Well it's just me discussing it every day. I've posted numerous times on the potential of the moves being positive. Why keep trolling every day?
- MJL

Asking. Question about beating the horse for weeks is not trolling. I post on here all the time. Get over it.

So Ellis' career can't follow something similar to Kimmo Timonen's? Atkinson is a proven better scorer than Jake and is only signed for one more season but is the same age. Risto will sign here, I have little doubt of that (no proof, just my gut) and is only 26 but has all the tools to be an elite defenseman in this league. I think there is a good chance all these things turn out well, thus I am bullish on the move CF made this off season.
- jd250

Sure it could. He could also continue his recent injury history and decline. Which is why I think Nashville traded him. Atkinson is a better goal scorer but not a better scorer overall. Atkinson's goal scoring pace has decreased significantly the last two seasons. Ristolainen has not shown that he has all the tools to be an elite defenseman. That's absurd talk. He's been mediocre his entire career.

Proactiveness is not the definition of a 200 foot player. We have better evidence than that. We have Konecny's play as a young player. Where he had issues with puck management and play away from the puck. Frost is a skilled offensive center drafted for that skill and not 200 foot play.

You can't get a good player from the recent weak draft.

- MJL

BTW I never said it was a weak draft, I said it was an uncertain draft given most teams had no chance to see recent play from these players and thus if there was a draft that the Flyers were to give up their first round pick, this was the draft to do so. Please show me where I ever posted that this was a weak draft .. I'll wait.

Sure it could. He could also continue his recent injury history and decline. Which is why I think Nashville traded him. Atkinson is a better goal scorer but not a better scorer overall. Atkinson's goal scoring pace has decreased significantly the last two seasons. Ristolainen has not shown that he has all the tools to be an elite defenseman. That's absurd talk. He's been mediocre his entire career.
- MJL

Because Cam has played on a crap team with Torts as the coach! And when a young defenseman leads the league in hits and also has 4 40+ point seasons, that tells me he has the tools!

So Ellis' career can't follow something similar to Kimmo Timonen's? Atkinson is a proven better scorer than Jake and is only signed for one more season but is the same age. Risto will sign here, I have little doubt of that (no proof, just my gut) and is only 26 but has all the tools to be an elite defenseman in this league. I think there is a good chance all these things turn out well, thus I am bullish on the move CF made this off season.
- jd250

Huh? Elite??

Ristolainen has not shown that he has all the tools to be an elite defenseman. That's absurd talk. He's been mediocre his entire career.
- MJL

Apparently hockey sense is not a prerequisite for an elite defensemen

He'd have to be OK w/ being suspended indefinitely and losing a (frank) ton of $. Or having his contract terminated (if the Sabres go bat poop crazy).
- Tomahawk

I'm not saying it's an easy choice, but we're talking about a serious surgery that can have repercussions that affect the rest of his life. Admittedly, I don't know what's really going on behind the scenes. I'm just putting myself in his place with the little I know of the situation. I'm doing what's best for my health. I'm not sitting around in nerve pain and I'm not getting a spinal fusion if there's a better alternative. The surgery he wants is not controversial. What has he made so far? $45 million? I think he'll be OK financially.

I'm not saying it's an easy choice, but we're talking about a serious surgery that can have repercussions that affect the rest of his life. Admittedly, I don't know what's really going on behind the scenes. I'm just putting myself in his place with the little I know of the situation. I'm doing what's best for my health. I'm not sitting around in nerve pain and I'm not getting a spinal fusion if there's a better alternative. The surgery he wants is not controversial. What has he made so far? $45 million? I think he'll be OK financially.
- Dkos

If it were really that simple, he'd have already done what you said.

Not much, if we're talking about my health. Isn't he already refusing to have have surgery? Why isn't that a breach of contract?
- Dkos

No team can force a player to have any kind of surgery. But they also can say the player can only have surgeries approved by the team doctors. In the end it is still only up to the player to decide if the surgery happens.

Unless, you think they should be able to tie him down and force it on him.

Because Cam has played on a crap team with Torts as the coach! And when a young defenseman leads the league in hits and also has 4 40+ point seasons, that tells me he has the tools!
- jd250

Dan McGillis had a (frank)ton of hits and scored 40-pts multiple times. How elite was he?

And wasn't Cam playing for Torts when he scored all those goals? And wasn't Panarin a big part in why he hit 40 that one time?

No team can force a player to have any kind of surgery. But they also can say the player can only have surgeries approved by the team doctors. In the end it is still only up to the player to decide if the surgery happens.

Unless, you think they should be able to tie him down and force it on him.
- MBFlyerfan

Not sure where you got the impression that I think the team should be able to force a player to have surgery?

If it were really that simple, he'd have already done what you said.
- Tomahawk

Guess so.

Don't really understand why anybody feels like they have to take a side on this. Both parties have clown shoes on. It's a public spectacle. Sit back and enjoy your popcorn.
- Tomahawk

Because I’m obviously siding with one of those sides. An athlete not being happy with their team and wanting out isn’t anything new. See Rick Tocchet in his first stint as a Flyer.

yikes. i didn't say no one called him a baby, again. neither of us called him a baby because he wants to get the surgery he wants though. i completely understand that part.

as for not understanding that nobody knows what's going on, umm this whole thing has been public. so that's false.
- Ftown19125

Yes, you called him a baby. I reposted it. Do you need me to again?

There is no Dissecting the situation. Eichel simply wants out for multiple reasons.

Yes, you called him a baby. I reposted it. Do you need me to again?

There is no Dissecting the situation. Eichel simply wants out for multiple reasons.
- SuperSchennBros

you have a reading comprehension problem that i obviously can't fix for you. i'm not going to keep going back and forth. you can't follow along apparently and i'll leave it at that.

Not sure where you got the impression that I think the team should be able to force a player to have surgery?
- Dkos

Well, because you said if he was refusing to have the surgery, isn't that breach of contract.

That constitutes force if he would be considered in breach for refusing the surgery.

Meaning, you have the surgery or we don't pay you. That is force.

Sure it could. He could also continue his recent injury history and decline. Which is why I think Nashville traded him. Atkinson is a better goal scorer but not a better scorer overall. Atkinson's goal scoring pace has decreased significantly the last two seasons. Ristolainen has not shown that he has all the tools to be an elite defenseman. That's absurd talk. He's been mediocre his entire career.
- MJL

Atkinson's decline could be attributed to the team around him. Two years ago CBJ had a ton of talent. A large percentage of that talent left over the last two years. I am not sure he gets back to 40 goals but I think 30 is very realistic. Especially if he plays with G.

Atkinson's decline could be attributed to the team around him. Two years ago CBJ had a ton of talent. A large percentage of that talent left over the last two years. I am not sure he gets back to 40 goals but I think 30 is very realistic. Especially if he plays with G.
- mickel25

Happy with that trade. Saves a little cap space and gives us a shooter and another pk guy. We have a lot of pass first players.

Happy with that trade. Saves a little cap space and gives us a shooter and another pk guy. We have a lot of pass first players.
- Peter Richards

Agreed.

BTW I never said it was a weak draft, I said it was an uncertain draft given most teams had no chance to see recent play from these players and thus if there was a draft that the Flyers were to give up their first round pick, this was the draft to do so. Please show me where I ever posted that this was a weak draft .. I'll wait.
- jd250

Sure you have. You've posted more times than I can count that Fletcher was comfortable in trading a first round pick due to the draft being a weak draft.

Because Cam has played on a crap team with Torts as the coach! And when a young defenseman leads the league in hits and also has 4 40+ point seasons, that tells me he has the tools!
- jd250

Atkinson scored 41 goals playing under Tortorella.

There is no evidence whatsoever that points to Ristolainen having the ability to be an elite defenseman. You named two variables in a players game and claimed that tells you he has all the tools. There's that GM level ability again.

Apparently hockey sense is not a prerequisite for an elite defensemen
- Tomahawk

Checks all the boxes. Has all the tools.

Agreed.
- mickel25

Forgot to add. Got rid of one of the cry babies as well.

Atkinson's decline could be attributed to the team around him. Two years ago CBJ had a ton of talent. A large percentage of that talent left over the last two years. I am not sure he gets back to 40 goals but I think 30 is very realistic. Especially if he plays with G.
- mickel25

I agree. That is possible. He didn't have great centers in Columbus the last few years. If he plays with Couturier or with Giroux, he could absolutely regain his goal scoring touch. We know he's a better all around player than Voracek is. My only point is that there is reason for concern in all of the major deals that Fletcher has made. The team added aging players with term and a player who is not cost controlled and has been a mediocre player. I know that Ellis is a legit top pairing RH defenseman now but for how long? Ristolainen is due a new contract and the Flyers have taken on a ton of risk with him. He could improve playing on a different team with better players around him in a lesser role. However having all the tools to be an elite player? Doubtful.

Happy with that trade. Saves a little cap space and gives us a shooter and another pk guy. We have a lot of pass first players.
- Peter Richards

Just getting rid of jake is a win in my book. The cap $ saved is a big bonus