Has Risto been as bad as MJL says, probably not, but on the flip side he has been nowhere near as good as you seem to think.

Bottom line is that Risto is a liability most nights, that is a FACT. And it has been that way his entire career.

What he does bring is a physical element that does change the way teams play when he is on the ice, but his lack of hockey sense and overall poor decision making seems to wash any benefit that has on most nights.

His last game was by far his best game in a Flyers uniform and I hope as he gets more comfortable that trend continues. But at 27, most people recognize he is what he is and what we see from him this year is no different than when he was in Buffalo.

A roster player and 2 high draft picks including a first was an overpay for a guy on an expiring contract who has been proven to be a drag on every player he is on the ice with over the length of his ENTIRE career. That is a FACT.
- MBFlyerfan

Its not a FACT, and you are completely wrong! Sorry to break it to you! If you want to Hate on Risto too, come on in, the water is warm! But I will continue to speak out against you and others that continue to try to push this BS narrative!

Your fanboy love of Risto is much more ridiculous.
- BiggE

I don't love Risto, in fact I was not even in favor of acquiring him before the trade went down. But I am willing to give him a fair shot and I want him to succeed, because if he succeeds, the Flyers succeed! Everyone makes these blanket statements but cannot by any means ever back them up, for example:

Risto is constantly out of position
Risto makes everyone around him play worse
Risto takes dumb penalties
Risto has poor hockey IQ

etc., etc. Yet when I ask anyone, please show me an example of Risto being out of position on that play, or give me one example of a bad penalty Risto took all I get are crickets! Oh, I get the advanced metric BS argument but no one has provided me with anywhere close to evidence that I have all provided you over the past weeks. So hey, you and others hate Risto and want him to fail ... OK, but don't dare call yourselves Flyers fans, because you are all far from it IMO!

He hated the Ellis trade, that alone should tell you what he thinks of Chucks moves. Not sure what trade chuck would have to make for him to think Chuck did well. PRob nothing short of a superstar....but you cant trade youth for him thats for sure
- bradster

Good point, Chuck is not Hextall so I guess no matter what he does it will never be accepted by some!

Dude, did you just out the Flyers GM?
- corduroy

Yikes, I hope not, otherwise my entire argument falls apart

Its not a FACT, and you are completely wrong! Sorry to break it to you! If you want to Hate on Risto too, come on in, the water is warm! But I will continue to speak out against you and others that continue to try to push this BS narrative!
- jd250

The issue is speaking out is all that you can do. You can't actually refute the facts that are presented to you. You have been reduced to only being able to post that someone is completely wrong!

The criticism started after Game # 1. Lol. The race to be right is amusing to say the least. I’m not sure about Risto but what I’ve seen is a player who’s gotten better with each outing…he did have a few games early on where by he struggled but nothing like what I read around here. He plays a much more physical game then any other d the Flyers have. The guy has had 4 seasons of over 40 points and has averaged 24 minutes a night since coming into the league and I read he has hockey IQ issues…are they (frank)ing kidding ? Do they realize how tough it is to do those things….at the NHL level?
- landros 2

But it was for the Sabres ... not that apparently doesn't count! Good points as always though!

I don't love Risto, in fact I was not even in favor of acquiring him before the trade went down. But I am willing to give him a fair shot and I want him to succeed, because if he succeeds, the Flyers succeed! Everyone makes these blanket statements but cannot by any means ever back them up, for example:

Risto is constantly out of position
Risto makes everyone around him play worse
Risto takes dumb penalties
Risto has poor hockey IQ

etc., etc. Yet when I ask anyone, please show me an example of Risto being out of position on that play, or give me one example of a bad penalty Risto took all I get are crickets! Oh, I get the advanced metric BS argument but no one has provided me with anywhere close to evidence that I have all provided you over the past weeks. So hey, you and others hate Risto and want him to fail ... OK, but don't dare call yourselves Flyers fans, because you are all far from it IMO!
- jd250

There have been multiple examples given to you of when Ristolainen has made a bad play, been out of position and lost a puck battle. What are you talking about?


What evidence have you provided over the last weeks?

Again, you are melting down and the best thing for you to do is just move on.

Ya great drafts by Hextall….he built a mediocre/ bubble team core.
- landros 2

Yes, but if we only gave Hextall another 10 years he would have built something .. really!

I don't know. However although Larsson does not have the offensive skill that Ristolainen has, he is twice the player defensively. In the role Ristolainen is in, especially once Ellis comes back, I don't see Ristolainen putting up many points.
The Flyers never had a shot at Larsson due to expansion rules but if I had a choice between signing Larsson or trading for Ristolainen. That's a no brainer. Larsson is an easy choice.
- MJL

And as you know I was wanting the Flyers to sign Larsson all summer, and was very disappointed when he went to Seattle. But he wasn't available, so on to plan B!

The issue is speaking out is all that you can do. You can't actually refute the facts that are presented to you. You have been reduced to only being able to post that someone is completely wrong!
- MJL

I presented tons of evidence, earlier in this thread even, with video proof! I should not need to produce more than that. The bottom line is, Risto has played well and is improving game over game, in fact even Risto has stated there is another gear to his game. Coach Yeo stated its hard for a player to come and get used to the system, new teammates, etc. and Risto is still acclimating to his surroundings. But man, he gets no breaks from you or others, not one bit. Not even 20 games! Its disgusting!

There have been multiple examples given to you of when Ristolainen has made a bad play, been out of position and lost a puck battle. What are you talking about?


What evidence have you provided over the last weeks?

Again, you are melting down and the best thing for you to do is just move on.
- MJL

You have provided nothing but advanced metrics, in fact you have even admitted you haven't been watching the games, but now you have provided proof! give me a break!

There is no meltdown, just an end to any tolerance of the BS you keep spewing against a player simply because you hate him and want him to fail!

And as you know I was wanting the Flyers to sign Larsson all summer, and was very disappointed when he went to Seattle. But he wasn't available, so on to plan B!
- jd250

When we were having our discussion during a previous season and you were on your Ekholm tirade, you labeled Larsson as a 3rd pair defenseman who wasn't any good. Only after being schooled on the reality did you change your mind.

I presented tons of evidence, earlier in this thread even, with video proof! I should not need to produce more than that. The bottom line is, Risto has played well and is improving game over game, in fact even Risto has stated there is another gear to his game. Coach Yeo stated its hard for a player to come and get used to the system, new teammates, etc. and Risto is still acclimating to his surroundings. But man, he gets no breaks from you or others, not one bit. Not even 20 games! Its disgusting!
- jd250

It just gets worse and worse with you. Just skimmed through every page of this thread. There is not one post from you where you linked or embedded a video. Not one!

All you have done ever is offer anecdotal evidence like the above which doesn't show or prove anything.

Reality is that both video and statistical evidence has been presented to you. Both from the current season as well as past seasons. The entire off season, article after article, link after link was provided to you. By myself, MBFLyerfan and others. Complete with video and analysis. You ignored it all! You have repeatedly ignored the facts and really have never made any semblance of a reasonable or logical argument. I'm beginning to feel sorry for you.

You have provided nothing but advanced metrics, in fact you have even admitted you haven't been watching the games, but now you have provided proof! give me a break!

There is no meltdown, just an end to any tolerance of the BS you keep spewing against a player simply because you hate him and want him to fail!
- jd250

No, I actually have provided video evidence such as the Hyman goal against in the Edmonton game.
You're also not accurate in stating that I haven't been watching the games. I don't watch the entire games out west. Normally just the first period or so.

You don't have a choice but to tolerate it simply because it is reality. Just like MBFlyerfan posted to you.

Do yourself a favor and step back and take a look at what you're posting. It's a meltdown.

Bring the facts to the table. You're entitled to an opinion but not your own facts. The facts don't support your opinion. They support mine. That simple.

Coach Yeo stated its hard for a player to come and get used to the system, new teammates, etc. and Risto is still acclimating to his surroundings.
- jd250

Cam Atkinson. First 5 games as a Flyer. 6 goals and an assist for 7 points.

Keith Yandle. First 5 games as a Flyer. 5 assists for 5 points.

Derrick Brassard. First 5 games as a Flyer. 1 goal and 5 assists for 6 points

Ryan Ellis. First 3 games as a Flyer. 1 goal and 3 assists for 4 points

Ellis right out of the gate, first game in looked exactly as advertised. Played like the veteran top pairing defenseman he is supposed to be. Didn't need an acclimation period. Didn't need to get used to the new system or his teammates. A difference maker right out of the gate.

Now here is the kicker and another in a long line of contradictions from you. You've been saying that Ristolainen has been playing great hockey. Playing really well every game! Now you're trying to argue that he needs an acclimation period! If a player is playing great, why does he need an acclimation period? If a player is playing great, nobody including a coach is talking about the player needing an acclimation period. You can't make it up. Yet you try and accuse others of a BS narrative