I also defended RR but understand the rationale for signing him. He definitely makes many bonehead plays but he is what he is. I still think he'd be a serviceable player on a good team. He was part of the Sabres mess and now our mess. He has his flaws but is not the reason why the Flyers are terrible.
- Don Nachbaur

Yes, Risto is not the reason the Flyers are terrible, at least not the sole reason. I mean does it make sense to commit $25M+ on what you describe as a "serviceable player on a good team"? Were the Flyers a good team last year? Are they going to be this year? If the answer to both these questions is No, then by your own definition how can there be any reasonable rational for this signing?

G looking great so far. His line with Pinto and Cat is kinda disgusting.

So you watched him play his 66 games. Let the season play out. Watched an off season play out and now decided to go in the complete opposite of your own argument? I think you abandoned your own line of thinking so some people on this board would start to accept you, which is sad.
- SuperSchennBros

This is absolutely NOT TRUE! Its ridiculous! I am a fact based person and I believe what I see on the ice, not on a spread sheet. I came into last season excited about the moves Fletcher made and excited about this team. While many hated what Fletcher did simply because he is was not Ron Hextall, I applauded his bold moves and defended them. But then last season happened, and even though a lot of it was due to an unprecedented amount of injuries, there were significant other factors also, including AV going off the rails and no replacement being hired. But putting all that aside, I have had a year to watch Risto and like I said, I have determined he is not a good defenseman, certainly not one that warranted a contract extension with the Flyers for that kind of money! It has nothing to do with anyone on this forum or being liked, I see things as they are and accept them.

Recall all the slack I got about saying I was on the fence with Farabee on whether he would become a top forward after he only played about 1/2 season? While everyone else had Farabee penciled in as the next Simon Gagne, I honestly didn't see enough of him to make that determination. After seeing him now, it turns out I was right. He is a good, but not close to great player and will not be a needle mover for this team. So sometimes I am right, and sometimes I am not. With Risto, I gave him a shot and defended him when he deserved to be defended. But today, right now, he is not a good defenseman, and I am afraid at best he can become serviceable, and that is NOT worth $25M+!

Bill, has Provorov ever played through major injury you’re aware of in his career?
- SuperSchennBros

Separated shoulder in the 2018 playoffs. At least a couple of bone bruises serious enough to keep a player out a week or two. Probably others.

I think it’s foolish to use whatever Ristolainen did in Buffalo against him to an extent. I mean you can’t just pretend his time in Buffalo didn’t happen, there is obviously a book on the player. What I think is note worthy is, Buffalo was using this guy like he was a number one defenseman for years and by doing so that approach was apart of Buffalo’s failures. Ristolainen should be in a much different role in Philadelphia. Definitely a more limited role. My problem is, none of the arguments on these boards are even remotely objective. You can’t blame the guy for every goal alllowed simply because he was on the ice. We all know Risto is capable of some blunders but what I was reading today really let Hayes off the hook because Risto was on the ice. Puck goes into the net and Hayes is literally standing next to nobody. That’s not good.
- SuperSchennBros

You're right, I never said Hayes played well today, in fact I pointed him out as playing awful. But that doesn't let Risto off the hook. In team sports you have to do your job and hope your teammates do theirs. Hayes was not doing his job as you rightly pointed out, but neither did Risto. On the first Bruins goal, Risto was in the box for a bad penalty. That goal completely changed the complexion of the game. The 2nd Bruins goal all started because Trent Frederick pantsed Risto for the puck in the corner and got the puck out in front of the Flyers net. Risto and York both got beat for the puck and the Bruins scored. Lycksell and Hayes were standing there looking for the puck to squirt to them so they can get it out, which is exactly what they should be doing. Its a 2nd effort league, and the Bruins were just better on that play than Risto and York. On the 3rd Bruins goal, Hayes was just beat by Beecher to the net for an easy deflection. Risto and Sanheim were both on the ice and neither did anything to knock that shot pass down, but that goal was on Hayes for losing Beecher in the slot.

You are right about Hayes tonight. The reason risto gets poop on almost every goal even if he’s either not totally at fault or others on a certain play are also at fault is because he does none of the things he was brought in to do. For example goal today where he’s not clearing the porch. Goal wasn’t totally on him but if he did what he was sold to the fans on at least he’d be somewhat doing his job.


Never defend that bum at all. You’ll just end up looking silly because well as buffalo fans learned there’s no defending him. He sucks. Only one tool in league would give up so much for him and extend too. And we have that tool. Yay.
- SMS4016

Perfect explanation!

Connor Bunnerman put on waivers by Florida yesterday also, Hextall has decisions to make :-)

This franchise is a nightmare