Fair and balanced? LOL. That's not what you've been, Calling Ristolainen the Flyers best defenseman and one of the best defenseman in the league is not fair and balanced. This is just some kind of fake epiphany. The next good play Ristolainen makes, he'll be great again in your eyes.
- MJL

In the recent game against Nashville, G's 1000th game, Risto had a fantastic game, prominently figuring in 3 of the 5 Flyers' goals. I called that out and rightly so. In the Detroit game he sucked, he even said so; I called that out also. There is nothing fake here, just being objective. I like Risto! I don't know how many times I can post that. I like his attitude, I like his physicality, I like that he wants to play for the Flyers. But that doesn't mean he can't be criticized when he makes bone head plays. Where you and I have crossed signals in regards to Risto is when I believe you are unfairly blaming him on a play or being reluctant to give him credit when he plays well.

In the recent game against Nashville, G's 1000th game, Risto had a fantastic game, prominently figuring in 3 of the 5 Flyers' goals. I called that out and rightly so. In the Detroit game he sucked, he even said so; I called that out also. There is nothing fake here, just being objective. I like Risto! I don't know how many times I can post that. I like his attitude, I like his physicality, I like that he wants to play for the Flyers. But that doesn't mean he can't be criticized when he makes bone head plays. Where you and I have crossed signals in regards to Risto is when I believe you are unfairly blaming him on a play or being reluctant to give him credit when he plays well.
- jd250

money makes people do silly things.

His boss, Dave Scot, has given him a directive.
- hello it's me 2050

Every boss gives their employees directives. If Scott is telling Fletcher how to go about achieving those directives then that's an issue since Scott is not a hockey guy. I think Fletch, must like the Flyers organization, is poor at running a team in a cap world.

Ristolainen already has played with a good partner.

With what happened to Provorov, now they're going to trade him for a forward and throw York, Zamula and Attard to the wolves? Haven't you or they learned that lesson?
- MJL

I'm not advocating trading Provorov, I would like to give this group of 4 another season with York and one other new defenseman in the mix to see how it looks. I'm only pointing out that if the Flyers were to trade a defenseman it would most likely be Provorov in an attempt to try to obtain top end forward talent in return.

not the fans
- 2Real

So Sanheim's play is dragging rr down?

In your eyes, rr is a better defensemen than Sanheim?
- corduroy

I think RR is a better defensively than Sanheim and Sanheim has more offensive potential than Risto. They each have their strengths and weaknesses.

Every boss gives their employees directives. If Scott is telling Fletcher how to go about achieving those directives then that's an issue since Scott is not a hockey guy. I think Fletch, must like the Flyers organization, is poor at running a team in a cap world.
- FlyerFan16

The shadow of Bob Clarke looms over everything.

The difference between playing 1st pair and 2nd pair. The difference between playing 25-27 minutes a game and having to be the teams top defenseman since he was 19 and not.
- MJL

To be fair however, as the season has gone along, Risto and Sanheim are playing against the other team's top players just as much if not more than Provey and Braun were.

The shadow of Bob Clarke looms over everything.
- Tomahawk

I have no doubt about that but some on here do.

You think the flyers invested all that money and resources in their analytics team and they went against their guidance on giving Risto 5 x 5.1?

If Risto is so offensively inept then how did he pull off 4 x 40?
- Joe Nardone

Yes....Thats exactly what Charlie OConnor discussed on his podcast on the day of RRs new contract. I posted numerous clips on the thread. Youre off base on this and Provorov, per usual

Every boss gives their employees directives. If Scott is telling Fletcher how to go about achieving those directives then that's an issue since Scott is not a hockey guy. I think Fletch, must like the Flyers organization, is poor at running a team in a cap world.
- FlyerFan16

Yes he is poor at running a team. He has an objective and he has failed completely. That is on the GM.

He is a yes man in the sense he wont tell them it needs to be torn down. He will do as he told.

Exactly. He can’t handle it. That’s the point. He is simply not the dman he was 3 years ago. Supposed to get better w age. He has regressed dramatically.

No one is saying the guy can’t play, but watching this team and blaming Sanheim and Risto for their problems on d seems a bit off considering what we are getting from 9 at 25 mins.

Since they removed him from the pp he has been a little better. Since York has joined him he has been a little better, but you gotta wonder, can we get two number ones for him at the draft and replace him w York.

I’d try to load up on number 1s in 23 and use him to start the process.
- Joe Nardone

I have been saying since last year Provorov is playing too many minutes and should be closer to 21 minutes a game. Its clear to me Provorov can't handle the extra minutes and should be no where near the PP. The question I have is why has Yeo refused to put Sanheim on the PP??

I would like a Ratcliff-Frost-Allison line.

Playmaker in Frost
Shooter in Allison
Net front presents in Ratcliff

They are all young but give them 10-15 games to build chemistry together and develop
- Hosher12

the only problem is Frost is still trying to find his game at the NHL level, Allison can't stay on the ice and Ratcliff is very inconsistent.

The shadow of Bob Clarke looms over everything.
- Tomahawk

If anything it is more Shooter as he is around the team much much more. Easy to blame Clarke I suppose.

the only problem is Frost is still trying to find his game at the NHL level, Allison can't stay on the ice and Ratcliff is very inconsistent.
- jd250

Is playing in the AHL going to keep on the ice longer as opposed to playing i the NHL?

https://www.hockeywilderness.com/2018/4/23/17271710/minnesota-wild-chuck-fletcher-out-as-general-manager-fired-craig-leipold-next-gm-flahr-fenton-dubas

very interesting read
- hello it's me 2050

deja vu all over again

I have no doubt about that but some on here do.
- FlyerFan16

You just know Clarkie was getting fully aroused when he saw the Habs big D getting away with all the obstruction and cross checking in the POs.

"Chuck, Chuck... we gotta get that Randy Rastafarian kid! Broad Street Bullying is back baby!"

https://www.hockeywilderness.com/2018/4/23/17271710/minnesota-wild-chuck-fletcher-out-as-general-manager-fired-craig-leipold-next-gm-flahr-fenton-dubas

very interesting read
- hello it's me 2050

Seems like a very familiar tale.

When Provy has had a partner who is a decent puck mover with adequate defense, he has been absolutely fine to great. When he has had a partner who doesn’t handle the puck, can’t transition to offense or is severely flawed defensively, Provy has been okay to very poor. Not a shock, definitely not a true case of partner-dependence, but really just a common sense outcome. Braun at a true 5/6 level did his absolute best but he plays defense, just defense, well. Seeler is at best a 7D…who does that to their top defenseman?

What irritates me the most is everyone saying that because Sanheim isn’t a true talent top defenseman that he should not be used on the top pairing RHD while Ellis is out. And what…Seeler and Braun are better suited to the top pairing??! Please! Sanheim has played the right side before. Provy and he played well together in prior seasons. At least they have York there now. It has been noticeably better even with York adjusting to the right side. Honestly folks, York getting Provy as a partner is better than anything that Provy had as a rookie. Improvement! That said, it doesn’t explain the Sanheim situation. Remember Provy did very well with Ghost for that season when Ghost played is offside. Having a top RHD is better but not the end-all-be-all of the options.

The baffling choices with Provy, lead to thoughts of the baffling choices with Sanheim and the great muddy thoughts of the Flyer’s “development” of defensemen. So still no PP? Listen, if the PP was good or halfway okay or really showing improvement, tough to get an opportunity, sure. No need for me to look up the rankings to know just how bad it has been. I don’t buy the earn it stuff. Did York earn it? Has Yandle earned it in his time as a Flyer? The lack of logical reasons prompts my imagination to run wild with theories: Are they trying to keep Sanheim’s next contract low? Are they fearful that Sanheim will succeed in the PP, thereby making their extreme hesitation to place him there a giant blunder? Is Sanheim viewed as sensitive and too fragile to risk failing?

I have no doubt about that but some on here do.
- FlyerFan16

He was the force behind Hextalls firing

Seems like a very familiar tale.
- MBFlyerfan

maybe chuckie is just the guy to get us through the poop and when the corner is turned they'll bring in someone else

I'm not a medical doctor, although I do play one on TV. This non-surgical approach with Ellis gives me the vibes that it isn't going to work out. I mean, if you've missed all but 4 games and you're still not healed or close to coming back, surgery might be best.

I can see 3 weeks before training camp the Flyers announce that all options have been exhausted and Ellis will need surgery. He'll be out 2-4 months.

I'm not a medical doctor, although I do play one on TV. This non-surgical approach with Ellis gives me the vibes that it isn't going to work out. I mean, if you've missed all but 4 games and you're still not healed or close to coming back, surgery might be best.

I can see 3 weeks before training camp the Flyers announce that all options have been exhausted and Ellis will need surgery. He'll be out 2-4 months.
- hockeylover

I swear they said he was going to have surgery in March which would allow him to heal and have a full summer of training. I wonder what happened.

Yes and I like Hextall and wish he was still here.
- FlyerFan16

Hextall ruined the flyers beyond repair. So glad he’s gone. It’s hilarious how fletcher gets all the blame from being given hextalls disaster of a team. I’ll never forgive him for not listening to scouts about makar

Hextall ruined the flyers beyond repair. So glad he’s gone. It’s hilarious how fletcher gets all the blame from being given hextalls disaster of a team. I’ll never forgive him for not listening to scouts about makar
- Richieattack18

How much blame do you put in Fletch?