Not sure, but I do think he has the ability to be a very good #4/5 with the right partner. His ability to be strong on the PK/PP2 rounds him out. If York and Zamula can slot into 3 and 6 roles, I think that is a pretty solid D grouping. We did give up a 1st for him along with Hagg (a former 2nd)...most want him to succeed...so it is more pushing back against the team negative narrative. It they end up signing Risto to a 5 yr 6.5M cap it could be a little of an over payment, but I think he has more upside that Hagg as long as he has a good partner...the down side is that Sanheim continues to struggle and has not found his way yet.
- JW98FlyerFan

He brings something the flyers needed in a big way, his physicality was desperately needed. It doesn't show up in the fancy stats people want to use to judge him. His crushing hit on mcavoy which led to a PP goal, was the result of his play. That doesnt show up in the fancy stats either
And perhaps he sets the tone for the reason the flyers have more push back and backing one another up this year.

But haters gonna hate

I would not be happy at all with a #5 defenseman who makes 6.5M. Honestly, if this is what were going to get from Ristolainen. Grit your teeth, realize the mistake and cut bait.
- MJL

Maybe, I guess I wonder how much he is coachable...He is still pretty young as far a D-man go and you can't coach size...he uses his size well (meaning he has some snarl), but can he use it smartly...that is where I hope he learns from Braun and coaching in a system that works for him...

To your point on carrying the play, I agree. The days of the left wing lock are gone, too much speed and talent to be hemmed up in your own end. We are potting goals and getting timely goal tending...seems a lot like the start of last year...still remember watching the 2010-16 Blackhawk teams...they hated to not have the puck on their sticks and they fought tenaciously to get it back...we don't quite have that yet and it shows with the time we spend in our own end...that has to be a priority to work out...a hot goalie will do us in every time.

People talking about how bad certain players have been like Risto/Sanheim/Thompson/NAK and rightfully so. But rarely anyone mentioning how bad JVR has been so far.

People talking about how bad certain players have been like Risto/Sanheim/Thompson/NAK and rightfully so. But rarely anyone mentioning how bad JVR has been so far.
- Buzzo

Interesting that the postgame broadcasters mentioned how well JVR played last night.

Not saying this to editorialize, just throwing it out there.


I will say that JVR needs to score, if he isn't scoring, he isn't useful enough for what else he brings.

He brings something the flyers needed in a big way, his physicality was desperately needed. It doesn't show up in the fancy stats people want to use to judge him. His crushing hit on mcavoy which led to a PP goal, was the result of his play. That doesnt show up in the fancy stats either
And perhaps he sets the tone for the reason the flyers have more push back and backing one another up this year.

But haters gonna hate
- bradster

Do you want physicality or do you want a good dman? Would you rather play a lesser dman because he is physical? Or a better overall dman who is less physical?

People talking about how bad certain players have been like Risto/Sanheim/Thompson/NAK and rightfully so. But rarely anyone mentioning how bad JVR has been so far.
- Buzzo

Jvr was really good last night , he’s been fine. Slow couple of first games but he’s been much more involved. People are overblowing this Sanheim thing too, he’s not been great but he’s been ok.

People talking about how bad certain players have been like Risto/Sanheim/Thompson/NAK and rightfully so. But rarely anyone mentioning how bad JVR has been so far.
- Buzzo

who? Thats a hextall hire, cant talk bad about him lol

Jvr was really good last night , he’s been fine. Slow couple of first games but he’s been much more involved. People are overblowing this Sanheim thing too, he’s not been great but he’s been ok.
- ClaudeFather

JVR isn't playing badly this year. He's made some nice plays that lead to scores in other games.
As far as Sanheim goes, I'm not big fan. Sure he has his moments and can skate well in open ice, but for a man who's above 6'4" he should be able to do better in the D-zone. After all, he is a Defenseman. Near the net he always goes for the loose puck, misses a bunch enabling scoring chances by the opposition instead of neutralizing the threat. Then again, I don't think he's physical enough to neutralize a player. Heck, Ghost was more physical. His passes in the D-zone aren't good especially when he knows a hit could be coming. Constantly passing around the boards - which get intercepted by the opposition. Other than that he's pretty good.

Do you want physicality or do you want a good dman? Would you rather play a lesser dman because he is physical? Or a better overall dman who is less physical?
- hello it's me 2050

physicality can make the whole team better. Its not as finite as you are making it to be.

frank the Chicago Black Hawks. Makes me wonder what other scandals they dealt with in their special own way.

frank the Chicago Black Hawks. Makes me wonder what other scandals they dealt with in their special own way.
- Scoob

According to the transcripts that I've read, everyone in the organization knew about it - players, coaches, and executives. But hey, they were 3 Time Stanley Cup Champions so...

frank the Chicago Black Hawks. Makes me wonder what other scandals they dealt with in their special own way.
- Scoob

Agreed. They should be required to vacate the 2010 cup championship and it should be awarded to the other stanley cup finalist from that year whatever team that was…

Well he badly lost a puck battle and was weak on the puck on the Hymen goal.

I'll explain it to you. Right now if we look at the Flyers to this point in the season. They're not a team who carries play. They're a team that is scoring well and getting good goaltending. It's about winning. Certainly that is subjective. I consider winning to being one of the top teams in the league and in the mix for the Cup. Not just being improved and in the mix for a playoff spot.
The difference between the two situations is being able to be a team that pushes and carries play. That dictates to opponents. When you're defending more, no matter how well you do that, that is losing hockey. You aren't going to be a contender playing that way. With the moves that were made and what they gave up, in my perspective they need to be a contender or they're a failure.

With regards to Ristolainen specifically, what I see to this point is a player that can only defend. The difference between a bad game for him and a decent game is how well he defends. How he limits his mistakes. Overall he is not good in his own end. That is not what is needed from a 2nd pair defenseman. That is not what you trade a 1st, 2nd and a roster player for as well as having to re-sign him. He makes zero impact on the transition game or in the offensive zone in terms of attacking. We can get what we get out of him from a player like Braun, albeit less of a physical edge. To this point we're not getting enough out of Sanheim either. His play pushing is not there like it has been in the past. The pairing is an issue.

Where do you set the bar? I know where I set it.
- MJL

Thank you for the explanation. I 100% agree with you that the Flyers are winning in spite of themselves, i.e. they are not dictating play and playing too much in their own end. Except that in the 3rd period this year so far they have carried play a lot more and have won games as a result. So though the overall metrics are bad, like O-zone starts and team Corsi, I would like to see how the Flyers are doing period by period in this regard, because at least to me watching the games, the Flyers have at a minimum a 50% Corsi when it matters the most.

With Risto, I think you are discounting his ability to move the puck up ice. For example, on that first Flyers goal last night, it was Risto winning a battle behind his own net and getting the puck up the left wing to TK that started that play. And on the Hyman's goal, Risto won at least 2 battles along the boards in that sequence and got the puck up to Brassard who whiffed at it, allowing the defenseman to keep the puck in. In fact, Hyman was Sanheim's responsibility and Sanheim failed to get his stick in there to deflect the pass or shot. From me perspective RR played as good as he could or what I would expect from my D there.

My bar is the same as yours, I want the Flyers to be a cup contender. So far this year they are 3-1-1 in 5 games, 3 of which were against top teams in the league. They have not been perfect but they are showing signs at least to me that they can be a contending team, but they do need to start dictating play more and not play in their own end.

frank the Chicago Black Hawks. Makes me wonder what other scandals they dealt with in their special own way.
- Scoob

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBpRpaNR2tg

I'm halfway through the TSN interview. This is disturbing on so many levels. It's hard to believe this happened in 2010. Post Sandusky. Post all of the training about sexual harassment, Safe Sport, etc.

I've lost all respect for anyone that played on that team during that time.

According to the transcripts that I've read, everyone in the organization knew about it - players, coaches, and executives. But hey, they were 3 Time Stanley Cup Champions so...
- RustyPipes

Vile. Absolutely vile. Current management included. Former Chicago coaches and staff currently employed should be fired immediately.

frank the Chicago Black Hawks. Makes me wonder what other scandals they dealt with in their special own way.
- Scoob

As my grandmother would say, "dead fish always come to the surface", and in this case I am glad it did.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBpRpaNR2tg

I'm halfway through the TSN interview. This is disturbing on so many levels. It's hard to believe this happened in 2010. Post Sandusky. Post all of the training about sexual harassment, Safe Sport, etc.

I've lost all respect for anyone that played on that team during that time.
- Robert's Plant

Seems all of management and hockey ops knew but did all the players know and not report?

Jvr was really good last night , he’s been fine. Slow couple of first games but he’s been much more involved. People are overblowing this Sanheim thing too, he’s not been great but he’s been ok.
- ClaudeFather

The JVR - Laughts - Lindblom line has been getting their chances, but they are not burying them! Last night in the 1st JVR walks down the left wing with a high danger chance and doesn't convert. Lindblom has some good shots from the right side and did not convert. Laughts all alone at the doorstep in the 3rd, can't lift the puck. That line looked better last night than in previous games, but they are not showing any scoring touch currently.

Vile. Absolutely vile. Current management included. Former Chicago coaches and staff currently employed should be fired immediately.
- Scoob

Absolutely true! This man, kid at the time, was a promising 1st Rounder. He was basically run out of town - called a bust! Many articles were written on that as well. I wonder why he was "a bust". Sad - really sad. I wish him well. I must admit that it took and takes great courage to do this.
If Q keeps his job in Florida - you know it's like politics - not about what's right or wrong - it's about the money.

Vile. Absolutely vile. Current management included. Former Chicago coaches and staff currently employed should be fired immediately.
- Scoob

If, and only if, the evidence supports it I agree. What I don't want is a witch-hunt just for appeasement.

If, and only if, the evidence supports it I agree. What I don't want is a witch-hunt just for appeasement.
- jd250

People knew about it in 2010. It wasn't just announced.

Interesting that the postgame broadcasters mentioned how well JVR played last night.

Not saying this to editorialize, just throwing it out there.


I will say that JVR needs to score, if he isn't scoring, he isn't useful enough for what else he brings.
- MBFlyerfan

and certainly not worth $7M!

Agreed. They should be required to vacate the 2010 cup championship and it should be awarded to the other stanley cup finalist from that year whatever team that was…
- Hextall271

Hey, I'll take it. As a wise man once said, "Default! The two sweetest words in the English language."

Why do keep felating and pumping up RR?
- hello it's me 2050

I'll answer it the same way as I did in the last blog. I don't feel I am doing that! I was one of the first to post that I was displeased with Risto's play against Boston, especially in the 2nd period where I felt he was partly responsible for both goals against. But when he plays well I am going to post that also, and last night he played extremely well IMO. So I am balanced. In the end, I want Risto to succeed here and I want this trade to work out, because that helps the Flyers become true contenders. We should all want that, otherwise not sure what we are doing on this forum other than trolling.

frank the Chicago Black Hawks. Makes me wonder what other scandals they dealt with in their special own way.
- Scoob

You'd think if Karma was a real thing the Flyers would have won in 2010 right?