Rasmus Ristolainen''s current metrics are not awful. They aren't great but they aren't bad either.
- MJL

watch last nights game without looking at the fancy stats, it might teach you something

Jake Voracek is 9th in the league in assists. No one in particular must be a good goal scorer.

Jake Voracek is 9th in the league in assists. No one in particular must be a good goal scorer.
- MJL

I think you have officially taken over PT as the biggest bore on this site.

Jake Voracek is 9th in the league in assists. No one in particular must be a good goal scorer.
- MJL

didnt say he was a bad player, but we know he wasnt a fit here. KNown that for years. ITs funny i was watching moneyball the other day, where the guy picks players just based on stats. Then he cuts guys that are clowns in the clubhouse, and they start winning. Thats the part of a team that you dont understand....its not all stats. You might learn one day

I think you have officially taken over PT as the biggest bore on this site.
- Angus4444

lol

Have you by any chance looked at or read any of the articles and media reports on Ristolainen as a player in his career? I wouldn't even say the majority of it, it's more like all of it was not favorable towards the player over his entire career. The data available also supported that. Is he a different player now? I have my doubts but we'll see.

Weber is a potential hall of fame player who was perennial Norris trophy finalist. Pronger is going to be in the Hall of Fame and is a Norris and Hart trophy winner. Ristolainen is not the same type of player as they are. Jovanovski in his prime was much better than Ristolainen has ever been
- MJL

Sure I posted one earlier. Also never said he was as good as those players just like you were not comparing him to Gudas.

Glad we finally brought a guy like him in. Been playing great since he got healthy.

Anyone who follows his team and I mean anyone understands the importance of what this guy brings and the fact that there has been a void in that kind of player for many years here. Many many years. They gave up a ton for him. A ton, but that should not retract from analyzing his play.

Dude was a beast last game just as Jonesy pointed out and that guy kinda knows what he is talking about.

Sure I posted one earlier. Also never said he was as good as those players just like you were not comparing him to Gudas.

Glad we finally brought a guy like him in. Been playing great since he got healthy.

Anyone who follows his team and I mean anyone understands the importance of what this guy brings and the fact that there has been a void in that kind of player for many years here. Many many years. They gave up a ton for him. A ton, but that should not retract from analyzing his play.

Dude was a beast last game just as Jonesy pointed out and that guy kinda knows what he is talking about.
- Joe Nardone

exactly, its called TEAM, not individual stats. Lesser players can make a team perform better, for various reasons, chemistry, they bring something that other players dont, could be many reasons.

\
this is what you responded to "Not saying he is in their league, but he sure as heck was last night." but then you want to argue otherwise....lol, give it a rest man
- bradster

Dude he he beyond reproach

Dude was a beast last game just as Jonesy pointed out and that guy kinda knows what he is talking about.
- Joe Nardone

anyone that watched saw he was awesome last night. We wouldnt have won without him. Hopefully he can continue to play great.

Jake Voracek is 9th in the league in assists. No one in particular must be a good goal scorer.
- MJL

I liked Jake just like you, but he or g had to go.

Plus he got plenty of pp time last year and our pp sucked.

We got a guy who is a diff kind of player and saves some scratch. I love that he kills penalties.
I love anyone who kills penalties after last year.

Even the road announcers were commenting on Risto’s overall effectiveness along the wall, in front of the net and physical intimidation factor in general. His compete level. Especially in front of the net and supporting goalies.

Other point made was his skating and how effective he is when healthy and skating well.

Another commented, an ex Sabre player, said any d who had 4 consecutive 40 pt years can can bring the total package for a defenceman. Sure he got some pp time, but then again who did he play with..

Reading the same / similar from National hockey writers. They also commented on him being guilty of trying to do too much and over compensating for others Not all 100% positive, but you can kinda understand what Fletcher was thinking and we are seeing just that the past few games. Hopefully it continues.

I for one thought we gave up a ton and was skeptical about the move, but anyone who has seen the game a ton (especially in person) and maybe played the game a bit understands what this guy can bring.

If you are kinda a pacifist and think hockey is played with a scientific calculator than I would say Risto is probably not for you…

Naturally, his type of player (Weber, Jovo, Pronger) guys who can play incredibly physical just do not impress certain folks out there. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Not saying he is in their league, but he sure as heck was last night. 40 pt guy - that physically effective in his own end. He can play for my team any day.

Who was the last d we had that could fly as a dman and punish players the way he does? Also put up a 40 spot? How may of those guys are actually in the league?
- Joe Nardone

Some guys just don’t like to be proved wrong. They think by making statements about a players past that are not based in truth we should all just take their word for it. They make poop up. It’s this new “fake news” phenomenon. Yes the player has some warts to his game, but nowhere near the way some goes on about. I was on the fence about Risto but knew he was a definite upgrade, I’m still not fully sure about how much of an upgrade but it’s pretty obvious he brings attributes that others don’t have. His actual play will form the rest of my opinion.
It’s always amusing to literally watch something and have someone tell you that you are not seeing what your actually watching. The best is when someone doesn’t even watch a game but can tell you how a guy played by simply regurgitating his analytical data from the game…laughable.

Sure I posted one earlier. Also never said he was as good as those players just like you were not comparing him to Gudas.

Glad we finally brought a guy like him in. Been playing great since he got healthy.

Anyone who follows his team and I mean anyone understands the importance of what this guy brings and the fact that there has been a void in that kind of player for many years here. Many many years. They gave up a ton for him. A ton, but that should not retract from analyzing his play.

Dude was a beast last game just as Jonesy pointed out and that guy kinda knows what he is talking about.
- Joe Nardone

He was healthy as soon as he was playing. He's played 12 games. Mediocre to poor for 8 games and has played well for 4.

I would disagree that he is the kind of player that this team needs. In fact in my opinion, he's not the kind of player this team needs. The biggest void on this team continues to be a two way defenseman who drives play. Who creates offense with transition play. That's what the NHL is about these days. That describes the best defenseman in the NHL these days.

It's nice to have a physical defenseman but you don't pay 1st round picks for that player or sign him to long term deals. Simply because you can get that quality much cheaper.

I liked Jake just like you, but he or g had to go.

Plus he got plenty of pp time last year and our pp sucked.

We got a guy who is a diff kind of player and saves some scratch. I love that he kills penalties.
I love anyone who kills penalties after last year.
- Joe Nardone

The underlying numbers state that Atkinson hasn't made a big difference on the PK. Although that's not entirely on him as they don't play him big minutes on the PK. I personally think he should play more on the PK than he does.

He was healthy as soon as he was playing. He's played 12 games. Mediocre to poor for 8 games and has played well for 4.

I would disagree that he is the kind of player that this team needs. In fact in my opinion, he's not the kind of player this team needs. The biggest void on this team continues to be a two way defenseman who drives play. Who creates offense with transition play. That's what the NHL is about these days. That describes the best defenseman in the NHL these days.

It's nice to have a physical defenseman but you don't pay 1st round picks for that player or sign him to long term deals. Simply because you can get that quality much cheaper.
- MJL

i think every fan.....except maybe yourself were embarassed the flyers had no pushback to physicality last year., G got manhandled by washington, Oskar had to drop the mitts. And chuck has addressed that and the team is playing much better. And come playoff time, it doesnt get more physical than that . Even JVR is more physical having those guys on the team ,it brings it out of others....Again, this is part of a team thing that you dont understand, so i wont keep going on about it. You just dont get it
why do you think tampa picked up goodrow and coleman then went on to win the cup? Just coincidence?

Hart looks great. Happy for Hayes and glad he didn't re-injure himself. MacEwen only played about 7:00 minutes, but it seemed like the announcers were praising him all game long.

Something has to be done about the PP. It's pitiful....

Hart looks great. Happy for Hayes and glad he didn't re-injure himself. MacEwen only played about 7:00 minutes, but it seemed like the announcers were praising him all game long.

Something has to be done about the PP. It's pitiful....
- Thors-Hammer

it would be good if we could decline a PP, its so awful it gives the other team momentun lol

1 is Hurts
2 is Wentz
- 2Real

That's what I said.

If Hurts had exhibited the same play without many of the intangibles: the clear respect he commands in the locker room, his marked improvement in many areas (eg: much better with INTs this season), the fact that he slides when he can, the fact that every now and then he throws dimes (which presumably means he has the ability, and hopefully the %s will improve), how much more often we score in the red zone, his determination .. I would have said: cut the cord. Use the picks.

But I would like them to ride him for some more time. Prescott was INT prone in his early years, made poor reads. He is now elite. It can happen. Not saying it will, but there is something about the guy.

For god's sake Howie: keep the picks. No Russel Wilson. No massage molestor. I would honestly trade Cox for a 3rd+ and reload on the D big time.

I think you have officially taken over PT as the biggest bore on this site.
- Angus4444

pt resents this comment and will post an eight paragraph diatribe at his convenience

I am not, and do not speak for said poster (pt), I know, like we all do, what is coming

I just had a funny notion that would only happen to the Flyers. Check this out. The Flyers get all giddy with Risto's recent play and they sign him to this long term lucrative deal, and then he suddenly sucks again. It could only happen here. On another note, gotta love this ESPN/TNT package!!! TNT's one game this week is on right now!! It's a riveting game between the Seattle Kraken and the Chi Town Blackhawks with a combined record of 8-19-3, and it came on at 10PM this evening. I think this is a conspiracy between ESPN/TNT to make the sport disappear right before our eyes.

i think every fan.....except maybe yourself were embarassed the flyers had no pushback to physicality last year., G got manhandled by washington, Oskar had to drop the mitts. And chuck has addressed that and the team is playing much better. And come playoff time, it doesnt get more physical than that . Even JVR is more physical having those guys on the team ,it brings it out of others....Again, this is part of a team thing that you dont understand, so i wont keep going on about it. You just dont get it
why do you think tampa picked up goodrow and coleman then went on to win the cup? Just coincidence?
- bradster

The man can speak for himself (and speak he does, quite often), but I have never seen MJL say that toughness is irrelevant. Rather, I think he says that in and of itself, its value is significantly overrated. I agree with him on that.

Nobody in his right mind would say the former (that toughness is irrelevant). One of the reasons Habs won over VGK last year is the punishment their big guys on D meted out to the forwards. But those defenders were solid players who had the added edge to their game, not tough guys whose primary calling card was their toughness. Indeed, when Weber tried to goon it up with Point esp and Kucherov in the 5th (6th?) game, it had no effect whatsoever.

Your comparison with TB is misguided on so many levels that I can't address it now.

Wertz instrumental in a SB championship

Hurts - Wore a Kobe jacket
- corduroy

nah that was all Foles

That's what I said.

If Hurts had exhibited the same play without many of the intangibles: the clear respect he commands in the locker room, his marked improvement in many areas (eg: much better with INTs this season), the fact that he slides when he can, the fact that every now and then he throws dimes (which presumably means he has the ability, and hopefully the %s will improve), how much more often we score in the red zone, his determination .. I would have said: cut the cord. Use the picks.

But I would like them to ride him for some more time. Prescott was INT prone in his early years, made poor reads. He is now elite. It can happen. Not saying it will, but there is something about the guy.

For god's sake Howie: keep the picks. No Russel Wilson. No massage molestor. I would honestly trade Cox for a 3rd+ and reload on the D big time.
- PT21

i like hurts but the team is outperforming my expectations right now

pt resents this comment and will post an eight paragraph diatribe at his convenience

I am not, and do not speak for said poster (pt), I know, like we all do, what is coming
- corduroy

It's funny, as soon as I see that dude make a post I just skip right on to the next post!! One of those I'm the smartest guy in the class....please look at me types.

one was drafted in the 2nd round
one got us at least a 1st round pick
- 2Real

Who cares. Wentz was awful last year. Hurts has been ok this year.