Thats because he was never used on the PP. He only got a small look near the tail end of the season when we had little to no talent on the PP. Puck moving is not the same as having possession. The Flyers overall were not a good possession team. Yes I would have liked to see Ristolainen contribute more offensively however lets not forget it was his first year on a new team. During the 2nd half when he was healthy he played much better than the 1st half. When Ristolainen had the the puck, more often than not the Flyers were able to cleanly exit the zone.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Sanheim did all the heavy lifting of moving the puck on that pairing. Risto being a good puck mover is something you must have imagined.

Risto was poor all season and missed the last 9 games of the season with an injury. This claim that he got healthy in the 2nd half and played much better is also imaginary.

I know you are just being facetious but RR was not added to reduce GA. He isnt a defensive Dman. He was added because of his size, grit and ability to move the puck.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

wow, good lord. A "top 4" dman Wasn't added to reduce goals against.

This has nothing to do with blaming of defending the GM. I am just responding to the ridiculous claim that its all Fletcher's fault that the Flyers had the 6th worst GAA in the league last year. Yes, bringing in Yandle was not a good move, but the primary reason the Flyers were 6th worst in the league was because Ellis only played 5 games, Couturier only played 29 games and many of those games he was already hurt, and Hayes was hurt most of the season. This is just FACT, not opinion!
- jd250

He is the boss with the hot sauce. So yes it is his fault at the end of the day. This is fact not opinion.

We know the reason. Nashville wanted to shed money. They have an internal budget. They were hoping SEA took RyJo or Duchene but they didnt bite. The fact that he misses time per season was not a hidden fact nor was the current injury. The injury occurred in the preseason and Ellis made it worse by playing through it. It is that simple
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Nashville wanted out from the contract because their GM was smart enough to know that Ellis was going to continue to breakdown. If it's that simple how come you can't see the reality of it?

If your car breaks down, having a less than ideal solution to get you up and running is better than not having a car at all. The Flyers are not going to rebuild. They are going to look for any way to plug the hole and Ellis is a good Dman. Ellis in the lineup for 60-70 games still makes a huge difference to the lineup.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

A car that just runs and gets you up and running is the equivalent of a cheap vet defenseman on a short term deal in the NHL in this context. You also aren't taking out a 6 year note and paying a high payment for a car that is less than ideal and gets you up and running. The ridiculousness continues.

I dont disagree but the discussion was never about whether it was a good move. It was the fact that Fletcher addressed the Goals against issue by acquiring Ellis. Even if it is just for 2/3 of a season the issue was addressed. Addressing the issue doesnt mean its a fool proof fix or a permanent one. Just that something was done to address the problem
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Stating that it's not a discussion about whether it was a good move is beyond absurd. What in the hell do you think it's about?

He is the boss with the hot sauce. So yes it is his fault at the end of the day. This is fact not opinion.
- hello it's me 2050

Dont blaspheme the Geeter

I know you are just being facetious but RR was not added to reduce GA. He isnt a defensive Dman. He was added because of his size, grit and ability to move the puck.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

So physicality around the net and in the crease wasn't a part of why Fletcher went out of traded for Ristolainen? He was never an efficient puck mover. I think you're competing for the lead.

Thats because he was never used on the PP. He only got a small look near the tail end of the season when we had little to no talent on the PP. Puck moving is not the same as having possession. The Flyers overall were not a good possession team. Yes I would have liked to see Ristolainen contribute more offensively however lets not forget it was his first year on a new team. During the 2nd half when he was healthy he played much better than the 1st half. When Ristolainen had the the puck, more often than not the Flyers were able to cleanly exit the zone. In the D zone the Flyers more often than not struggled to gain possession. There was a lot of chasing going on and forwards were turning pucks over in the Dzone and neutral zone.

Provorov actually lead the team in turnovers last season which isnt all that surprising since he probably struggled the most last season
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

It's pretty universal around that the league that team's top defenseman and forwards who play the most lead their team in turnovers. Ristolainen was not effective in moving the puck overall last year. He is average at best in that area. He was average at best all season and there was no major improvement in the 2nd half.

If your car breaks down, having a less than ideal solution to get you up and running is better than not having a car at all. The Flyers are not going to rebuild. They are going to look for any way to plug the hole and Ellis is a good Dman. Ellis in the lineup for 60-70 games still makes a huge difference to the lineup.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

If this team were a car, i'd say that these "less than ideal solutions" have compromised the motor and transmission.

Dont blaspheme the Geeter
- THE BLACK HAND

still alive

If his size, grit and alleged puck moving doesn't reduce goals against, what was the point of adding Risto? Offensively he was mediocre at best. He didn't even contribute on the PP like he did in Buffalo.
- Feanor

Okay, let’s keep the arguments at least reasonable. Risto probably saw like two or three games worth of power play time.

I know you are just being facetious but RR was not added to reduce GA. He isnt a defensive Dman. He was added because of his size, grit and ability to move the puck.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

That is the hysterical. Not brought in to reduce the goals against.

Re-sign a guy for 6 years to not help your goals against.

Bringing in a guy that misses 25 games annually for a bubble team is not addressing anything, especially if that guy is on your top pair.
- ClaudeFather

DING DING DING!!!

still alive
- hello it's me 2050

i see him every day

A car that just runs and gets you up and running is the equivalent of a cheap vet defenseman on a short term deal in the NHL in this context. You also aren't taking out a 6 year note and paying a high payment for a car that is less than ideal and gets you up and running. The ridiculousness continues.
- MJL

Ellis is the equivalent of buying a vintage sports car with a questionable history as a daily driver. When it works, it's a whole lot of fun. But more often than not, you'll be stuck taking the bus.

Ellis is the equivalent of buying a vintage sports car with a questionable history as a daily driver. When it works, it's a whole lot of fun. But more often than not, you'll be stuck taking the bus.
- Tomahawk

Public transport will help save the earth -- Ryan Ellis is the answer to climate change

I cant believe there so much culture change chat with Torts being the new coach. I thought culture was a myth in hockey

I cant believe there so much culture change chat with Torts being the new coach. I thought culture was a myth in hockey
- bradster

From elsewhere:

"I think there's some problems within the locker room that we have to fix"

"...one of my big responsibilities I think, is to get some personality back with the team, and have it a tough place to play, a tough team to play against"

"Are we gonna solve all our problems with scoring goals and all this.... w-w-we're gonna try"

(Regarding Seeler getting respect from the Flyers organization for fighting Deslauriers)
"Even in the process of interviewing, that story's been brought up, and uh gets high marks"

"That Nick Seeler story was brought up to me a couple of times when I've been in Philly"

Public transport will help save the earth -- Ryan Ellis is the answer to climate change
- corduroy

Sanheim did all the heavy lifting of moving the puck on that pairing. Risto being a good puck mover is something you must have imagined.

Risto was poor all season and missed the last 9 games of the season with an injury. This claim that he got healthy in the 2nd half and played much better is also imaginary.
- Feanor

You misread. I said he played well when healthy in the 2nd half. I also didnt imagine Risto moving the puck well. It is something I noticed on a game by game basis. Even when he was on the PP for the small sample size the puck moved much better than it had with Provorov or Yandle.

That is the hysterical. Not brought in to reduce the goals against.

Re-sign a guy for 6 years to not help your goals against.
- furio16

C'mon now. Why would a defenseman be brought into reduce goals against? Yandle now, he was brought in to reduce the goals against.

You misread. I said he played well when healthy in the 2nd half. I also didnt imagine Risto moving the puck well. It is something I noticed on a game by game basis. Even when he was on the PP for the small sample size the puck moved much better than it had with Provorov or Yandle.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

No, it was definitely your imagination. Along with numerous other dreams or fantasies such as only 3 teams will make on offer for Debrincat. Ristolainen wasn't brought in to help with goals against. Ellis is just to get up and running. On and on and on.

still alive
- hello it's me 2050

Well, that's bad luck for me, and bad luck for you if you don't make that deal!

That is the hysterical. Not brought in to reduce the goals against.

Re-sign a guy for 6 years to not help your goals against.
- furio16

If you cant comprehent the fact there are different types of Dmen that excel at different aspects of the game then clearly Im not talking to the right group of people. Frankly im fed up, I come here to discuss hockey and most posters act like douchebags. Im done