Yandl has shown he can play better then this….vets do get a longer leash, but a few more games like last night then it’s open for debate. The other side is who replaces him? Are York or Zamula ready….does Adam Clendening get a look…with injuries, Covid who knows what this roster could look like going forward.
- landros 2

Yandle is done. Had a nice adrenaline burst to start being on a new team.

This is why I think the GM needs to address the D at some point. Cant count on Ellis at all to be in the lineup on a steady basis.

So do they go out and get a legit top 4 D? do they get a very good #5 who can move up? Either way the 6 they have now is in no way shape or form good enough for any middle or long term imo.

Hart looks like a different player. He's under control, playing the angles well, controlling rebounds. He's been great.

The PK and defensive structure seem to be better as well.

The lack of scoring and the Ellis situation are two huge issues.

Hart looks like a different player. He's under control, playing the angles well, controlling rebounds. He's been great.

The PK and defensive structure seem to be better as well.

The lack of scoring and the Ellis situation are two huge issues.
- PLindbergh31

100% looks confident and aggressive

Hart looks like a different player. He's under control, playing the angles well, controlling rebounds. He's been great.

The PK and defensive structure seem to be better as well.

The lack of scoring and the Ellis situation are two huge issues.
- PLindbergh31

Hart is doing great, but if the scoring drought continues and he starts to lose 1-0 and 2-1 games, I fear he may meltdown again. I think he is not far removed from his mental fragility

It was always going to take him a few games to get comfortable….new system, new teammates and new city. Risto and Sanheim have both elevated their game as the season has gone on and form a solid, solid 2nd pair group. Good thing AV didn’t take the advice of some around here and split them up. Talk about a hyperbole reaction. I agree early on Risto had some shaky shifts but he has really played well for the last 8 games and those shifts aren’t showing up nearly as often. I still think Risto can elevate his offensive game….maybe even get time running the PP1. Considering how that’s looking it may be something AV tries.
- landros 2

I am all for Risto being more active on the PP, especially if it gives him a chance to shoot the puck more.

Hart is doing great, but if the scoring drought continues and he starts to lose 1-0 and 2-1 games, I fear he may meltdown again. I think he is not far removed from his mental fragility
- DaveofYork

you hope the scoring will turn, you hope Hart can carry until then. I don't other teams are different. They need each part of the team to carry them at times.

I don't know how hockey veterans like you can draw so many conclusions (in either direction:+ or -), from this part of the season. The style of play is so loose right now. Teams don't commit to Team D. Game changes so much in the last half or 1/3 of season.

Risto's shortcoming has always been poor positioning and hockey instincts. Giving up the neutral zone too easily. When the season matures, and the game becomes more cat-and-mouse and attritional, when single mistakes lead to changed outcomes, then you will see the true worth of Risto.

I am prepared to keep an open mind. I have my doubts, but we will see.
- PT21

All you have to do is put down the advanced metrics sheet, open your eyes wide and watch the games!

I cant believe we want to bash Risto again after last nights game.....Can't even give it a rest for one day especially after how he played last night. He was great.....not facts, just my opinion. Not sure how you use facts to justify how someone is great or not as usually there can be facts that prove both ways good or bad, just cherry picking stats will do that.
- bradster

No. He has now played descent in multiple games. Last night he was a big physical presence and kept players away from hart. Mac is another nice pick up

You keep making this claim that you know what you are watching game in and game out. That has proven to be not true by looking at the facts. Most recently by your comment that the Flyers PK has been excellent. While they are in the bottom of the league in scoring chances and high danger chances allowed.
- MJL

The Flyers are currently 2nd in the league in goals against, 3rd in the league in GA/Games played and are tied with the Islanders for 11th in the PK%, just a half a percentage point out of the top 10. That by my definition makes the Flyers a vey good defensive team with an excellent PK. Now is there room for improvement, absolutely there is! The Flyers need more commitment to their defensive structure from all their players to drive down dangerous chances against, and that will come. That is why I brought up that play by Braun the other game where he chased a player behind his own net instead of being disciplined in his structure.

As far as Ristolainen is concerned, there is no factual information that shows that Ristolainen is a difference maker. Provide the information!. You won't because you can't. Let's look at Ristolainen's best trait. Which is playing physical. Radko Gudas, Kyle Buroughs, Josh Brown, Connor Clifton and Mark Borowiecki all hit at a higher rate than Ristolainen does. None of them are dominant defenseman and none are difference makers in this league.

http://www.nhl.com/stats/...sPer60&page=0&pageSize=50

If you want to look at the facts with defenseman who are actually difference makers, we can do that and show you the difference.

Again, you make another comment that Sanheim was the reason why Ristolainen did not play aggressively offensively. You offer no facts or proof to support that. Again, why isn't it the other way around? You can't answer.

Feel free to show me this mounting evidence.
- MJL

OPEN YOUR EYES and WATCH THE GAMES! Advanced metrics are not the way "real" NHL scouts draw conclusions on players .. and I'm very thankful for that because otherwise Risto would not be on this team!

Yandle is done. Had a nice adrenaline burst to start being on a new team.

This is why I think the GM needs to address the D at some point. Cant count on Ellis at all to be in the lineup on a steady basis.

So do they go out and get a legit top 4 D? do they get a very good #5 who can move up? Either way the 6 they have now is in no way shape or form good enough for any middle or long term imo.
- hello it's me 2050

A lot will depend on Ellis’s health. I think they want to do it right with Zamula and York. But both shouldn’t be that far off. I’m not ready to write off Yandl, played to much good hockey for far to long, but his dip in play is concerning, I’m sure to the coaching staff.
As well, Yandl is a new Flyer. This organization owes him nothing with regards to the record. I’m sure in a perfect world he gets the record as I’m sure the coaching staff doesn’t want to sit him. But he needs to be better then he has been the last few games.

The PK is where it is because of goaltending. They allow scoring chances at the 2nd highest rate in the league and high danger chances at the highest rate in the league. The Flyers give up high danger chances at a rate of 29.85/60. For comparison, Calgary give up at a rate of 11.06/60
- MJL

Goalies are your best penalty killer, always have been!

You mean you peruse the profiles?
- PT21

not interesting. some amusing thumbnail avatars I admit but more would be wasted effort. most discussion devolves into "she said, she said" here. quite b!tchy at times, especially for supposed dudes.

A lot will depend on Ellis’s health. I think they want to do it right with Zamula and York. But both shouldn’t be that far off. I’m not ready to write off Yandl, played to much good hockey for far to long, but his dip in play is concerning, I’m sure to the coaching staff.
As well, Yandl is a new Flyer. This organization owes him nothing with regards to the record. I’m sure in a perfect world he gets the record as I’m sure the coaching staff doesn’t want to sit him. But he needs to be better then he has been the last few games.
- landros 2

Honestly, I am starting to cringe every time Yandle is on the ice and the puck enters the Flyers zone. He has a good stick and for the most part seems to be in position, but he seems to turn the puck over at an alarming rate.

Honestly, I am starting to cringe every time Yandle is on the ice and the puck enters the Flyers zone. He has a good stick and for the most part seems to be in position, but he seems to turn the puck over at an alarming rate.
- jd250

I get worried every time he's on the ice and there's a rush the other way. He is so slow getting back it's ridiculous.

A lot will depend on Ellis’s health. I think they want to do it right with Zamula and York. But both shouldn’t be that far off. I’m not ready to write off Yandl, played to much good hockey for far to long, but his dip in play is concerning, I’m sure to the coaching staff.
As well, Yandl is a new Flyer. This organization owes him nothing with regards to the record. I’m sure in a perfect world he gets the record as I’m sure the coaching staff doesn’t want to sit him. But he needs to be better then he has been the last few games.
- landros 2

My approach is you cant count on Ellis at this point. When he is eligible to return will say a lot imo. Is there surgery pending? what exactly is hurt?

I am absolutely ready to write Yandle off. He has been stagnating 5 on 5 for years. His bread and butter were the PP. He isnt helping there at all.

You have more faith in the coaches then I do to do the righ thing.

The Flyers are currently 2nd in the league in goals against, 3rd in the league in GA/Games played and are tied with the Islanders for 11th in the PK%, just a half a percentage point out of the top 10. That by my definition makes the Flyers a vey good defensive team with an excellent PK. Now is there room for improvement, absolutely there is! The Flyers need more commitment to their defensive structure from all their players to drive down dangerous chances against, and that will come. That is why I brought up that play by Braun the other game where he chased a player behind his own net instead of being disciplined in his structure.


- jd250

Have to look at the underlying numbers. They tell the truth. The Flyers are being propped up by goaltending. It's not likely to be sustainable. You brought up Braun incorrectly due to a lack of understanding defensive zone coverage. You constantly bring up watching the game. Watch the game and see how the Flyers play in their system.

OPEN YOUR EYES and WATCH THE GAMES! Advanced metrics are not the way "real" NHL scouts draw conclusions on players .. and I'm very thankful for that because otherwise Risto would not be on this team!
- jd250

The metrics tell you what happens in the game. The metrics tell you that your eyes are faulty.

Goalies are your best penalty killer, always have been!
- jd250

Goalies have always been important on the PK. However you can't expect your PK to remain good all season long when you are bleeding chances at a high rate. The numbers tell us that the PK skaters are not effective at limiting quality chances and that the goaltenders have propped the PK up. Not a way to play all season.

Honestly, I am starting to cringe every time Yandle is on the ice and the puck enters the Flyers zone. He has a good stick and for the most part seems to be in position, but he seems to turn the puck over at an alarming rate.
- jd250

he is falling a bit, literally, that is a concern for me. I hope it isolated but last few games his balance has not been good, which feels like the play is to fast for him

Have to look at the underlying numbers. They tell the truth. The Flyers are being propped up by goaltending. It's not likely to be sustainable. You brought up Braun incorrectly due to a lack of understanding defensive zone coverage. You constantly bring up watching the game. Watch the game and see how the Flyers play in their system.



The metrics tell you what happens in the game. The metrics tell you that your eyes are faulty.
- MJL

you dont even need to watch the games to know how players are playing....lol

Really AV is the most important person for the rest of this month. The team has good MOJO but the lines need tweaking, he needs to recognize it and make the right calls. Three seasons ago he hit the right button all the time, last season the wrong button, lets see this season.

How bad does the Flyers PP have to get for Therrien to be fired? They got rid of Voracek and Ghost who are piling up PP points for their new teams, meanwhile the Flyers struggle to even get set up and Yandle looks a shell of what he was in October. I like Atkinson a lot overall, but he has zero PP points all season. Without Jake to carry the puck into the zone anymore, they could really use Sanheim's skating ability with the man advantage.
- Feanor

Of all the moves they made, the one I thought they would do is rid themselves of Therrien and Yeo.

It's hard to pin it all on the coaches, because I do see some boneheaded passing going on out there, but the PP really does look blah.

you dont even need to watch the games to know how players are playing....lol
- bradster

So. Weird question. Everyone craps on risto. But looking at the numbers he is above sanhiem in a lot of categories. I guess Travis is less than mediocre?

Metrics are a tool. Not the end all say all.

The Flyers are currently 2nd in the league in goals against, 3rd in the league in GA/Games played and are tied with the Islanders for 11th in the PK%, just a half a percentage point out of the top 10. That by my definition makes the Flyers a vey good defensive team with an excellent PK. Now is there room for improvement, absolutely there is! The Flyers need more commitment to their defensive structure from all their players to drive down dangerous chances against, and that will come. That is why I brought up that play by Braun the other game where he chased a player behind his own net instead of being disciplined in his structure.


OPEN YOUR EYES and WATCH THE GAMES! Advanced metrics are not the way "real" NHL scouts draw conclusions on players .. and I'm very thankful for that because otherwise Risto would not be on this team!
- jd250

Uses stats to pump up the PK and the D but OPEN YOUR EYES...cant make this poop up

So. Weird question. Everyone craps on risto. But looking at the numbers he is above sanhiem in a lot of categories. I guess Travis is less than mediocre?

Metrics are a tool. Not the end all say all.
- Peter Richards

Both Sanheim and Ristolainen have played well individually and as a pairing for about 4 games now. Hopefully that is a trend that continues. However in previous games, both were mediocre to bad. You and I even agreed on one game where Sanheim was really bad.

Have to look at the underlying numbers. They tell the truth. The Flyers are being propped up by goaltending. It's not likely to be sustainable. You brought up Braun incorrectly due to a lack of understanding defensive zone coverage. You constantly bring up watching the game. Watch the game and see how the Flyers play in their system.



The metrics tell you what happens in the game. The metrics tell you that your eyes are faulty.
- MJL

Again, I guarantee you there no such defensive system at any good level of hockey that advocates players chasing other players all over the ice! That is why there is such a thing as defensive structure and why coaches coach players to be disciplined in their structure. When one player leaves there primary area of responsibility, it causes the other players on the ice who see it to react, and sometimes these reactions cause breeches in the structure, which lead to high danger chances against. If you don't understand this, I don't know what else to say.