He's fine as a 7th depth defenseman.
- MJL

I don't disagree with that but I had wanted to see CF use what little cap space we have on better players. I'm fine with seeler as a 7th. I liked his heart and willingness to use his body to stop the puck but guys like him are a dime a dozen and I just wish CF had held off and see who else is out there

The rest of the quote.
- MBFlyerfan

I rarely if ever reference advanced stats. I watched him play this year. He simply was not good. He also played alongside the one d-man that actually played well for the Flyers this year. I would not have given him that contract. No advance stat will convince me that the contract Risto received is a good one.

I want him to be good and hope he improves greatly over the next five years. My eyes tell me that will not happen.

They should of kept Yandle.
- Feanor

If bedard is the end goal then yes!! Bring yandle back! We are closer to a top 5 pick than we are the playoffs, imo

I don't disagree with that but I had wanted to see CF use what little cap space we have on better players. I'm fine with seeler as a 7th. I liked his heart and willingness to use his body to stop the puck but guys like him are a dime a dozen and I just wish CF had held off and see who else is out there
- Bob Habib

You need to have a 7th defenseman and 750K is cheap. Do you think they can get a better player? If players like him are a dime a dozen, which I don't disagree with. Why not stick with the player that is familiar with your team? The reason why some have an issue with Seeler is that the Flyers had to play him way too much. Which is not on Seeler.

You need to have a 7th defenseman and 750K is cheap. Do you think they can get a better player? If players like him are a dime a dozen, which I don't disagree with. Why not stick with the player that is familiar with your team? The reason why some have an issue with Seeler is that the Flyers had to play him way too much. Which is not on Seeler.
- MJL

I just disagree with the timing. Not sure they needed to rush to get him signed in May. In the end, I think the Flyers got what was expected of him in the role he played last year. They can expect the same this year.

I rarely if ever reference advanced stats. I watched him play this year. He simply was not good. He also played alongside the one d-man that actually played well for the Flyers this year. I would not have given him that contract. No advance stat will convince me that the contract Risto received is a good one.

I want him to be good and hope he improves greatly over the next five years. My eyes tell me that will not happen.
- mickel25

Advances stats aren't the end all. For example, Provorov does not have good numbers but I think he's better than his numbers show. The reason for that is that I've watched him play. When I watch Ristolainen play, that lines up with his poor numbers. He does not have good hockey sense and he is slow to react. His is physical but he is not effective physically. Which means his physical play does not limit the opposition in terms of goals scored or scoring chances. Most of his physical play happens after a play is made. Rather than being used to end or prevent a play.

I just disagree with the timing. Not sure they needed to rush to get him signed in May. In the end, I think the Flyers got what was expected of him in the role he played last year. They can expect the same this year.
- mickel25

I don't understand why it's considered a rush signing.

Clearly I am "hockey people" :-)
- jd250

"Hockey people" believe in a lot of dumb poop.

If "hockey people" had their way, nobody would be wearing a helmet, there would be no Europeans in the league, concussions wouldn't even be a concern, every team would still have a goon, and there would be like 16 teams in Canada.

No surprised at all that those geniuses still value a guy like RR.

You need to have a 7th defenseman and 750K is cheap. Do you think they can get a better player? If players like him are a dime a dozen, which I don't disagree with. Why not stick with the player that is familiar with your team? The reason why some have an issue with Seeler is that the Flyers had to play him way too much. Which is not on Seeler.
- MJL

I don't see the issue with the deal. Its a deal you can bury if needed and seems like he knows he could go to AHL depending on what happens with the NHL roster. Seems like guys knows his role and with what they are paying him it really was an easy deal to get done. At worst you have your 7th or 8th defender and possible AHL vet defender if needed

I don't understand why it's considered a rush signing.
- MJL

Some of the issue for me is they have so many things to address and the first one they cross off the list is resigning Nick Seeler? My overall discontent with this franchise definitely drives some of my negativity towards this move.

Advances stats aren't the end all. For example, Provorov does not have good numbers but I think he's better than his numbers show. The reason for that is that I've watched him play. When I watch Ristolainen play, that lines up with his poor numbers. He does not have good hockey sense and he is slow to react. His is physical but he is not effective physically. Which means his physical play does not limit the opposition in terms of goals scored or scoring chances. Most of his physical play happens after a play is made. Rather than being used to end or prevent a play.
- MJL

From that same article.

The answer is probably a little bit of both.

I do believe that not enough attention is paid to the difficult situation that Provorov has been placed in over the past two seasons. Justin Braun, while a perfectly useful bottom-pairing defenseman, isn’t merely not first-pair quality. He was simply not a strong stylistic fit next to Provorov, given his lack of puck-moving ability. Provorov’s biggest weakness at even strength, by my eyes, is his tendency to try to do too much. He’s a very talented player, and if he feels like he’s on a bit of an island in terms of lack of help, he starts making riskier plays and also seems to flub the puck more. When paired with a player who can share the puck moving load — Niskanen, peak Shayne Gostisbehehere, even Cam York — he plays far more within himself, and the glaring mistakes become far less frequent.

And as I’ve noted in the past, it’s not even like Provorov’s end-of-season metrics were terrible, despite less than ideal circumstances — a +0.023 impact on expected goal differential means that he did help his teammates push play in the right direction in 2021-22. This season wasn’t the total disaster for Provorov that some portrayed it to be, and if that’s the perception that Provorov was railing against, he had every right to question it.

By the same token, however, some criticism of Provorov is warranted. The organizational hope surrounding Provorov’s development was that he would ultimately morph into a true No. 1 defenseman who could carry underwhelming partners to success. Over the past two seasons, he’s reaffirmed that at 25, he can’t yet do that. His recent work on the power play has been uninspiring, and in truth, it was only in that outlier seven PP goal season in 2019-20 when he really looked like a strong option in that situation. Provorov right now looks like a fine No. 2 or a very good No. 3, and I believe that sentiment is shared by individuals in the organization as well. And that is fair criticism of the player Provorov is today.

Some of the issue for me is they have so many things to address and the first one they cross off the list is resigning Nick Seeler? My overall discontent with this franchise definitely drives some of my negativity towards this move.
- mickel25

A GM can do more than one thing at a time. Between the end of the season the draft is when you look to re-sign your RFA's. The negotiations with Seeler were likely quick and easy. I'm as down as anyone on this organization but I don't see any negativity here.

From that same article.
- MBFlyerfan

There's nothing I disagree with there.

Can I just say I would love the Flyers to play like the Flames. They are fun to watch play hockey. Play a hard game and still can score 9 goals. Even Lucic seems to look fast out there.

Seeler is an okay signing. As a 7th defenseman there is nothing wrong with him in such a role.

Can someone be upset with the idea that the Flyers will favor him over a younger player that’s more deserving? Most definitely but that’s a different problem.

It is smarter to have someone like that as a 7 instead of a kid sitting in the press box.

Some of the issue for me is they have so many things to address and the first one they cross off the list is resigning Nick Seeler? My overall discontent with this franchise definitely drives some of my negativity towards this move.
- mickel25

I look at it as an easy signing that really has no bearing on the important things the franchise needs to do.

You don't need to stop cleaning your bathroom because your house needs a new roof.

Now if they signed him to 3 years at 2aav then yes, it's a problem. This signing to me, is basic housekeeping.

I look at it as an easy signing that really has no bearing on the important things the franchise needs to do.

You don't need to stop cleaning your bathroom because your house needs a new roof.

Now if they signed him to 3 years at 2aav then yes, it's a problem. This signing to me, is basic housekeeping.
- MBFlyerfan

I would probably be negative towards anything they do right now. Just my state of mind. Somewhat irrational no doubt. Also, warranted. As I have invested a lot of time in this team.

I rarely if ever reference advanced stats. I watched him play this year. He simply was not good. He also played alongside the one d-man that actually played well for the Flyers this year. I would not have given him that contract. No advance stat will convince me that the contract Risto received is a good one.

I want him to be good and hope he improves greatly over the next five years. My eyes tell me that will not happen.
- mickel25

If your overarching goal had a "return to respectability" tone to it, you might have...

I would probably be negative towards anything they do right now. Just my state of mind. Somewhat irrational no doubt. Also, warranted. As I have invested a lot of time in this team.
- mickel25

Don't worry about it. Many of us feel the same way. There will be plenty in the future to be unhappy with.

You need to have a 7th defenseman and 750K is cheap. Do you think they can get a better player? If players like him are a dime a dozen, which I don't disagree with. Why not stick with the player that is familiar with your team? The reason why some have an issue with Seeler is that the Flyers had to play him way too much. Which is not on Seeler.
- MJL

I have absolutely no idea who is even available. I haven't put in the time to see the FA lost but I will say that yes.. 7th dmen are a dime a dozen type, just like 4th line plugs are.
If you know the free agent list better than I do, and you may, do you have any idea who's available? And that's a legitimate question because I admitted I do not but seeler is an AHL/NHL tweener to me

I have absolutely no idea who is even available. I haven't put in the time to see the FA lost but I will say that yes.. 7th dmen are a dime a dozen type, just like 4th line plugs are.
If you know the free agent list better than I do, and you may, do you have any idea who's available? And that's a legitimate question because I admitted I do not but seeler is an AHL/NHL tweener to me
- Bob Habib

Which is basically the contract he signed.

I have absolutely no idea who is even available. I haven't put in the time to see the FA lost but I will say that yes.. 7th dmen are a dime a dozen type, just like 4th line plugs are.
If you know the free agent list better than I do, and you may, do you have any idea who's available? And that's a legitimate question because I admitted I do not but seeler is an AHL/NHL tweener to me
- Bob Habib

The more important question to ask is if you think Fletcher knows what UFA's a re available for that price range for that role?

Angelo’s cheesesteaks are pretty damn good.

From that same article.
- MBFlyerfan

They have a chance to finally plug that #1 hole with Nemec or Jiricek. IMO it's more important than grabbing an elite forward.

Some of the issue for me is they have so many things to address and the first one they cross off the list is resigning Nick Seeler? My overall discontent with this franchise definitely drives some of my negativity towards this move.
- mickel25

Its May. From the moment your season ends up to FA is the period where you re-sign the players you intend on keeping. Flyers decided to keep Seeler. It wasnt a rush move, it was just one of few the Flyers are able to make at the moment.

The only things the Flyers can do right now are re-sign players and look for a coach. It is a move they had to make regardless so timing doesnt matter. You cant go into an NHL season with just 6 Dmen.

If the Flyers are playing Seeler as much as last season it likely means Fletcher franked up and went into this season without a healthy Ellis again.