Ristolainen never came close to being the Flyers best defenseman at any point in the season in my opinion. The your boy and watch the game comments don't help your case.
McEwen plays hard and skates hard. Tends to make one decent offensive play a game but overall is ineffective and is a lesser player to Aube-Kubel.
- MJL

MacEwen stays out of the box much less than NAK did, plays much more physical and is noticeable on the ice. The downside for MacEwen is he has less offensive ability than NAK, so for all the good plays he makes, very few lead to goals. Regarding Provey, what can I say, that play he made last night was putrid, and put his team in a hole. Now I know you don't want to blame him, but even Jason Myrtetus mentioned it today in his podcast, its just a play someone like Provey should not be making at this stage in his career.

They weren't looking to trade Kopi or Doughty, regardless of contract status.



Roberto Luongo, Keith Yandle



One of the first things they did during the rebuild was to sign 28-yo Panarin in UFA. They kept Kreider around too when they had multiple opportunities to trade him for a lot of assets.
- Tomahawk

no but the rangers traded Miller and McDonough

They weren't looking to trade Kopi or Doughty, regardless of contract status.


Roberto Luongo, Keith Yandle


One of the first things they did during the rebuild was to sign 28-yo Panarin in UFA. They kept Kreider around too when they had multiple opportunities to trade him for a lot of assets.
- Tomahawk

1. Possibly because neither would have provided significant returns given their cap hits, and because they were also the 2 most visible pieces of a highly successful run? They can afford to ease out of their glory, like stayinthenet wants for the Pens (he wants Malkin/Letang/Crosby to stick on for sentimental reasons). We have not had ours.

2. I don't recall the circumstances of why Luongo and Yandle stuck on so am not qualified to comment.

3. The "veteran leadership" of Panarin had very little to do with it. If the same player was 25, they would have wanted him just as bad.

4. If you believe the Rangers were already shuffling pieces and in rebuild mode a couple of years into Gorton's reign, then Kreider would have less than 24 or so at that time.

Giroux: a first, maybe a 3rd, big body D-prospect.
Brassard: 3rd round pick.
Risto: 1st (or second and prospect)
Braun: 2nd round pick.
Yandle: 3rd or 4th round pick.
Thompson(if healthy): 5th rounder
Jones: 3rd round pick.

These returns are a bit optimistic.

1. Possibly because neither would have provided significant returns given their cap hits, and because they were also the 2 most visible pieces of a highly successful run? They can afford to ease out of their glory, like stayinthenet wants for the Pens (he wants Malkin/Letang/Crosby to stick on for sentimental reasons). We have not had ours.
- PT21

You're fishing. They kept them because the team wanted them around for the rebuild. It's inescapable.

2. I don't recall the circumstances of why Luongo and Yandle stuck on so am not qualified to comment.
- PT21

Yandle signed a huge UFA deal to replace Brian Campbell as Ekblad's buddy on ice.

They brought back Luongo for his leadership and to stabilize the back end during the rebuild. They traded their 23-yo goalie of the future for him too, btw.

3. The "veteran leadership" of Panarin had very little to do with it. If the same player was 25, they would have wanted him just as bad.
- PT21

If he were 25, he wouldn't have been available.

And they certainly brought him in to provide offensive leadership. You think Ryan Strome and Buchnevich blossom to the same degree without Bread? Is there a reason they've attached Kakko to Panarin to get him going?

Yeah.

M&Ms getting a more progressive look! They are fictional candy characters for Christ’s sake, what the hell is going on here

M&Ms getting a more progressive look! They are fictional candy characters for Christ’s sake, what the hell is going on here
- ClaudeFather

The green M&M is wearing sneakers now. OMFG. THE OUTRAAGGGGEEE!!

The green M&M is wearing sneakers now. OMFG. THE OUTRAAGGGGEEE!!
- Tomahawk

Lol what was it wearing sandles before

The green M&M is wearing sneakers now. OMFG. THE OUTRAAGGGGEEE!!
- Tomahawk

Give em an inch and they’ll take a mile

Lol what was it wearing sandles before
- ClaudeFather

Weird 60's looking go go boots.

Sneakers will appeal to a younger/wider demo. It makes total sense.

(oh, and looks like their legs aren't flesh colored anymore. That was pretty weird if you think about it lol)

Giroux: a first, maybe a 3rd, big body D-prospect.
Brassard: 3rd round pick.
Risto: 1st (or second and prospect)
Braun: 2nd round pick.
Yandle: 3rd or 4th round pick.
Thompson(if healthy): 5th rounder
Jones: 3rd round pick.

These returns are a bit optimistic.
- BluehorseShoe64

Giroux should net two high-tier assets if they can expand the # of suitors by mitigating the cap hit.

And yeah, Risto should command a top-45 pick at least. Flyers probably need to mitigate his cap hit, too.

Braun probably a top-90 pick. He's exactly the type of PO depth that teams covet at the TDL.

Jones, who knows. A team would really need to be convinced that he's reliable to take him over other options.

Some differences:

1. Bergeron has 2 elite wingers on his line who he has been playing with continuously for 5 years. There are synergy effects. Not true for Couturier.
2. Boston is in the tail end of a long run as a contender, during which they won once and went to the SCF. They have not started the rebuild period yet. We haven't either but we should have.

It's not just a comparison of player versus player. Its also a comparison of team versus team and expected trajectory of team versus expected trajectory of team.
- PT21

It doesn't matter how elite the line mates a player plays with. If he ability tails off due to age, it will show.
The context was that an ex Selke winning player was still going strong as an individual player at 36. So no, it's not a comparison between teams at all.

There is certainly no hockey logic.

The reason people cannot part with the idea of not parting with Couts is:
1. Because they evaluate him individually, without team context.
2. Because they still cling to the idea that with Couts and a gallant and uninjured cast, this team will be a contender in the near future.
3. Because hockey teams rarely trade an own guy like Couts. The reason they don't though is because of ticket revenue, not hockey reasons.
4. Because there is a lack of appetite for radical, painful solutions.
- PT21

I think you are incorrect in stating that there is no hockey logic in keeping Couturier. Your first point is not correct. Even if you're rebuilding, you can't have a team full of young guys and feed them to the slaughter. You need to have some veteran stability. A player like Couturier makes other players better and can play a heavy load and take a lot of the tough ice time. You want a player like that around for a rebuild.
Even if the team does not reach contender status to the middle or later years of his contract, you hope that the team improves along the way and becomes competitive. Which fosters a better environment for developing players. Couturier helps with that.
Hockey teams rarely trade a player like Couturier because Selke level 30 goal, 70 point #1 centers aren't easy to find.
The last point I will grant you.

You're fishing. They kept them because the team wanted them around for the rebuild. It's inescapable.




Yandle signed a huge UFA deal to replace Brian Campbell as Ekblad's buddy on ice.

They brought back Luongo for his leadership and to stabilize the back end during the rebuild. They traded their 23-yo goalie of the future for him too, btw.



If he were 25, he wouldn't have been available.

And they certainly brought him in to provide offensive leadership. You think Ryan Strome and Buchnevich blossom to the same degree without Bread? Is there a reason they've attached Kakko to Panarin to get him going?

Yeah.
- Tomahawk

Your evidence is what seems fishy. There are too many teams that did NOT do what you suggest is essential.

Here's the thing. There are 2 qualities of the player that you claim is essential to a rebuild

1. Current stud
2. Vet

If what you are saying is true, why don't we see Detroit wanting a Seth Jones? The only possible stud they had on their roster during rebuild was Larkin. He wasn't a vet. (They had non-stud vets sure). Why isn't Ottawa linked to any trade rumors with high profile FAs? Why did Buffalo trade ROR? Which stud vet is Montreal gonna bring in to mentor the Suzukis and Caulfield as they start their rebuild? I betcha: nobody.

Your points about Panarin: there is no evidence whatsoever that they wanted him for the #2 part. He is a playmaking stud who was setting up Kane when he arrived as an overaged rookie. His mentorship has little to do with it. A guy who chose his team apparently because his partner wants the bright lights of Mad Ave is hardly the kind of role model you want off the ice for your kids anyway.

Weird 60's looking go go boots.

Sneakers will appeal to a younger/wider demo. It makes total sense.

(oh, and looks like their legs aren't flesh colored anymore. That was pretty weird if you think about it lol)
- Tomahawk

Haha, yes. Pretty odd. I just can’t stand how everything is portrayed in the media, more progressive. Just say you made some friggin changes or whatever.

No, the reason LA did not trade Kopitar during the rebuild process was: 1. He was signed to a huge salary and a loong contract was already 30ish. 2 He had a NMC.


- PT21

Players with NMC are traded. If the Kings put him on the market, teams would've been interested. The reason they haven't is for exactly what Tomahawk states.

You have said this multiple times, and there is no evidence whatsoever to back up your claim. If what you claim was a valid factor (needing not just a veteran player to mentor young ones, but a stud veteran player), you would see not just teams clinging on to their studs, but also bringing in vet studs.


- PT21

It's not just stud veterans. It's veterans as a whole. Teams keeping and bringing in vets to support young players happens routinely in the NHL. Saying there is no evidence whatsoever is false.

There is no such market. Young teams like Florida, Detroit, etc are not bringing in anyone like that. Florida let Jagr go with his phenomenal work ethic. When Rangers started their rebuild, they got rid off every single player over 25 over a period of a few years.
- PT21

Are you familiar with the Rangers leading goal scorer, Chris Kreider?

Does anyone know why Giroux would be listed as DTD on the yahoo fantasy hockey site? No explanation.
- MBFlyerfan

Injured his hand/wrist late in the game last night. Was getting it checked after the game so he was unavailable for postgame media. And the team didn't practice today.

Ok, good to hear. But the Hextall schtick is fun for me, its your version of the Risto schtick you give me all the time.
- jd250

There is no Ristolainen schtick. Only a competent analysis of the player.

Injured his hand/wrist late in the game last night. Was getting it checked after the game so he was unavailable for postgame media. And the team didn't practice today.
- bmeltzer

I remember that. He was doubled over when game ended. He took his hand out of his glove. Was shaking his head. I couldn't tell if it was because of the injury or the result.

Poor fans of this poop garbage team. Nothing can or will change until house fully cleaned. There’s really no discussion until that happens. Anyone thinking otherwise is just delusional.



GO CANES!!!

I guess you guessed wrong I guess.
- Angus4444

Technically, I didn't guess at all, so it was you who actually guessed wrong... twice

- Tomahawk

Oh my god, CC stands for Captain Comfortable? You really are a sad little man.

As for the rest of your post, no, keeping a 1C on a below market deal is not hindering any team. Least of all a Flyers club with very little center depth.
- Feanor

Farabee to IR UBI. Out a month. A bigger disgrace by the hour.
- PLindbergh31

Have to wonder if it was his shoulder getting re-injured from Tuesday night. If so, he had no business playing last night.

- funmaster18

WTF dude, I just ate.
- Tomahawk