What!? York was sent down??
- SuperSchennBros

What is the basis for your ranking of the Flyers analytic staff to be top 3 in the league? What evidence is there that their analytic staff is effective or used effectively?

Ristolainen doesn't clear the porch, nor is he effective physically. What he does normally is take himself out of the play to make a hit. Or he pushes a player around AFTER a scoring chance or goal occurs. He bleeds scoring chances and goals on the ice. The only regular Flyers defenseman that is worse is Yandle.

The reason why Fletcher re-signed Ristolainen is simple. He played it safe and knows his job is on the line. The Flyers are going to lose two regular defenseman and Ellis is questionable on the right side. He doesn't want to be caught with a deficiency on the right side within the top 4 so he took the safe option. It's what a GM who lack planning and insight does. Makes moves just to make them instead of making the right moves at the right time. Fletcher painted himself into a hole and this is the result.
- MJL

Disagree Cliff. He signed him because he thinks he is good. That is absolutely the main driver in bringing him back.

The player I watch fits that bill. It's extremely accurate and has been his entire career. I think if fans watched more of actually good NHL defenseman play on other teams as much as they watch the Flyers. They'd see the difference.
- MJL

I disagree, I watch other teams and this guy is not a horrible player.

Still don’t buy it. Giroux is a rental. What happens next season. They over Analyzed some thing that’s only going to last three or four months?
- SuperSchennBros

First rule is "the laws of Germany"
Second rule is "be nice to mommy"
Third rule is "don't talk to Commies"
Fourth rule is "eat kosher salamis"

I read an article yesterday that for some reason jumped out at me:

https://milehighsports.co...quitting-hockey-as-a-kid/

The key part of the article for me was



I know if I had to worry about my job and someone else as well I would probably lose my passion for playing and always have a slow start to the game.
- Glak18

Kind of the essence of teamwork isn't it? Everybody knowing their roles and executing to the best of their ability, trusting that everybody else is doing the same, and the whole becomes greater than the sum of the parts.

Whereas the Flyers have guys trying to do too much, guys simply incapable of filling their assigned roles, and guys who are being assigned roles that are incompatible with their skillsets by the coaching staff, guys losing track of the details, etc. There's no way their team game can survive all that.

The other thing that pops out right away is the fact is most teams that end up finding success have rough periods prior playing many young guys, where the Flyers always have to fill in with "experienced" vets that force young guys to "prove it". Vets do come with experience that can teach young guys the right way, but they also come with stubborn bad habits as well. You would think a team would want their young guys to go through the same thing at the same time to build that trust together.
- Glak18

Hits the nail on the head with a sledge hammer.

Surprised the Flyers didn't go all in on another NCAA player to add to the bunch. Can never have too little 24 year old rookies that spend another 2 years developing in the AHL only to disappear.
- Glak18

Chuck nEEds players NOW

I'm confounded by the Ellis news. They still haven't decided what to do about his injury? How many non-surgical treatment options can there be?

Yeah.....wait until this kid turns into a stud

https://www.eliteprospect...470025/mackie-samoskevich
- THE BLACK HAND

Do you think this player was offered over Tippet and Chuck declined?

Then the Flyers grow their staff to be top 3 in the league.

LMAO I have no idea where that idea came from

I'm confounded by the Ellis news. They still haven't decided what to do about his injury? How many non-surgical treatment options can there be?
- Dkos

he aitn't hurt he just wants out........

Kind of the essence of teamwork isn't it? Everybody knowing their roles and executing to the best of their ability, trusting that everybody else is doing the same, and the whole becomes greater than the sum of the parts.

Whereas the Flyers have guys trying to do too much, guys simply incapable of filling their assigned roles, and guys who are being assigned roles that are incompatible with their skillsets by the coaching staff, guys losing track of the details, etc. There's no way their team game can survive all that.
- Tomahawk

Yep, we have seen it time and again in the way they over pursue on the PK and get themselves out of position trying to do someone else's job. Or passing up an easy play to a team mate instead trying some fancy low % play. Or failing to use a team mate to clear a puck etc etc etc etc.

I call it the Kelly Leak effect.

I'm confounded by the Ellis news. They still haven't decided what to do about his injury? How many non-surgical treatment options can there be?
- Dkos

Yea, how do they not have a solution or path forward 4-5 months later?

Do you think this player was offered over Tippet and Chuck declined?
- hello it's me 2050

no. I think chuck wanted tippet over everybody else

I'm confounded by the Ellis news. They still haven't decided what to do about his injury? How many non-surgical treatment options can there be?
- Dkos

Its going to linger for the rest of his career.

I will just leave this right here for you and the top end analytical team to digest and discuss:


https://www.trendsmap.com...tweet/1418630900456296450
- corduroy

Dude, it is a three year window of stats so it included Buffalo. Please send an updated stat sheet of just his time in Philadelphia.

So pick it back up and put it away!

I disagree, I watch other teams and this guy is not a horrible player.
- ClaudeFather

Well that's fine. In my "growth" as a fan, it took me some time to evolve and understand what being a good defenseman is all about. I used to overvalue the defensive defenseman who defended well and battled. No matter how good that player was in those elements, he was never going to be a player that made a real difference. Not that there was not a role for a player like that but you don't play that player high minutes or pay him a high salary if you want to be a good team.

The measuring stick for how good any defenseman will be, is how well does he tilt the level from defending to attacking. How quickly and how well does he transition from defending to attacking and help his team do that. Every good defenseman has to be a good defender but if all that player does is defend, then he won't be very good. Ristolainen does not make a difference on the ice. He does not help tilt that level. On top of it, he is a poor defender. When I look at the best teams and the best defenseman. Not just the stars but the good top 4 defenseman, Ristolainen is at the bottom of the barrel. That's crystal clear and obvious to me.

Dude, it is a three year window of stats so it included Buffalo. Please send an updated stat sheet of just his time in Philadelphia.

So pick it back up and put it away!
- WhiskeyMan

It's not going to be any better.

I disagree, I watch other teams and this guy is not a horrible player.
- ClaudeFather

He's not horrible all of the time. In fact he's certainly capable of some amazing things from time to time.

He's just erratic, some highs and some real back-breaking lows. When you average it all out you get a sub-average NHL defenseman. When you compare him to his peers playing 20-22+ mins per game, he's bottom tier. You simply can't depend on him to be consistently competent.

Well that's fine. In my "growth" as a fan, it took me some time to evolve and understand what being a good defenseman is all about. I used to overvalue the defensive defenseman who defended well and battled. No matter how good that player was in those elements, he was never going to be a player that made a real difference. Not that there was not a role for a player like that but you don't play that player high minutes or pay him a high salary if you want to be a good team.

The measuring stick for how good any defenseman will be, is how well does he tilt the level from defending to attacking. How quickly and how well does he transition from defending to attacking and help his team do that. Every good defenseman has to be a good defender but if all that player does is defend, then he won't be very good. Ristolainen does not make a difference on the ice. He does not help tilt that level. On top of it, he is a poor defender. When I look at the best teams and the best defenseman. Not just the stars but the good top 4 defenseman, Ristolainen is at the bottom of the barrel. That's crystal clear and obvious to me.
- MJL

I look at it this way. How hard can you be to play against if you bleed goals against like a hemophiliac? I would love to see a stat on how many goals have been scored after he made it "hard" on the other team with a big hit.

Dude, it is a three year window of stats so it included Buffalo. Please send an updated stat sheet of just his time in Philadelphia.

So pick it back up and put it away!
- WhiskeyMan

His numbers are only slightly better since he left Buffalo (Sanheim effect). He's still ranked near the bottom in a lot of defensive metrics.

(also funny how you think going from Buffalo to Philly is gonna make a difference lol)

no. I think chuck wanted tippet over everybody else
- THE BLACK HAND

Well with Chuck cant say that isn't/wasn't the case.

Though if he is a better prospect in Florida's eyes I doubt he was offered. Florida knew they had him by the balls. Plus Chuck is terrible at trades and looks to "accommodate" peeps.

It was what a week or so ago when you were posting that a return of Tippet as the main player coming back was not good enough. Now you say he has the skills to be a top 6 forward. Flip-flop-flip-flop.
- MJL

I still don't think Tippet is good enough to be a center piece of the deal, not because he doesn't have the skills but because he is 23 and has not been able to be a consistent NHL player. However at that time I didn't know that G tied Fletcher's hands to only deal with Florida, so as I stated I think Fletcher did the best he could given the circumstances. The Flyers need to get lucky here with Tippet, that is the only thing they can hope for at this point. He does have the skills to be a top 6 forward, every thing I have read about him during the 2017 draft and even recent articles about his development state that. I am not stating anything different.

Well that's fine. In my "growth" as a fan, it took me some time to evolve and understand what being a good defenseman is all about. I used to overvalue the defensive defenseman who defended well and battled. No matter how good that player was in those elements, he was never going to be a player that made a real difference. Not that there was not a role for a player like that but you don't play that player high minutes or pay him a high salary if you want to be a good team.

The measuring stick for how good any defenseman will be, is how well does he tilt the level from defending to attacking. How quickly and how well does he transition from defending to attacking and help his team do that. Every good defenseman has to be a good defender but if all that player does is defend, then he won't be very good. Ristolainen does not make a difference on the ice. He does not help tilt that level. On top of it, he is a poor defender. When I look at the best teams and the best defenseman. Not just the stars but the good top 4 defenseman, Ristolainen is at the bottom of the barrel. That's crystal clear and obvious to me.
- MJL

This is just blatantly incorrect, you are with either blind or you don't watch the games and instead just read the free analytics after. Case in point, Risto was directly involved in 3 out of the 5 goals the Flyers scored in their win against Nashville. Risto also made several really good defensive plays. You are just embarrassing yourself now because you have hated this guy from the moment the trade took place.

LMAO I have no idea where that idea came from
- Tomahawk

It came from the Comcast propaganda machine. It is stunning how easily some just repeat what they've heard.

Just wait until the Flyers are better next year but not yet a legit contending team. Many will be fooled.