Sure, but it's also so obvious that it would've been a problem if they didn't admit it.

I took the whole press conference as nothing more than platitudes delivered to the fans.

Don't tell me, show me.

I don't think these guys can pull it off. I'd be happy to be wrong, though.
- Scoob

No, that's fair. I believe Fletcher deserves a chance to put his actions where his mouth is and make the right moves to turn this around. If the team is floundering next year then I perceive Fletcher will be fired and I think that would be an appropriate action given the results.

Okay. Exactly. I’m not disagreeing. Trouba is definitely better thn RR right now. How much better tho?? Trouba makes 8 million for the next 5 years. I expect RR to get something like 5x5 or 5x6 maybe 6x5 but see the first two more likely could be wrong tho.

RR career totals: 581 48 207 255 -175
The minus sticks out but be fair never played on a good team ever.

Trouba totals: 559 59 180 239 36

Trouba is better no doubt but obviously you see the market is the market & RR won’t be overpaid

Even through in another similar player in my opinion like Jake Muzzin who makes 5.625 million

667 67 223 290 66

The market is what the market is & those guys aren’t significantly better thn RR. Better yes
- Fopa21

Trouba is significantly better then RR...RR will get at least 6.5M for 5 from Flyers

There’s a strong case to be made that the flyers are in the worst position of any of the 32 teams

If Ristolainen want to tests the UFA market, he absolutely needs to be dealt ahead of the deadline. Fletcher wants to resign him -- and made that clear yesterday -- and said that's because the team has a need for physical/competitive players as well as adding more high-end skill. I agree with both, and he put Ristolainen in the correct category, too. He's not, and never will be, a "stats" guy. Doesn't mean there's no value there. I think he's done OK. But certainly hasn't addressed what Plan B was for a workaround if Ellis got injured.

To me, it's a matter of cap hit. I'm fine if they want to give him a three-year deal. But not at a higher cap hit than he's already pulling down.

If he moves on, fine. But he's filled a role the Flyers haven't been able to address since Gudas was here, and he's also better when up-ice than Gudas, although not better in the angles/gaps when defending and more prone to gambling.
- bmeltzer

I’m glad someone said this because I really don’t have the same issue with Ristolainen as everyone else. He’s not perfect but he has both pros and cons.

He reminds me a lot of Jeff Petry (lanky, not physical, efficient puck mover, otherwise unheralded) before he blew up. Everybody in EDM thought he was soft and hopeless. It started out that way in MTL too. Then he just blew up in his 30's.

I have no idea if Sanheim can turn a corner like that. But even if he can't, he's still a decent enough player that you can just set and forget him as your #3/4.
- Tomahawk

I watch him game after game, he is right now not a player you can set and forget, he makes way too many mistakes and loses way too many battles.

So your basing your entire assessment of Sanhiem on his xGF%?? Have you noticed how bad the game of baseball has become?
- jd250

It's just a method of encapsulating/aggregating his contributions.

I could list all the individual nice things that he does but I suspect that I'd just be wasting my breath.

He's always been a net positive in xGF%. Means the team has consistently created more HQ scoring chances than they've given up while he's on the ice. There are usually only 50-70 dmen ranked above him, so he's safely a top-4 guy in the league, no matter what team you're talking about.

He's inconsistent, but his baseline is still high enough to warrant a lot of minutes.
- Tomahawk

the issue is not all scoring chances are equal. Id say when he falls and lying on the ice is a much better scoring chance than some still relevant in the play. I like Travis, i dont think they are using him to his potential. When he enters the O zone with speed, he can be quite effective. Rarely see it though

the issue is not all scoring chances are equal.
- bradster

It's a good thing that xG model doesn't treat all scoring chances equally then

It's a good thing that xG model doesn't treat all scoring chances equally then
- Tomahawk

yup, it really differentiates someone lying on the ice. lol

If Ristolainen want to tests the UFA market, he absolutely needs to be dealt ahead of the deadline. Fletcher wants to resign him -- and made that clear yesterday -- and said that's because the team has a need for physical/competitive players as well as adding more high-end skill. I agree with both, and he put Ristolainen in the correct category, too. He's not, and never will be, a "stats" guy. Doesn't mean there's no value there. I think he's done OK. But certainly hasn't addressed what Plan B was for a workaround if Ellis got injured.

To me, it's a matter of cap hit. I'm fine if they want to give him a three-year deal. But not at a higher cap hit than he's already pulling down.

If he moves on, fine. But he's filled a role the Flyers haven't been able to address since Gudas was here, and he's also better when up-ice than Gudas, although not better in the angles/gaps when defending and more prone to gambling.
- bmeltzer

I’m glad someone said this because I really don’t have the same issue with Ristolainen as everyone else. He’s not perfect but he has both pros and cons.
- SuperSchennBros

I agree and it is hard to really judge a new player when this is a complete shxt show, AGAIN

There’s a strong case to be made that the flyers are in the worst position of any of the 32 teams
- Just5

Yes you can. They have no elite young talent on the roster. Hart and Farabee may turn out to be very good. The Phantoms have nothing close to elite. They are locked in for yrs to guys like Couts. Hayes..Atkinson..Ellis who have injury histories and near or over 30. They are in bad shape with the Cap and they have a GM and President who are blind to the issues. If they go the FA way they are going to be forced to grossly overpay like they did ccx with Hayes. No get out of jail free card

I agree and it is hard to really judge a new player when this is a complete shxt show, AGAIN
- wcorvette

true, no one has looked good this year. But the focus is always on RR or Mcewen for some reason.

Lets say CC is friends with several players on team X. They convince him to waive to team X only. Players on team X tell their GM he will waive for us only.

That will put the GM in a huge bind in terms of the return.

Lets say CC is friends with several players on team X. They convince him to waive to team X only. Players on team X tell their GM he will waive for us only.

That will put the GM in a huge bind in terms of the return.
- hello it's me 2050

Been saying all along either G will not waive his NTC or just limit it to a few local teams which will obviously reduce the return. He is going to do what's tight for him and his family especially if he senses he wont be offered a good deal to resign here.

yup, it really differentiates someone lying on the ice. lol
- bradster

If it results in a higher quality scoring chance then yeah.

Doesn’t change the fact that Sanheim stinks as well man, time to face the facts. 300 games in.
- ClaudeFather

Sanheim is an odd case where the advanced stats say one thing and the eye test says something else.

Anyone know when the next World Cup of Hockey is?

Been saying all along either G will not waive his NTC or just limit it to a few local teams which will obviously reduce the return. He is going to do what's tight for him and his family especially if he senses he wont be offered a good deal to resign here.
- hfc355

I think it will be to 1 team only if he waives.

Lets say CC is friends with several players on team X. They convince him to waive to team X only. Players on team X tell their GM he will waive for us only.

That will put the GM in a huge bind in terms of the return.
- hello it's me 2050

He's only waiving for a legit chance at a cup. Penguins, Boston, Florida, Vegas and maybe Washington. Dont see him going to a team where everything has to fall perfect to make it.

Been saying all along either G will not waive his NTC or just limit it to a few local teams which will obviously reduce the return. He is going to do what's tight for him and his family especially if he senses he wont be offered a good deal to resign here.
- hfc355

I don't think he'd accept any destination that wouldn't be able to sign him to an extension. He's probably not simply looking at who has a chance to win this playoffs. He wants to be part of a situation where he has a chance the next 2-5 years.

I don't think he'd accept any destination that wouldn't be able to sign him to an extension. He's probably not simply looking at who has a chance to win this playoffs. He wants to be part of a situation where he has a chance the next 2-5 years.
- Tomahawk

dont you think that kinda depends on if he hasn't already started working on a finish his career deal here?

I just cant see him wanting to sign somewhere else unless they tell him its time to move on permanently.

He's only waiving for a legit chance at a cup. Penguins, Boston, Florida, Vegas and maybe Washington. Dont see him going to a team where everything has to fall perfect to make it.
- juiced

Really? You don't say

Sanheim is an odd case where the advanced stats say one thing and the eye test says something else.
- MBFlyerfan

no, stats rule. Don't even need to watch the games

dont you think that kinda depends on if he hasn't already started working on a finish his career deal here?

I just cant see him wanting to sign somewhere else unless they tell him its time to move on permanently.
- juiced

If he's willing to waive, then he's turning the page and he's done as a Flyer.

Trade and re-sign is a dream. How often has that ever happened?

no, stats rule. Don't even need to watch the games
- bradster

One day the dummies will come up with a better retort than that.

One day.