I think you've made a good post pointing out the fans perspective. I would just add that when he first got to the Flyers. Hakstol healthy scratched Sanheim quite a few times.
- MJL

Just his rookie year right? He also went back to the Phantoms for a few months in the second half. He wasn’t an established NHLer. How about in the five years since?

This also reminds me of how Hakstol pissed off some fans with his lineup decisions too.

Just his rookie year right? He also went back to the Phantoms for a few months in the second half. He wasn’t an established NHLer. How about in the five years since?

This also reminds me of how Hakstol pissed off some fans with his lineup decisions too.
- NC Flyers Fan

I don't recall in my memory that he was scratched in the last 5 years but that doesn't mean it didn't happen.

Are you on the inside Bill?
- MJL

Bill = Mr. Francis?

With the exception of the known fact of age. Everything you posted here is inaccurate. Let's first start with Sanheim. The numbers have been given to you in the past on Sanheim and what he can produce. Sanheim was decent defensively this season. He did not have a good season offensively. Sanheim in his career has shown far more than just flashes once in a while. He's put up strong even strength scoring and puck possession numbers in past seasons.

As far as Ristolainen having his best all around season in the NHL. I have no clue what you're basing that on and I would suggest. Neither do you. As Tomahawk posted earlier. Although he did improve, mostly due to systems, his running around and taking himself out of position. He was still awful in net front coverage, blueline defense and puck transition. He had the second worst offensive season in his career.
- MJL

so a couple hours ago, it was sanhiem is a good player, now he is decent defensively and not a good season offensively. So you could say bad offensively, but you are trying to chose your words carefully. You flip flopped in a couple hours. Just calling you out because you call everyone else out

Isles bore down any matchup 💤 😴

Isles bore down any matchup 💤 😴
- THE EVIL WITHIN

Brent burns trying to give the game away

Well, well, well the cats punched the Bruins right in the mouth

Well, well, well the cats punched the Bruins right in the mouth
- Trox88

Wonderful

As I have said many times, Risto is the best defenseman on the Flyers, and this story just antoher example of it. Archaic coach .. are you kidding me!
- jd250

Uh oh! Checking in late tonight and figure I'll skip the rest of the pages before reading the responses to this and how Risto is a mediocre 3rd pair defenseman 'at best' and how Torts is an 'archaic' coach.

so a couple hours ago, it was sanhiem is a good player, now he is decent defensively and not a good season offensively. So you could say bad offensively, but you are trying to chose your words carefully. You flip flopped in a couple hours. Just calling you out because you call everyone else out
- bradster

I hear you on this. Risto's issues last season were his defensive lapses, and he improved on them this season. Risto was not perfect but he improved in areas that he was much maligned for on here last year. Of course, the Great One will remind us that Risto is a mediocre 3rd pair D-man at best.

Guys around here are talking about John Tortorella like he’s the Kingpin of crime in a Daredevil comic book. Like, we should all fear that he’s becoming too close with Danny Briere and this could result in a mysterious accident (like his car breaks go out), dies and guess who is next in line to take the general manager’s job? I mean, it’s the perfect plan to ride to power.

This is how ridiculous most of you sound to me.
- SuperSchennBros

One would think after years and years of complete dysfunction, Flyerdom would rejoice in the prospect of the coach and the front office being on the same page. For all the criticism towards Torts, it is indisputable that by the end of the season players like Tippett, Frost, Foerester, TK, and Cates all seemed to improve and stabilize their play. Even Sandheim appeared to have played better by the last portion of the season. Add in the return to good play by Hart, and the improvement by Seeler and even Risto (although still massively overpaid), the first year of the Torts era might not be as bad as some believe. Pretty much all of us thought he’d drive TK out yet it seems Torts style has brought out the best in him. Not so much with Hayes, but you can win em all. If Tippett could finish he’d be a 30-40 goal scorer haha. My point is, it doesn’t appear that Torts insistence on a 209 foot game has killed the offensive creativity and potential of TK, Tippett, and Frost but actually improved their offensive creativity and potential. Anyway, back to the original point, it’s not a bad thing that the coach and front office are on the same page.

Uh oh! Checking in late tonight and figure I'll skip the rest of the pages before reading the responses to this and how Risto is a mediocre 3rd pair defenseman 'at best' and how Torts is an 'archaic' coach.
- Don Nachbaur

It's incredibly ironic how you talk about skipping posts while making a post with absolutely zero value that everyone should skip.

I hear you on this. Risto's issues last season were his defensive lapses, and he improved on them this season. Risto was not perfect but he improved in areas that he was much maligned for on here last year. Of course, the Great One will remind us that Risto is a mediocre 3rd pair D-man at best.
- Don Nachbaur

Which specific areas did he improve on?

One would think after years and years of complete dysfunction, Flyerdom would rejoice in the prospect of the coach and the front office being on the same page. For all the criticism towards Torts, it is indisputable that by the end of the season players like Tippett, Frost, Foerester, TK, and Cates all seemed to improve and stabilize their play. Even Sandheim appeared to have played better by the last portion of the season. Add in the return to good play by Hart, and the improvement by Seeler and even Risto (although still massively overpaid), the first year of the Torts era might not be as bad as some believe. Pretty much all of us thought he’d drive TK out yet it seems Torts style has brought out the best in him. Not so much with Hayes, but you can win em all. If Tippett could finish he’d be a 30-40 goal scorer haha. My point is, it doesn’t appear that Torts insistence on a 209 foot game has killed the offensive creativity and potential of TK, Tippett, and Frost but actually improved their offensive creativity and potential. Anyway, back to the original point, it’s not a bad thing that the coach and front office are on the same page.
- mikeyo27

The issue isn't that the coach the front office are on the same page. The issue is that apparently, the coach and GM will have equal say. Some of us believe that there should clear hierarchy. I, MBflyer, Tomahawk and others believed that TK would do well under Tortorella. Are you aware of the report by the Athletic that Tortorella had to be convinced by the front office to play the younger players more over the veterans?

The issue isn't that the coach the front office are on the same page. The issue is that apparently, the coach and GM will have equal say. Some of us believe that there should clear hierarchy. I, MBflyer, Tomahawk and others believed that TK would do well under Tortorella. Are you aware of the report by the Athletic that Tortorella had to be convinced by the front office to play the younger players more over the veterans?
- MJL

I did not see that report from the Athletic. If that report is true it is concerning. Hopefully there is a hierarchy that exists but I’m a bit in the dark beyond the eye test. I’ll have to find that article.

Which specific areas did he improve on?
- MJL

I see you are focusing on this and not your flip flopping, good choice

It's incredibly ironic how you talk about skipping posts while making a post with absolutely zero value that everyone should skip.
- MJL

I figured you had everything covered so no need to check and see if I missed anything new. Adding value is impossible, as your superior knowledge far surpasses anything that anyone could possibly add. 2 years and counting...Risto is at best a mediocre 3rd pair D-man. We get it. It's nice out...take a break from the keyboard and get outside for some fresh air.

I figured you had everything covered so no need to check and see if I missed anything new. Adding value is impossible, as your superior knowledge far surpasses anything that anyone could possibly add. 2 years and counting...Risto is at best a mediocre 3rd pair D-man. We get it. It's nice out...take a break from the keyboard and get outside for some fresh air.
- Don Nachbaur

Since you're into telling people what to do. I will give you some friendly advice. You would have no issue if I repeatedly posted in line with your opinion. You don't like or agree with my opinion. There are some choices. You can post and refute my opinion. Which you don't choose to because you can't. You could ignore but you don't choose to do that either. Instead, you just repeatedly make a fool of yourself with posts like you've been making.

Since you're in to telling people what to do. I will give you some friendly advice. You would have no issue if I repeatedly posted in line with your opinion. You don't like or agree with my opinion. There are some choices. You can post and refute my opinion. Which you don't choose to because you can't. You could ignore but you don't choose to do that either. Instead, you just repeatedly make a fool of yourself with posts like you've been making.
- MJL

Don, you arent making a fool of yourself, that is just his normal response.

Since you're into telling people what to do. I will give you some friendly advice. You would have no issue if I repeatedly posted in line with your opinion. You don't like or agree with my opinion. There are some choices. You can post and refute my opinion. Which you don't choose to because you can't. You could ignore but you don't choose to do that either. Instead, you just repeatedly make a fool of yourself with posts like you've been making.
- MJL

Lol love it! You are like one of those pull-string toys from the 70s. Same lines over and over every day. Like I've said before, time for you to get new material. So what, I thought Risto had a better season...he did a better job breaking up plays, was steady in his own end overall, played physically but didn't always go for the big hit, etc. It's an opinion based on the games I saw. I admit that I am not an analytics guy, so I'm sure you can post your usual boring dribble about Risto's flaws. Please carry on with your dream of belittling and insulting anyone that has a different opinion other than yours.

Don, you arent making a fool of yourself, that is just his normal response.
- bradster

Thanks! I'm only on here occasionally the past year and a half but I'm used to it. I actually enjoy it. It's good for my health to get in a few good laughs a day, so all good!

Lol love it! You are like one of those pull-string toys from the 70s. Same lines over and over every day. Like I've said before, time for you to get new material. So what, I thought Risto had a better season...he did a better job breaking up plays, was steady in his own end overall, played physically but didn't always go for the big hit, etc. It's an opinion based on the games I saw. I admit that I am not an analytics guy, so I'm sure you can post your usual boring dribble about Risto's flaws. Please carry on with your dream of belittling and insulting anyone that has a different opinion other than yours.
- Don Nachbaur

It seems as though my lines are doing just fine. With your complete inability to offer any intelligent response to my lines. The fact is that Ristolainen was still pretty poor in net area coverage, blueline defense in breaking up rushes and poor in transition play. His offense was non existent for most of the season. He got better as the season went along offensively but still had one of his worst seasons offensively in the NHL. The only area he improved on was not running around and taking himself out of the play as much. That was mostly due to the Flyers low zone collapse defense that they play under Tortorella. It's the equivalent of putting a dog on a leash and saying he learned not to run away.

There is no belittling going on from my end. You are and have been belittling yourself though but that's your problem.