Kronwall would pick his spots. Stevens would pick his spots.

RR goes for it every, single, time. 😂
- Tomahawk

This is exactly what I remember him doing in Buffalo. I thought he was playing far more within himself now. I guess I am a victim of my sporadic viewing.

As I said yesterday, I don't think he's the guy that can turn this ship around. I get it if they keep him on because that's how business works sometimes. But were I in charge I'd be looking for a replacement.
- Scoob

Of course he isn't. So it will be status quo, and he will set the franchise back further.

It's funny all the Ristolainen hate but how about guys like Sanheim and Provorov. As much as love Provorov and think he'll rebound, he hasn't been great. And When is Sanheim going to take a step forward. I feel like that is a bigger issue then what Risto provides. Those two were supposed to be anchors for us and yet I feel like the best defender this year consistently has been Braun.

What I think is a bigger issues is guys who were supposed to help this team forward just haven't been good enough. I put guys like Konecny and Lindblom in there.

And what exactly do you see Fletcher doing, with this resume?
Add to it 10 and a current 13 game losing streak.



Alexander Appleyard
@avappleyard
This is 13th year
@NHLFlyers
Chuck Fletcher has been
@NHL
GM.

Both teams hes managed are amongst richer teams in league.

13 seasons.
5/13 missed playoffs.
2/13 got past 1st round.
0/13 got past 2nd round.

Overseen 11 drafts.
69 picks.
9 1sts.
Never drafted 1C or 1D.
- PLindbergh31

Realistically what can he do? He needs elite players by his own admission. Those type of players are almost never traded in their prime if at all. Even prospects who are projected as first line scorers or first pair defensemen are almost never traded.

There are 3 types of trades that typically happen in todays NHL. You have a trade of a guy who is about to hit UFA and a team can’t or won’t extend him. You have a trade of a guy who makes more money than a team thinks he’s worth either because of age, injury history or role. Sometimes in that trade category are RFAs who have inflated numbers and their team don’t think he’s worth the extension he wants. Lastly you have trades of malcontents either in the lockerroom or for the organization. That’s it. Add that teams rarely like to trade within their conference and Fletchers hands are pretty much tied even if he was competent.

Expect a massive contract for Gaudreau and another middle pair defenseman they will try to sell as a fix for the defense. There will be some other trades to move out cap space like JVR but I expect Fletcher will have to add a sweetener since everyone knows he’s desperate. It will be a roster full of middle tier talent with a new coach playing a tight checking style since they can’t score in hopes of accumulating overtime points and squeaking into the last playoff spot. Like I said, the Columbus Bluejackets with money.

I would agree if the team had other physical D. If you don't, then you would need a RR....just wish he wasnt so expensive
- bradster

Then you get one who isnt so expensive. They are out there.

Exactly my point w Sanheim. It can’t be tought. It’s either in you to play with edge or it’s not
- Fopa21

Respectfully disagree...I've seen it in football and in martial arts. You can desensitize to contact. Nowhere in that statement does it mean you can make him "Tom Wilson" That being said, Sandheim will never become a hammer. What he could become is a guy who can drive someone off the crease and have the strength to move someone off a straight line. When I watch him play....I see a lack of confidence in his own strength that seems to lead to some of the collision avoidance and intensity.

It's funny all the Ristolainen hate but how about guys like Sanheim and Provorov. As much as love Provorov and think he'll rebound, he hasn't been great. And When is Sanheim going to take a step forward. I feel like that is a bigger issue then what Risto provides. Those two were supposed to be anchors for us and yet I feel like the best defender this year consistently has been Braun.

What I think is a bigger issues is guys who were supposed to help this team forward just haven't been good enough. I put guys like Konecny and Lindblom in there.
- J35Bacher

Prov's season has been mostly tragic.

Sanheim's been a giant mixed bag.

The whole team is a mess. Nobody is coming out smelling like roses.

Realistically what can he do? He needs elite players by his own admission. Those type of players are almost never traded in their prime if at all. Even prospects who are projected as first line scorers or first pair defensemen are almost never traded.

There are 3 types of trades that typically happen in todays NHL. You have a trade of a guy who is about to hit UFA and a team can’t or won’t extend him. You have a trade of a guy who makes more money than a team thinks he’s worth either because of age, injury history or role. Sometimes in that trade category are RFAs who have inflated numbers and their team don’t think he’s worth the extension he wants. Lastly you have trades of malcontents either in the lockerroom or for the organization. That’s it. Add that teams rarely like to trade within their conference and Fletchers hands are pretty much tied even if he was competent.

Expect a massive contract for Gaudreau and another middle pair defenseman they will try to sell as a fix for the defense. There will be some other trades to move out cap space like JVR but I expect Fletcher will have to add a sweetener since everyone knows he’s desperate. It will be a roster full of middle tier talent with a new coach playing a tight checking style since they can’t score in hopes of accumulating overtime points and squeaking into the last playoff spot. Like I said, the Columbus Bluejackets with money.
- psuhockey

What makes you think he want to sign here?

What makes you think he want to sign here?
- hello it's me 2050

Bob Clarke underoos.

"Let me just add, too. I don’t really see this as being a 3, 4, 5 year rebuild at all. I don’t think Chuck does, either. We have a pretty good core, I think it really starts with a healthy Coots and Hayes, Farabee, we’d love to have Ellis back. We’ve got a core group to build on. I think as we look at the reality of it, two, three pieces we’d be great. Maybe a little more."

Be afraid. Be VERY afraid...
- daddytc

Yeah, this was scary. Actually, the core is not good. This has been proven over the last several years based on how many coaches have been fired trying to make it work.
Maybe the most accurate thing that was said is that you can't get rid of or replace 20 players. I think they need to get yet another #1 defenseman like they did last year, paying a price for it. Maybe, just maybe Ellis can recover enough to be a part time depth player, because you cannot build around him. Can only build around people who can stay in the lineup. Given this need on top of acquiring some offensive talent is probably too high a price for one off season. They could plow right through their draft picks, and then there would be an even more dreary future. Depends on how much value they can get for roster players. Not optimistic about that.

well we can disagree that teams need physical come the playoffs. I'm in the belief watching good teams easily get bounced that it is very important come playoff time.
- bradster

I don't disagree with that at all. Here is a summary of my disagreement with you (and probably Landros2):

Good playoff D: solid D, added physicality (importance in this order)
Risto's attributes: solid physicality, unsolid D (also in that order)

It's funny all the Ristolainen hate but how about guys like Sanheim and Provorov. As much as love Provorov and think he'll rebound, he hasn't been great. And When is Sanheim going to take a step forward. I feel like that is a bigger issue then what Risto provides. Those two were supposed to be anchors for us and yet I feel like the best defender this year consistently has been Braun.

What I think is a bigger issues is guys who were supposed to help this team forward just haven't been good enough. I put guys like Konecny and Lindblom in there.
- J35Bacher

Naaa, we just stick with RR hate here. Sanheim hate doesnt usually go past 1 page

What makes you think he want to sign here?
- hello it's me 2050

Money. They will overpay through the nose because in their heads he, the local boy, will bring the fans back. It’s classic corporate thinking.

Yup, everything sucks, that is your narrative!

Tell me, do you actually watch Sanheim play? Because if you do, how could you even mention his name with these other players? Baffling!
- jd250

Sanheim has 11 ES pts in his last 19 games. Only Letang has more. These games encapsulate the games after AV was fired. If he Sucks, with a capital S,m how are his numbers significantly better than the guy who he plays with the most? The guy that checks all the boxes.

dont disagree with what RR is and in what role he can play. You DONT give up the direct and indirect assests it took to acquire him. the thought process of the gm is flawed and is endemic of his talent evaluation. the move was malfeasance but Scott was probably rubbing his nips when it was made
- THE BLACK HAND

It is emblematic of the same thinking that led to Laughton getting a 5 year contract.

I mean get the core FIRST!

And THEN sign the damn supplementary players to long term contracts! Guys like Laughton are always available.

Sanheim has 11 ES pts in his last 19 games. Only Letang has more. These games encapsulate the games after AV was fired. If he Sucks, with a capital S,m how are his numbers significantly better than the guy who he plays with the most? The guy that checks all the boxes.
- THE BLACK HAND

Good question... awaits circular response with many explanation points.

Respectfully disagree...I've seen it in football and in martial arts. You can desensitize to contact. Nowhere in that statement does it mean you can make him "Tom Wilson" That being said, Sandheim will never become a hammer. What he could become is a guy who can drive someone off the crease and have the strength to move someone off a straight line. When I watch him play....I see a lack of confidence in his own strength that seems to lead to some of the collision avoidance and intensity.
- juiced

Probably a lack of confidence in strength is a part of the issue but again just getting stronger won’t fix him in my opinion & doesn’t necessarily always work. It’s a component for sure but heart is the bigger factor in my opinion. Theo fleury, Sami Kapanen, rat Marchand, Gallagher, Tie Domi, even the inconsistent TK small guys who most likely aren’t going to out muscle 90% of the league on muscle alone but their dna is what makes the difference

Then you get one who isnt so expensive. They are out there.
- hello it's me 2050

I got no problem with that at all. Im not married to RR, i just believe he isn't deserving of all the hate he gets, because he brings something no other D here does. Also seem to overlook our other D that are not performing and the hate is focused on RR.

Now if we can replace him with similar and cheaper. Lets do it.

Very! Many! Exclamations!

(And btw... everything is great!)
- Tomahawk

Everything is not great, I know that and so do you. But what bothers me is it seems most want to believe this is a clown-show and there is no path to getting better unless everyone is fired. That is not just not right IMO.

Can't he take his family with him where ever he goes. Or is there a covid thing keeping them away?
- bradster

Is this is a real question?

I guess you don't own a house or have kids or are married to someone who may have a job or commitments of their own?

What makes you think he want to sign here?
- hello it's me 2050

I really dont think Chuck will go for Gaudreau. Maybe i should say hope.

AGAIN, you are just a liar which is completely SAD! Show me ONE post where I said this teams need to break it completely down and rebuild. IN EVERY SINGLE post I have done regarding this topic I have stated this team still has a good veteran core and just needs to get young top end talent to augment it. I have often used the term retool and have argued with you many times over the past several weeks that a 5 year rebuild is not necessary; that if Fletcher can get some young, fast and highly skilled players onto this team with its veteran core of Hart, Ellis, Provey, Couts, Hayes, Bee and TK this team will be back in contention in a couple of seasons. I posted a 10 point plan that emphasized this just last week!

You are just embarrassing yourself now, because everyone who has ever read my posts knows this is exactly what I have said consistently!
- jd250

yeah, within the last week you said BLOW IT UP

I called you out for writing so much bullpoop, you cant keep what you say straight....this is just another example

And you also need physical defenders to go with your puck movers. Would you take Trouba here? Defensive d man & physical d man aren’t necessarily the same. Braun is a defensive d man but certainly not physical
- Fopa21

Yes and Chuck mentioned this yesterday, you need balance between skill and physical play, and he is spot on.

I know, everyone is always a liar when they call you on your inconsistencies.

Every conversation and debate we have, always winds up the same way. In the end you'll change course and eventually come around to what I've been telling you was the case from the get go.
- MJL

You are a funny guy!

Sanheim has 11 ES pts in his last 19 games. Only Letang has more. These games encapsulate the games after AV was fired. If he Sucks, with a capital S,m how are his numbers significantly better than the guy who he plays with the most? The guy that checks all the boxes.
- THE BLACK HAND

Well, this is a very small sample. Could be a blip....