Risto has given the Flyers some solid play this year….at least as much as Sanheim and Provy. As Bill and Jason discussed Sunday in their pod cast in a lot of Circles Risto has been viewed as their “BEST” d man this year….others view him as a total liability. I personally think he’s been good, added something they needed. In the end though the team has regressed and he’s not signed beyond this year. I think he’s moved at the deadline.
- landros 2

I heard that and wondered if Bill was referring to my posts

It would be nice if there are others that feel the way I do about Risto, I do believe he is better than his metrics make him out to be.

Fletcher hired another one of his Minnesota lackeys.
- PLindbergh31

Fletcher getting the band back together hiring John Torchetti! Also confirmed no head coaching change as Yeo is coaching the remainder of the season.

I saw that last nigh….we get the flyers broadcast once and a while….great marketing…two guys taking a leak.
- landros 2

Were they peeing on the Flyers logo?? That would be appropriate this year.

Fletcher getting the band back together hiring John Torchetti! Also confirmed no head coaching change as Yeo is coaching the remainder of the season.
- Flyerfan2868

This is a Franking joke, how is Fletcher still making any decisions is embarrassing

I heard that and wondered if Bill was referring to my posts

It would be nice if there are others that feel the way I do about Risto, I do believe he is better than his metrics make him out to be.
- jd250

some people dont think there is anything a player can offer if it isnt stats based. Risto will never get credit for hammering someone, then the next time the guy skates behind the net instead of going to the net because he doesnt want to get hit. Or behing hard to play against and sticking up for team mates matter. You cant measure that. Thats just the way they see the game, very black and white. Also dont think the locker room makes a diffrerence or leadership is based on points .....you will never see eye to eye with them. Thats just the way it is

This is a Franking joke, how is Fletcher still making any decisions is embarrassing
- ClaudeFather

Yeo hasn't had any NHL experienced assistant coaches since he took over as interim coach. Why then is it embarrassing that Fletcher found him someone to work with this season? Do you even know anything about Torchetti?

That is very artfully stated, Bill, but the average length of time between cup across all teams is 24 years (before the 2020 SCF, and data compiled since 1968). I did this in the summer of 2020, I believe.



Also, with that approach, we can never criticize a team for a cup drought. Edmonton, for example, is in one of those droughts.
- PT21

Yea, I mean it is his job to defend the organization but I don't buy this analysis. We and Toronto have gone a long time without winning the Cup. It is hard to win the cup, no doubt. It is arguably the hardest championship to win because of the number of games, their physicality and especially because some rules are not enforced during the playoffs the way that they are during the regular season. But time matters in every sport and it has been a long time since we last won. I think the criticism that evoked this response is valid.

So when we have the puck…Risto is supposed to give up his position on the blue line ? For that matter, neither is Sanheim. Hintz had a better read of the give away but it a horrible give away that really isn’t on the D.
- landros 2

So, is there no position on the ice where someone is supposed to get back ...? Not a great turnover here but can't endorse turning a blind eye to terrible positioning by a defender.

So, is there no position on the ice where someone is supposed to get back ...? Not a great turnover here but can't endorse turning a blind eye to terrible positioning by a defender.
- iamscore2day

Yes, but my point is the terrible positioning was on Sanheim who as the weak side defender should have been moving back as soon as he saw TK with the puck trying to go back to Risto with two Stars players in between.

Fletcher hired another one of his Minnesota lackeys.
- PLindbergh31

He is actually from Boston. Trying not to prejudge him just because he worked for CF in the past. He did work for other franchises too. I just don't think this is going to make a difference. Plus, it does look like Cliff will be making the trades for our talent sell-off. Not super excited about that, TBH. The man who traded a young Brent Burns and 10 years later acquired Ellis to stabilize his D does not have a lot of credibility in my book.

Yes, but my point is the terrible positioning was on Sanheim who as the weak side defender should have been moving back as soon as he saw TK with the puck trying to go back to Risto with two Stars players in between.
- jd250

Sanheim had already jumped up in the play when the TO happened. Lindblom was back covering for him. Risto should have been more conservative.

When it comes to picking higher in the draft, yes I have altered my opinion since the beginning of this season. I think PT21 made some good points in this topic when it was debated and I have come around to his way of thinking. I mean look, we got some good players picking at 14 with York and Farabee, but this Flyers team needs more than good players, they need a few elite players, and I feel this may be the best opportunity to get them.
- jd250

Since the beginning of the season? It's reactionary instead of visionary.

Being from Canada, you probably don't get the local commercials we get on our TV feed of the game. But for those who do, the reason the Flyers are not winning right now is because the guy in the men's room just isn't getting his correct urinal lately.

- hockeylover

Those commercials are terrible. All of them.

Yeo hasn't had any NHL experienced assistant coaches since he took over as interim coach. Why then is it embarrassing that Fletcher found him someone to work with this season? Do you even know anything about Torchetti?
- jd250

Well, there is a ton of questions surrounding the guy and his last job in Moncton for starters....He found success in Chicago in 2010 as an assistant...been an assistant in a few other struggling organizations. Chuck Fletcher brought him on as an interm head coach with Minnesota to replace Yeo...the wild also hired him to replace Yeo in Houston lol

Yeo hasn't had any NHL experienced assistant coaches since he took over as interim coach. Why then is it embarrassing that Fletcher found him someone to work with this season? Do you even know anything about Torchetti?
- jd250

He’s replaced Yeo twice, it’s another Minnesota flunky following Fletcher. What else is there to know?

Well, there is a ton of questions surrounding the guy and his last job in Moncton for starters....He found success in Chicago in 2010 as an assistant...been an assistant in a few other struggling organizations. Chuck Fletcher brought him on as an interm head coach with Minnesota to replace Yeo...the wild also hired him to replace Yeo in Houston lol
- Flyerfan2868

Do you even know anything about Torchetti? Haha guy can’t do a simple google search

Fedotov going to the olympics for Russia, hopefully gets some good playing time.

Why all the Risto hate today? Our main problem right now is scoring goals. We should focus on that.

Why all the Risto hate today? Our main problem right now is scoring goals. We should focus on that.
- bradster

https://bleacherreport.co...3f-4e47-90bf-286c2df13c69

I'll add this, how many of these created a turnover, and one the guy shot it from the blue line because he needed to get rid of it

some people dont think there is anything a player can offer if it isnt stats based. Risto will never get credit for hammering someone, then the next time the guy skates behind the net instead of going to the net because he doesnt want to get hit. Or behing hard to play against and sticking up for team mates matter. You cant measure that. Thats just the way they see the game, very black and white. Also dont think the locker room makes a diffrerence or leadership is based on points .....you will never see eye to eye with them. Thats just the way it is
- bradster

We have had this conversation before, but why not? If Risto intimidates near the goal, there should be a lower # of high danger shots by opponents. If he stands people up in neutral ice (as the clip you posted above shows him doing), it should show up in possession stats.

Besides, stats are your friend this year for making your case for Risto. His 5-on-5 possession stats are the best of his career. He lifts possession stats for our team. Comparatively, he is 2nd best (after Sanheim) amongt defensemen who have played most games (Provy, Braun, Seeler, Connaughton, Yandle) also in that list. In +/- however, he is the worst D man other than Yandle.

They are in and of themselves not that great, those stats. And arguably the price paid for him was too high. But he is hardly one of the top problems for the team.

We have had this conversation before, but why not? If Risto intimidates near the goal, there should be a lower # of high danger shots by opponents. If he stands people up in neutral ice (as the clip you posted above shows him doing), it should show up in possession stats.

Besides, stats are your friend this year for making your case for Risto. His 5-on-5 possession stats are the best of his career. He lifts possession stats for our team. Comparatively, he is 2nd best (after Sanheim) amongt defensemen who have played most games (Provy, Braun, Seeler, Connaughton, Yandle) also in that list. In +/- however, he is the worst D man other than Yandle.

They are in and of themselves not that great, those stats. And arguably the price paid for him was too high. But he is hardly one of the top problems for the team.
- PT21

He lifts possession stats for the team? Lets look at his defensive numbers filtered for 300 minutes

CA/60 4th
SA/60 6th
GA/60 5th
xGA/60 5th
SCA/60 5th
GA/60 5th
HDCA/60 5th

Ristolainen bleeds shots, scoring chances and goals