Sadly I think it will end up with him being 'fired' right into overseeing new GM Danny Briere. The braintrust gets brainier
- TobyFlenderson

This is exactly how it's going to work. Fletcher is part of the inner circle. They don't get fired, just put in a different position.

Might be. I’m just saying the optics reek with incompetence….true or not.
- landros 2

Sure it does. Assuming he doesn't want out I fully expect him to get surgery in July and miss time to start the season.

I only equate the two deals as both were considered over pays….is it tunnel vision for one player in both cases? Maybe. Or is it a team simply making sure they get that player because the need is there?
- landros 2

When you have a track record of winning you cant consider them overpays imo.

At what point does Ivan need to be held accountable? It isn't all on the coaching and partner.
- hello it's me 2050

He doesnt, we only blame RR for issues around here.

Immediate issue with this is we watch the games, he is not as bad as that chart portrays. That’s saying he’s one of the worst Dmen around. He can be an average second pair defender, he’s been playing well lately. How can you take that chart seriously after watching the games this year. Again, not saying he’s great but he’s sure as hell not that bad.
- ClaudeFather

The chart does not lie though. Rr is not a top 4 d man. Chuckles gave up a lot to get him and doubled down on that mistake by resigning him. You are right we do watch the games and as such a player who is not great but is not as bad as the analytics say is not a top 4 dman, he is a 5/6 and not worth the assets given up or the contract he signed

Why would I need a crystal ball? I know what the numbers say for his first season in Philly. I've watched him play over 50 games here.

- MJL

Congrats, you watched him from going to one bad team to another. That is just awesome!

Ristolainen’s skill set is that of a 3rd pairing player who should be making 2 million per at most.

It was a mistake to acquire him and significantly worse mistake extending him. Fletcher is incompetent

How many truly have a positive outlook on Comcast Chuckie’s ability to turn this team around with this so-called “aggressive retool”? After AV was canned up until yesterday, did he make a hockey trade to improve the team? Or Did he just sit on his rear and give us Comcast platitudes? This is a disaster and confidence is low for the foreseeable future. That being said I got a laugher of a call from Comcast Flyers ticket office. Like anyone wants to donate money to this cause right now.
- mikeyo27

I am hoping Brink, O'Brien, Attard, Cates, Allison, Frost and Tippet all turn out to be solid players. It's a long list but I want the team to grow up together.

Congrats, you watched him from going to one bad team to another. That is just awesome!
- WhiskeyMan

Winning makes everyone look better, that's why winning teams have magical 4th liners that poop the bed when they get paid from other teams.

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.
- Tomahawk

100%

Congrats, you watched him from going to one bad team to another. That is just awesome!
- WhiskeyMan

So in other words, you don't have squat.

I say it tongue in cheek but always a possibility.

either he has an injury that has baffled medical professionals world wide or the flyers are just incompetent.

Which is more likely...
- hello it's me 2050

Yes

I am hoping Brink, O'Brien, Attard, Cates, Allison, Frost and Tippet all turn out to be solid players. It's a long list but I want the team to grow up together.
- WhiskeyMan

I still see O'Brien going free agency route and becoming tiny Jankowski.

Ristolainen’s skill set is that of a 3rd pairing player who should be making 2 million per at most.

It was a mistake to acquire him and significantly worse mistake extending him. Fletcher is incompetent
- BiggE

Actually I would say that the first statement is not true. Ristolainen has very strong raw skills. For lack of a better term, he's just a dumb hockey player who completely lacks hockey sense and doesn't have to ability to put his raw skills to good use.

Ristolainen’s skill set is that of a 3rd pairing player who should be making 2 million per at most.

It was a mistake to acquire him and significantly worse mistake extending him. Fletcher is incompetent
- BiggE

You see the truth because you aren't double pumping Risto and Fletcher in a rest stop bathroom like some in here.

You see the truth because you aren't double pumping Risto and Fletcher in a rest stop bathroom like some in here.
- MBFlyerfan

While I agree, that is one AWFUL vision.

While I agree, that is one AWFUL vision.
- hockeylover

The bathroom or the double pumping?

While I agree, that is one AWFUL vision.
- hockeylover

Yeah, I may have over stepped the limits of taste on that one.

You see the truth because you aren't double pumping Risto and Fletcher in a rest stop bathroom like some in here.
- MBFlyerfan

It’s so obvious, you don’t need analytics to see how many times Ristolainen is way out of position accomplishing nothing useful. At the very least, retaining 50% of the cap hit, they could have gotten a 2nd and a 3rd for him and cut their losses.

Instead we are going forward with a player who will be used in a top 4 role even though he clearly lacks the hockey sense to handle it. It’s just sad.

What? What aren’t you buying? What did they over analyze, they knew he had the opportunity to go to another team and they looked around.
- ClaudeFather

What you mean “what”, I couldn’t have stayed my reasons more clearly.

Giroux is a rental for Florida. You’re telling me you have inside information of Giroux and his wife only discussing going to Florida and only Florida and dragging to very young children with them with no back up plan, knowing full well that once the run is over in Florida by June, they’re not thinking about where they’re gonna move next?

If this true, god bless to G and his family. I don’t know him personally. In my mid 30’s, moving to a new apartment two miles away is a pain.

What you mean “what”, I couldn’t have stayed my reasons more clearly.

Giroux is a rental for Florida. You’re telling me you have inside information of Giroux and his wife only discussing going to Florida and only Florida and dragging to very young children with them with no back up plan, knowing full well that once the run is over in Florida by June, they’re not thinking about where they’re gonna move next?

If this true, god bless to G and his family. I don’t know him personally. In my mid 30’s, moving to a new apartment two miles away is a pain.
- SuperSchennBros

Put 30 million in your bank account and watch how much easier it is.

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

Athletic therapy would be one. Its not a quick process.

What you mean “what”, I couldn’t have stayed my reasons more clearly.

Giroux is a rental for Florida. You’re telling me you have inside information of Giroux and his wife only discussing going to Florida and only Florida and dragging to very young children with them with no back up plan, knowing full well that once the run is over in Florida by June, they’re not thinking about where they’re gonna move next?

If this true, god bless to G and his family. I don’t know him personally. In my mid 30’s, moving to a new apartment two miles away is a pain.
- SuperSchennBros

Wow, you really missed the entire post and don’t know how things work. What I stated was literally from Giroux... the backup plan was he didn’t get traded, what don’t you understand that he had the NMC and exercised it to benefit his wants? They probably aren’t thinking of next season at all to be honest, they thought about what was the best move for this trade deadline for him to win and made sense for his family. Try to follow along, we know you don’t comprehend well.

Put 30 million in your bank account and watch how much easier it is.
- Glak18

Dragging young children lol. Flying private to Florida for 3 months, the horror.

Put 30 million in your bank account and watch how much easier it is.
- Glak18

Lol, pack a few of bags, rent a house on the beach for a couple of months, it's like a tax deductible extended vacation for the whole family.