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

RR has 6 ES points in that time frame & between the 2 lets Sanheim rush the puck. If Pukeheim doesn’t suck how does RR. Not a huge difference in points when they play different roles

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)
- PT21

well I was talking about us needing someone physical, and provided a video showing the hits.
You wanted to talk about positioning etc. So we werent talking apples to apples. My point is RR is our only D man that is physical and thats something we need. Sure i wish he was a better player. But that isnt what i was refering to. If we had other D that were physical then sure lets get rid of him, or lets replace him with someone similar but cheaper. But since he is our only physical player, i think he fills a need.

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

Sanheim has been on the ice for almost every goal against the last few games and has played a direct hand in allowing the goal in half of em. Risto out there with him. Please don’t post a hand picked stat like this, we watch the games

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
- Fopa21

I agree that there are people who have a predisposition to intensity and will always play that way regardless of stature.

Im just saying we may not be doing enough organizationally to maximize our own players physicality. I would like to see us treat it as a skill like any other and exhaust all avenues to increase it. Hell...put Gary Roberts on staff and let's see if the situation improves.

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

i think i saw it in an appleyard tweet

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.
- psuhockey

He is going to get paid regardless I think we all can agree on.

Now how much of an overpay will be needed do you think? Not saying I totally disagree as money well it talks.

Plus he knows how philly fans are and they will turn on him in an instant. He is smarter than that.

well I was talking about us needing someone physical, and provided a video showing the hits.
You wanted to talk about positioning etc. So we werent talking apples to apples. My point is RR is our only D man that is physical and thats something we need. Sure i wish he was a better player. But that isnt what i was refering to. If we had other D that were physical then sure lets get rid of him, or lets replace him with someone similar but cheaper. But since he is our only physical player, i think he fills a need.
- bradster

It’s amazing how much time Flyers fans waste talking about bottom of the roster players when the glaring need is at the top. Ristolainen neither hurts or helps this team as it’s constructed. Who cares about a 4-5 defenseman when the team doesn’t have a one and with the way Provorov has performed doesn’t have a two either.

When it cones to RR the GM clearly has tunnel vision 100%. You do not pay him 2nd pair money. He needs to find better value.

Also I want guys who have been part of some winning culture elsewhere. RR has been on sad sack teams his whole career. This is all he knows. Time to move on.
- hello it's me 2050

Agreed. After watching Risto play, I like his style and physicality. But not sure he is 2nd pair talent. Probably 3rd. A physical 3rd pair d man will have limited impact due to 3rd pair minutes. The only way this situation works is to give him 3rd pair money, which won't probably work during negotiations. Either Fletcher will be desperate and resign him with a small raise, or he'll choose to move on. It's more likely he'll choose a more competitive team and a chance to remain 2nd pair.

RR has 6 ES points in that time frame & between the 2 lets Sanheim rush the puck. If Pukeheim doesn’t suck how does RR. Not a huge difference in points when they play different roles
- Fopa21

Lets Sanheim rush the puck? Have you even been watching the games? Risto goes on plenty of his own adventures, lol. He's not sitting back like Braun and tidying up the house.

(And for the record, Sanheim has sucked at times. Definitely not with a 'capital S' tho)

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.
- bradster

I do not think it is hate. Just calling it like it is really. He is overpaid and not worth what the Flyers will likely pay.

RR Ivan and Sanheim are the only 3 d that matter right now when critiquing imo. The other 2 are very underwhelming as well. Both much better than RR imo.

i think i saw it in an appleyard tweet
- THE BLACK HAND

Appleyard's been laying into the front office pretty good lately lol

Well, this is a very small sample. Could be a blip....
- PT21

Could be but it also represents half the season. I also think he was another young player that AV hindered and I dont think its a coincidence that his production has improved with the dismissal of AV. Same applies to Lindblom

well I was talking about us needing someone physical, and provided a video showing the hits.
You wanted to talk about positioning etc. So we werent talking apples to apples. My point is RR is our only D man that is physical and thats something we need. Sure i wish he was a better player. But that isnt what i was refering to. If we had other D that were physical then sure lets get rid of him, or lets replace him with someone similar but cheaper. But since he is our only physical player, i think he fills a need.
- bradster

Get the puck moving franchise D guys first. Look at some of the trendsetters: Makar. Miro. Hamilton. Slavin won the Lady Bing last year! Not very phsyical. Ekblad and Hedman are physical, but that's low down in their list of strengths.

Build team toughness, then get guys on the 3rd/4th line (and 3rd pairing) who are physical. Thise guys are always floating around.

Indirectly, the $ you are giving up to sign a low priority order of importance first, and the picks you are giving up, are subtracting from your ability to get higher order priority things later. That's the crux of the matter.

Lets Sanheim rush the puck? Have you even been watching the games? Risto goes on plenty of his own adventures, lol. He's not sitting back like Braun and tidying up the house.
- Tomahawk

I didn’t say RR doesn’t take some offensive chances but surely you see Sanheim rushes the puck more & jumps into the rush more than RR

Appleyard's been laying into the front office pretty good lately lol
- Tomahawk

he has a great one regarding draft positioning and likelihood of obtaining top tier talent....it will take me a minute to find it

& if the big knock on RR is he takes himself out of position looking for the hit & shouldn’t be paid what he might get. What do yoh pay a dman who can’t skate & continuously trips over himself? Seems like it might be an issue given the position. Been a few years of that

I didn’t say RR doesn’t take some offensive chances but surely you see Sanheim rushes the puck more & jumps into the rush more than RR
- Fopa21

Not really. Risto doesn't give AF, he'll rush up the ice into multiple defenders, he'll carry the puck deep into the ozone, he'll just do whatever he wants when he wants.

He's not even watching his partner (see: Hintz breakaway from the other night)

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?
- MBFlyerfan

nice assumptions lol

It’s amazing how much time Flyers fans waste talking about bottom of the roster players when the glaring need is at the top. Ristolainen neither hurts or helps this team as it’s constructed. Who cares about a 4-5 defenseman when the team doesn’t have a one and with the way Provorov has performed doesn’t have a two either.
- psuhockey

lets talk mcewen again lol

Much though I enjoy you seemingly provoking the same exasperated response in MJL that he provokes in me, and you even adopting one of his trademark phrases (2nd bold) I have to say I do remember the first bold instance. It was last playoffs. You saw the teams play, and saw their speed and youth, and said something like: "I am beginning to believe we need a complete rebuild/ total teardown"

Just piping in. Carry on.
- PT21

Yes, I might have said that at the time in that moment, sure. But over this off season and during this season I have been consistent that a 4 or 5 year rebuild is not needed and I have stated many times why, with specifics, which is something that MJL will never give because he really doesn't have a clue! He's one for telling everyone else they are wrong and making up things they said to throw in their face, but never ONCE has he demonstrated that he has any ability to specifically state what he thinks should be done, NEVER, NOT ONCE!

I do not think it is hate. Just calling it like it is really. He is overpaid and not worth what the Flyers will likely pay.

RR Ivan and Sanheim are the only 3 d that matter right now when critiquing imo. The other 2 are very underwhelming as well. Both much better than RR imo.
- hello it's me 2050

if he'd take 3-4ish, id sign him, i think he is overpaid even at 5

He has stated that countless times.
- MJL

Oh Countless .. then it should be easy for you to present ONE POST! I'll wait.

he has a great one regarding draft positioning and likelihood of obtaining top tier talent....it will take me a minute to find it
- THE BLACK HAND

He also has one about how much better the 2023 draft is expected to be vs. this years and that if we move players we should try make it for 2023 picks. Most draft experts see it that way as well. It always seems the year we get a kick at the "lottery" pick range that the players aren't that great when looking at top 10

Just watching the few games they could get off in the world jr. championship it seemed clear Bedard > Wright.

Not really. Risto doesn't give AF, he'll rush up the ice into multiple defenders, he'll carry the puck deep into the ozone, he'll just do whatever he wants when he wants.

He's not even watching his partner (see: Hintz breakaway from the other night)
- Tomahawk

https://twitter.com/avapp...5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=


Its not as detailed as i first thought