potentially overpaying this player, or facing the prospect of the team giving up a first and second round pick for what amounts to one season from Ristolainen. Better hope he plays well, because this scenario is a nightmare.

The other potential issue with the Ristolainen trade that isn't being discussed is this. What if he really struggles? What if the Flyers miss the playoffs? You will likely have Fletcher being fired, and the new GM facing a decision of potentially overpaying this player, or facing the prospect of the team giving up a first and second round pick for what amounts to one season from Ristolainen. Better hope he plays well, because this scenario is a nightmare.
- PLindbergh31

Ghost
Hagg
1st
2 2nds

for what could be a one-year rental, or even worse - a 65% of a season rental

I do think AV deserves some criticism over player usage in his two years here, but to be fair, we saw him really, really give NAK room for error non stop last year. as fan it was beyond frustrating to see NAK take the dumbest penalties almost every game. Yet AV dressed him over and over. Maybe having someone to slot in such as Nate will make NAK think twice over his dumb decisions and play like his 19-20 self as an effective 4th liner with great forechecking
- arichardson22

I wonder if the taxi squad/covid rules played any factor in that? Would his replacement had to have been quarantined for a certain amount of time if he wasn't on the taxi squad?

There was so much weird crap going on, on and off the ice last season.

Hopefully, if NAK IS in the lineup, we get the version that was one of the best forecheckers on the team in 19-20, not the moron we saw last season.

3) While I would personally prefer if Nate Thompson is the team's 13th forward at this stage of his career, there are no "stiffs" who get even close to the 800+ game level in the NHL. Not a scorer, had to deal with some serious off-ice problems and yet he's still ticking. I think he deserves respect.

Unfortunately they do not measure how much respect is deserved when it's time to decide who wins the Stanley Cup. Yes, give the pylon some respect.

I do think AV deserves some criticism over player usage in his two years here, but to be fair, we saw him really, really give NAK room for error non stop last year. as fan it was beyond frustrating to see NAK take the dumbest penalties almost every game. Yet AV dressed him over and over. Maybe having someone to slot in such as Nate will make NAK think twice over his dumb decisions and play like his 19-20 self as an effective 4th liner with great forechecking
- arichardson22

AV played Nate more minutes than Jake and Giroux in some games in the playoffs. That is mind boggling.

NAK turned into the pumpkin after his nice little run which was a very small sample size. Many players have done well over the years in small samples only to revert back to their true self.

The other potential issue with the Ristolainen trade that isn't being discussed is this. What if he really struggles? What if the Flyers miss the playoffs? You will likely have Fletcher being fired, and the new GM facing a decision of potentially overpaying this player, or facing the prospect of the team giving up a first and second round pick for what amounts to one season from Ristolainen. Better hope he plays well, because this scenario is a nightmare.
- PLindbergh31

Think the GM gets this year and the coach will go first. The GM returns unless it all blows up.

Ghost
Hagg
1st
2 2nds

for what could be a one-year rental, or even worse - a 65% of a season rental
- corduroy

Risto is NOT going to be a 1 year rental, so everyone should get this thought out of their heads. First and foremost, Fletcher is a very competent GM and would not give up this much for a rental. Secondly, Fletcher has stated he has been wanting to get Risto for over 3 seasons now because he has a unique skill set of size, toughness, speed and the ability to play both PP and PK. Do you honestly think he's walking at the end of this year?? No freak'n way!

Risto is NOT going to be a 1 year rental, so everyone should get this thought out of their heads. First and foremost, Fletcher is a very competent GM and would not give up this much for a rental. Secondly, Fletcher has stated he has been wanting to get Risto for over 3 seasons now because he has a unique skill set of size, toughness, speed and the ability to play both PP and PK. Do you honestly think he's walking at the end of this year?? No freak'n way!
- jd250

What are you basing this on? His decade in Minnesota where the Wild couldn't get out of their own way?

One thing about Allison, if he can't make the top 9 on this team out of training camp, I would prefer he start for the Phantoms in their top 6 versus playing on the Flyers 4th line. Same with Frost, who is coming off a bad shoulder injury and I think may need more time to get his game back after missing the entire season.

What are you basing this on? His decade in Minnesota where the Wild couldn't get out of their own way?
- PLindbergh31

I'm basing it on his overall experience, the staff he has put together, and his performance as the Flyers GM to date. I really don't think you are giving Fletcher enough credit here.

These are good points! CF did a nice job getting Risto, but other than him who in this lineup is going to hurt the other team physically, wear them down as the game goes along? The rest of the Flyers D is soft unless Morin is taking regular shifts also, and the forward group, other than Thompson, is soft. Hitting and Physicality still matters in this sport! Even the Islanders had 4 big defenseman on the backend that hit hard. I think the Flyers are still lacking sand paper in both their forward group and backend.
- jd250

I'm going to tell you right now, this Flyers team is not going to be soft. While they may not be a bunch of big hitters, you don't have to hurt another team, just be strong on the puck and around the net.

Risto is NOT going to be a 1 year rental, so everyone should get this thought out of their heads. First and foremost, Fletcher is a very competent GM and would not give up this much for a rental. Secondly, Fletcher has stated he has been wanting to get Risto for over 3 seasons now because he has a unique skill set of size, toughness, speed and the ability to play both PP and PK. Do you honestly think he's walking at the end of this year?? No freak'n way!
- jd250

Did not know this, a little tunnel vision possibly.

I can def see him walking. I think they do resign him but no guarentee