The only evidence I have is what I watch in the games, which I have stated 1000 times already so I am not going to state them again. Though Risto was on the ice for 4 goals last night, so his metrics are really bad as a result, I don't blame him for one of those goals, not one. Yes he could have done more, anticipated better, etc. but those goals were 100% caused by bad turnovers, ill advised line changes, and poor back coverage by the forwards. Carter Hart could have saved 1 or 2 also.
- jd250

Exactly. How can you not place some of the blame on him? He fails to take Kotkaniemi at the net. On the Lorentz goal, he makes a bad pinch which allows the breakout and the easy zone entry. He is not the main culprit or the only culprit but to completely absolve him is having blinders on. You don't seem to understand what playing in the NHL as a defenseman is. You help to erase errors. Especially when as you claim, he is one of the best defenseman in the NHL. I guarantee you that one of the true top defenseman in the NHL wouldn't let Kotkaniemi skate right by him unchecked to the net.

A - Freak'n - Men!!
- jd250

Maybe I should use a 3 game amount…to prove an absolute BS position I have… some posters show their true colours and some just don’t understand the sport. Some started arguing that Risto sucked after 2 games… now that the actual stats aren’t on their side their whole argument goes by the waste side.
These same posters argue that analytic Data can be skewed because of over usage on a bad team because they play a lot of minutes in tough situations unless of course in pertains to Risto and his time in Buffalo…
I prefer to watch a player and judge his performance from what I’m watching. If I was watching a player struggling, which I’m clearly not, then his stats would bare that out… is he a top pair d man? No… but to me to argue that he’s mediocre says more about the poster and not the player.

Says the nerd who never likely played a sport in his life. If so he was a bench warmer. Ask people who have played at a high level if it is a myth.
- hello it's me 2050

says the coward who has only played pocketball all his life

says the coward who has only played pocketball all his life
- THE BLACK HAND

that is a good one king kenso. You really put me on my place. A guy behind a computer screen calling another a coward. How funny.

Go report some more post you rat fink chump.

that is a good one king kenso. You really put me on my place. A guy behind a computer screen calling another a coward. How funny.

Go report some more post you rat fink chump.
- hello it's me 2050

The only post ive ever reported was your racist bully post to SSB...and we see how seriously the site takes that

The only post ive ever reported was your racist bully post to SSB
- THE BLACK HAND

rat fink. Racist bully...that made my day.

rat fink. Racist bully...that made my day.
- hello it's me 2050

my bad, i forgot to add passive-aggressive

For the uninformed posters here who claim that the stats say otherwise. Here is how Ristolainen ranks in the league for defenseman who have played 100 minutes or more of 5 on 5 ice time this season.

CF% 129th
GF% 101st
xGF% 134th
SCF% 180th
HDCF% 159th

There are 32 teams in the league. These stats are in part the results of a mediocre player who is clearly not a difference maker.

my bad, i forgot to add passive-aggressive
- THE BLACK HAND

Go hug your wife and kids. Tell them you love them.

I have been an AV supporter but I am going to rail against him for a moment. I believe a coaches number one job is to put their team in the best position possible to win, and then its up to the players to execute. Yes, head coaches have their favorite or preferred systems and they partner with their GMs to find the right players to play those systems. But right now, at this moment, the Flyers do not have the players to play AVs 2-1-2 system, and its killing them game after game in puck possession. The Flyers are constantly chasing the puck, and consequently, chasing the games.

Its up to AV to adapt his preference and play a system that I would think better fits this team, and that is a 1-2-2 system. This would allow the Flyers to cut off plays in the neutral zone and generate more turnovers and for once spend more time in their opponent's end of the ice. You can't just keep banging your head against the wall, the Flyers do not have the speed up front to play a 2-1-2 system and AV needs to adapt .. or die!

http://www.naturalstattri...&td=&tgp=410&lines=single

Shayne vs risto.

I have been an AV supporter but I am going to rail against him for a moment. I believe a coaches number one job is to put their team in the best position possible to win, and then its up to the players to execute. Yes, head coaches have their favorite or preferred systems and they partner with their GMs to find the right players to play those systems. But right now, at this moment, the Flyers do not have the players to play AVs 2-1-2 system, and its killing them game after game in puck possession. The Flyers are constantly chasing the puck, and consequently, chasing the games.

Its up to AV to adapt his preference and play a system that I would think better fits this team, and that is a 1-2-2 system. This would allow the Flyers to cut off plays in the neutral zone and generate more turnovers and for once spend more time in their opponent's end of the ice. You can't just keep banging your head against the wall, the Flyers do not have the speed up front to play a 2-1-2 system and AV needs to adapt .. or die!
- jd250

You need to accept the fact that AV is an archaic coach ans in capable of anything than this schitty dumb and chase. Even funnier they waived arguably their best forechecker for a dumb and chase style

Everyone's talking coaches and players as to who to blame. The players are definitely putting work in - maybe not all but a lot of them are. Blocked shots is a nice stat line to prove that point. The coaches are accountable as are the players, the problem is, the Flyers really don't have the proper talent / pedigree to really hang with a lot of teams in this league. The goaltending has been phenomenal. Farabee has to be playing in a fog or some other type of injury. Konecny has high-end skill but he's shut down more easily than not and hasn't been able to develop his game and adapt to offset that fact. Sanheim has not developed into the top pairing role some thought he had the potential for. Laughton is what he is - a serviceable bottom six player that unfortunately is stronger suited as a winger as opposed to a center. Yandle's goose is cooked and that was starting to become clear last season on a deep and talented Panthers squad. Lindblom has not been able to get back to his sterling form before his unfortunate diagnosis (it's amazing he's come so far, beating the disease, rehabbing, and getting back in to the lineup at all).

Very noticeable this season is a somewhat decline in the play of Sean Couturier, who's normally a solid player that does everything. He alongside his brothers have obviously had a rough go of it scoring at a ridiculous rate since their goal-scoring explosion in the first handful of games. It's good to see Carter Hart bounce back from last year but on team this lacking in talent and defense I'm worried he'll demand a trade to get out of this mess.

The Flyers are in a really tough place financially to try and fix these issues. The other tough part is this is a league that's really built on drafting high-end talent and looking at the Phantoms, boy are their cupboards dry. Trades and UFA signings are less likely to transform your team like in the times before the cap.

I'm not sure what the Flyers can do at this point. It's going to be a long season.

I am taking about the last decade. Even a dummy like you I figured can figure that out.

Go back and read my post. All things being equal. Hayes was overpaid. Simple as that. As was JVR. Both are real diff makers don't you think? Vinny and Jagur. Give me a break holmes on those 2.

If only i was you and knew what I was talking about. Go flyers.
- hello it's me 2050

2011 and up is within the same decade and believing you can pull in every high price free agent every year is a dumb thing to believe within itself, especially because most super stars don’t make it to free agency but when they’re at the end of their careers. Nobody makes up the class, I’m just telling you what UFA offers. Again, you don’t know what you’re talking about.

For the uninformed posters here who claim that the stats say otherwise. Here is how Ristolainen ranks in the league for defenseman who have played 100 minutes or more of 5 on 5 ice time this season.

CF% 129th
GF% 101st
xGF% 134th
SCF% 180th
HDCF% 159th

There are 32 teams in the league. These stats are in part the results of a mediocre player who is clearly not a difference maker.
- MJL

Where are the others. Post comparison. Where is ghost sanhiem and myers? Why only using those specific stats? Does it fit your narrative?

2011 and up is within the same decade and believing you can pull in every high price free agent every year is a dumb thing to believe. Again, you don’t know what you’re talking about.
- SuperSchennBros

Where did I say pull in every high priced free agent? Again read what I said. Bottom line is the flyers cant even get a seat at the dinner table with the top end free agents. Been that way for a while. You disagree that is wonderful.

As I said wish I knew what I was talking about like yourself.

Exactly. How can you not place some of the blame on him? He fails to take Kotkaniemi at the net. On the Lorentz goal, he makes a bad pinch which allows the breakout and the easy zone entry. He is not the main culprit or the only culprit but to completely absolve him is having blinders on. You don't seem to understand what playing in the NHL as a defenseman is. You help to erase errors. Especially when as you claim, he is one of the best defenseman in the NHL. I guarantee you that one of the true top defenseman in the NHL wouldn't let Kotkaniemi skate right by him unchecked to the net.
- MJL

I wish Risto did more on those plays, but the bottom line is, when the entire system is breaking down in front of you: Thompson sending blind passes to the center of the ice in his own zone and then puck watches while the Cane's get three whacks at a rebound before scoring, when Farabee looses his weak side coverage and you have all 5 Flyers on one side of the ice, when Lindblom loses battles in the neutral zone and is slow on his back check and when Hart can't simply stand up and make a save when a puck deflects off your stick, I really have a hard time pointing at Risto and saying, "You're the problem!"

I have been an AV supporter but I am going to rail against him for a moment. I believe a coaches number one job is to put their team in the best position possible to win, and then its up to the players to execute. Yes, head coaches have their favorite or preferred systems and they partner with their GMs to find the right players to play those systems. But right now, at this moment, the Flyers do not have the players to play AVs 2-1-2 system, and its killing them game after game in puck possession. The Flyers are constantly chasing the puck, and consequently, chasing the games.

Its up to AV to adapt his preference and play a system that I would think better fits this team, and that is a 1-2-2 system. This would allow the Flyers to cut off plays in the neutral zone and generate more turnovers and for once spend more time in their opponent's end of the ice. You can't just keep banging your head against the wall, the Flyers do not have the speed up front to play a 2-1-2 system and AV needs to adapt .. or die!
- jd250

Flyers already play a lot of 1-2-2. What they really need to do is change from a strong side overload/man to man to more a zone coverage scheme. The Flyers have extreme difficulty sorting out coverages and have frequent breakdowns. They also need to change their breakout scheme. As well as move from a diamond force PK to a wedge +1 as the top forwards of the PK also have an issue sorting out coverages. When to pressure or contain and it would also prevent more cross seam passes.

I wish Risto did more on those plays, but the bottom line is, when the entire system is breaking down in front of you: Thompson sending blind passes to the center of the ice in his own zone and then puck watches while the Cane's get three whacks at a rebound before scoring, when Farabee looses his weak side coverage and you have all 5 Flyers on one side of the ice, when Lindblom loses battles in the neutral zone and is slow on his back check and when Hart can't simply stand up and make a save when a puck deflects off your stick, I really have a hard time pointing at Risto and saying, "You're the problem!"
- jd250

As someone said aptly earlier, if he's not the problem, he's certainly not the solution. You can't completely absolve him. Whenever obvious evidence is presented to you on the player, you pretend it doesn't exist.

Where did I say pull in every high priced free agent? Again read what I said. Bottom line is the flyers cant even get a seat at the dinner table with the top end free agents. Been that way for a while. You disagree that is wonderful.

As I said wish I knew what I was talking about like yourself.
- hello it's me 2050

Used to be a place of interest.

Part 2 of my railing against the coaching. Since AV states that he owns the PP and he has to fix it, then AV has to to focus on two key philosophical changes to the PP if he wants to fix this.

1. Possession is the name of the game. Its 5 v 4, guess what AV, someone on the ice for the Flyers is open. The Flyer need to stop the dump and chase BS on the PP, carry the puck and keep possession!

2. Movement. Good PPs have players moving and rotating, causing the defense to adapt and exposing odd man chances down low. The Flyers are too stationary on the PP, they all sit on the perimeter and pass the puck around to each other. They don't generate any shots, and they certainly don't cause the defense to move creating passing and shooting lanes.

Every good PP has strong possession and continuous movement. If AV wants to fix this then this is what he has to harp on with this players over and over again.

Used to be a place of interest.
- Peter Richards

This organization used to be a lot of positive things. Not so much anymore.

You need to accept the fact that AV is an archaic coach ans in capable of anything than this schitty dumb and chase. Even funnier they waived arguably their best forechecker for a dumb and chase style
- hello it's me 2050

Is he let go before or after Xmas

Flyers already play a lot of 1-2-2. What they really need to do is change from a strong side overload/man to man to more a zone coverage scheme. The Flyers have extreme difficulty sorting out coverages and have frequent breakdowns. They also need to change their breakout scheme. As well as move from a diamond force PK to a wedge +1 as the top forwards of the PK also have an issue sorting out coverages. When to pressure or contain and it would also prevent more cross seam passes.
- MJL

I still think the Flyers is PK is fine, they played more a traditional box yesterday from what I saw, and I commented how well I thought Bee killed a penalty in the 1st period. I agree with your other points, the Flyers certainly seem like they just can't figure out what to do and who to cover, they have very poor discipline with their defensive structure and this may be the reason why.

Is he let go before or after Xmas
- Peter Richards

I really don't think he gets fired in season. But if this season turns into a similar one to last year, AV will definitely have to go in the off season.