Bill Meltzer: Flyers Gameday: 11/4/21 @ PIT; Phantoms Win

Hey all, promise not a poop post, but curious how Risotto's been faring so far? Y'all happy with him?

Hey all, promise not a poop post, but curious how Risotto's been faring so far? Y'all happy with him?
- nfph

At his best he is a mediocre player. Absolutely no hockey sense. Poor in coverage and really makes little impact on the game.

At his best he is a mediocre player. Absolutely no hockey sense. Poor in coverage and really makes little impact on the game.
- MJL

Yeah, sounds a little familiar. Great athlete, poor hockey sense. Above average shot and good amount of physicality. Not a top defenseman on a team with playoff aspirations.

Appreciate the response.

I've liked Risto. When the other team is cycling through the offensive zone and the play comes to his corner he's been great at stopping the cycle and getting pucks back

I've liked Risto. When the other team is cycling through the offensive zone and the play comes to his corner he's been great at stopping the cycle and getting pucks back
- Coburns_Nose

He definitely can be a brick wall when he wants to.

Almost always wants to, too. He thrives on that borderline nasty role.

he doesn't need to be one of our top d men. but like the elements he does bring in regards to the physicality and clearing the porch/battles.

Yeah, sounds a little familiar. Great athlete, poor hockey sense. Above average shot and good amount of physicality. Not a top defenseman on a team with playoff aspirations.

Appreciate the response.
- nfph

he doesn't need to be one of our top d men. but like the elements he does bring in regards to the physicality and clearing the porch/battles.

Yeah, sounds a little familiar. Great athlete, poor hockey sense. Above average shot and good amount of physicality. Not a top defenseman on a team with playoff aspirations.

Appreciate the response.
- nfph

he doesn't need to be one of our top d men. but like the elements he does bring in regards to the physicality and clearing the porch/battles.

I've liked Risto. When the other team is cycling through the offensive zone and the play comes to his corner he's been great at stopping the cycle and getting pucks back
- Coburns_Nose

If that was actually true, the rate of shot attempts and scoring chances when he is on the ice wouldn't be what it is. For a player that is a physical monster, he is very weak on puck battles

he doesn't need to be one of our top d men. but like the elements he does bring in regards to the physicality and clearing the porch/battles.
- Peter Richards

Yes he does. For the price they paid for him and what the cost of resigning him will be, he absolutely needs to be one of our top Dmen. If he's not then you should move on.

Hey all, promise not a poop post, but curious how Risotto's been faring so far? Y'all happy with him?
- nfph

The sabres rookie GM bent good ole fletcher over and reamed his as$ till it bled on the trade

Who gets called up first for a cup of coffee

Frost

or

Mayhew

My $ on Mayhew...

Yes he does. For the price they paid for him and what the cost of resigning him will be, he absolutely needs to be one of our top Dmen. If he's not then you should move on.
- MJL

our top d men are provie and ellis.

the cost to acquire has nothing to do with where he should play or where he slots in to the team.

he doesn't need to be one of our top d men. but like the elements he does bring in regards to the physicality and clearing the porch/battles.
- Peter Richards

Then he's in a perfect spot. Issue here was he was our #2 dman (led the 2nd pairing) - physically more than capable of taking those minutes but too often exposed. A team that could "hide him" in their lineup is the best way to utilize him.

our top d men are provie and ellis.

the cost to acquire has nothing to do with where he should play or where he slots in to the team.
- Peter Richards

A quality team needs more than one top pairing. The cost to acquire a player has everything to do with what the expectations are and what you should get out of a player. If he's not going to be or not expected to be a top defenseman, then why in the hell are you giving up what they did on top of not being cost controlled and needing a new contract?

At his best he is a mediocre player. Absolutely no hockey sense. Poor in coverage and really makes little impact on the game.
- MJL

At his best, he brings a hard to find collection of abilities and has played well overall. First game or two were shaky.

Nearly scored on two different plays last game. Lots of blocked shots and hits in the Edmonton game.

Has played well overall.

I'm not gonna shed a tear because the Pens got hit with the Covid bug.

Risto will never be a top scoring blue liner. He was brought in for his physical play, big shot. I like the fact that he clears the porch and that opposing players are keeping their heads on a swivel when he's on the ice. I'm sure other teams will not be pushing the Flyers around as in previous years, too. The season is early, but so far, Risto has not been constantly putting himself out of position just to make a big hit, ala Denis Gauthier. The price that Fletcher paid for Risto is another discussion.....

A quality team needs more than one top pairing. The cost to acquire a player has everything to do with what the expectations are and what you should get out of a player. If he's not going to be or not expected to be a top defenseman, then why in the hell are you giving up what they did on top of not being cost controlled and needing a new contract?

- MJL

I'm not sure how much I'd be worrying about the cost of his next contract. Maybe a slight raise adjusted for inflation but he's not getting Doughty money.

At his best, he brings a hard to find collection of abilities and has played well overall. First game or two were shaky.

Nearly scored on two different plays last game. Lots of blocked shots and hits in the Edmonton game.

Has played well overall.
- bmeltzer

Glad to hear it, I liked Risto a lot and wish we could have protected him better.

I've liked Risto. When the other team is cycling through the offensive zone and the play comes to his corner he's been great at stopping the cycle and getting pucks back
- Coburns_Nose

I agree, he does certain things well. And the flyers needed someone physical on the back end, and now they have that

At his best, he brings a hard to find collection of abilities and has played well overall. First game or two were shaky.

Nearly scored on two different plays last game. Lots of blocked shots and hits in the Edmonton game.

Has played well overall.
- bmeltzer

I don't agree at all Bill. He bleeds shot attempts and scoring chances. He's poor in board battles, poor in positioning and coverage. While he can make the simple routine pass, he is not efficient in transition. He's the same player he was in Buffalo. Makes no positive impact on winning. The 2nd pairing has been a disaster and the Flyers are never going to be a contending team with that level of play on the 2nd pair.

In the Edmonton game, his pathetic work along the boards was in part responsible for the Hyman goal. Shot attempts when he was on the ice were 12 for and 21 against. Team was also out chanced. He was able to get those blocks and hits because the other team had the puck so much when he was on the ice. It's losing hockey.

If that's playing well, I'd hate to see what playing poorly looks like.

I'm not sure how much I'd be worrying about the cost of his next contract. Maybe a slight raise adjusted for inflation but he's not getting Doughty money.
- nfph

No he's not but as a RH shot with UFA leverage, he can get a decent contract. I'm praying it's not with the Flyers.

No he's not but as a RH shot with UFA leverage, he can get a decent contract. I'm praying it's not with the Flyers.
- MJL

Well not falling for the sunk cost fallacy is tricky, so I'd give you credit there!

If you were going to get rid of one of either Risto or Sandheim, which would you get rid of, or who do the flyers need more?