Hope Fletcher do not offend TrotZ with no hair and neck jokes.

Rick Bowness stepped down

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.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Trades can be made now but are unlikely.

From Charlie O'Connor of the Athletic today:



Take that @MJL and your fellow Risto haters! Clearly I am "hockey people" :-)
- jd250

This has always been the case with Risto.

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.
- J35Bacher

That should only take about 8 more years of drafting perfectly for us

"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.
- Tomahawk

wait...are you saying those things would be bad?

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.
- MJL

Its just something new for everyone to complain about. Some people arent happy unless they are complaining. When was the last time anyone talked about a good game a flyer player had....it just rarely gets discussed.

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

Your ok if Seeler has to play 40+ games again?

"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.
- Tomahawk

Hey we can dream….

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

This is a much better worded version of what I was trying to say... He was not a hot commodity and a player like him is easily replaceable and probably desperate but it gets closer to Time for the start of the season. Seeler does not move the needle at all, which as a 7th defenseman is understandable, but it was just a very early signing and timing
It's just more of Chuck favoring his guys guys who do nothing to improve the team

Just because zac gives an effort doesnt make him someone we should sign? 3 goals is very mediocre.I would pass but that is just me.i much prefer making room for allison, radcliffe, Lyzcynski,etc.All who have much higher upside.
- wbroudy

This!! Ratcloffe wasn't that awful when he was here and with some good coaching he may turn out to be a solid 4th liner with some size and skill
I'd take him over Thompson or some other players as well

Your ok if Seeler has to play 40+ games again?
- hello it's me 2050

I would think they would call up a phantom if it was that many games.

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.
- FlyerFan3260

And I get that too but let's be honest... This upcoming year is most likely to be a dark year in flyers franchise history again.
I would prefer to see how the kids do and bring any tweeter 7th defense guy I can see that some here disagree, and that is perfectly fine, it's just at this time I think this was a hurried decision to sign him. I do like the way he played the game and I like how willing he was to sacrifice his body to block a shot but outside of that he didn't do much for me

The rest of the quote.
- MBFlyerfan

This was the part of the article before the section I listed. My point is not what Charlie O'Connor thinks of Risto given he even admitted he's an advanced stats guy, but what he reports real "hockey people" think of Risto. I believe "Hockey people" have much more credibility than Charlie or many on this forum.

LMAO. Other teams love it when he's out there. That means they're going to have the puck, get plenty of quality scoring chances and a good number of goals.

You love anecdotal and unsupported evidence while you ignore the actual evidence.

Take that @MJL. Hwo old are you?
- MJL

You don't have much of a sense of humor do you?

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

I really believe that if Risto had better forwards with him his numbers would be significantly better. I have pointed out many times this season where Risto's physical presence did the job and separated the opposing player from the puck, and Risto got the puck and passed up to his forwards, who immediately turned the puck over resulting in another scoring chance against. This happened over and over, game after game. Each chance against counts against Risto because he is on the ice at the time of the chance, but it was not his fault. He was effective physically and did his job, only to have his forwards let him down again and again. At least that is what I watched this season. Was Risto perfect? Nope! Did he sometimes take himself out of the play? Yup! Was Risto's net front coverage good through out the season? Nope! But I believe he is much better than his numbers indicate.

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.
- FlyerFan3260

we do this every year

This was the part of the article before the section I listed. My point is not what Charlie O'Connor thinks of Risto given he even admitted he's an advanced stats guy, but what he reports real "hockey people" think of Risto. I believe "Hockey people" have much more credibility than Charlie or many on this forum.
- jd250

What you did was you misrepresented the article by not posting all of it. In the same way just yesterday misrepresented what Cam Neely said in his press conference on Cassidy. You do this frequently to suit your narrative and it's about your credibility

Again, you show a reading comprehension problem. He didn't say that's what real "hockey people" think about Ristolainen. He said there are some real "hockey people" who like the player. Including our GM unfortunately.

we do this every year
- 2Real

Haha I’m sure that this thought is one that’s repeated.

In a smart world it’s an okay move. My frustration has its limits though, and getting upset at Seeler in May isn’t on the list.

Folks can do as they please of course.

You don't have much of a sense of humor do you?
- jd250

Actually I do. I find pretty much all of your posts to be hysterical. In a sad way but hysterical nonetheless.

Your ok if Seeler has to play 40+ games again?
- hello it's me 2050

Only if we fully agree to the tank part 2

I really believe that if Risto had better forwards with him his numbers would be significantly better. I have pointed out many times this season where Risto's physical presence did the job and separated the opposing player from the puck, and Risto got the puck and passed up to his forwards, who immediately turned the puck over resulting in another scoring chance against. This happened over and over, game after game. Each chance against counts against Risto because he is on the ice at the time of the chance, but it was not his fault. He was effective physically and did his job, only to have his forwards let him down again and again. At least that is what I watched this season. Was Risto perfect? Nope! Did he sometimes take himself out of the play? Yup! Was Risto's net front coverage good through out the season? Nope! But I believe he is much better than his numbers indicate.
- jd250

See this is funny. You live in your own reality. Post after post, again and again, you prove that you have no clue what you're watching. Sanheim played with the same forwards that Ristolainen did. Did they not turn the puck over when Sanheim passed the puck up to them? Maybe they just like Sanheim better.

Bottom line. Ristolainen is a mediocre player who is best suited for the 3rd pairing.

And I get that too but let's be honest... This upcoming year is most likely to be a dark year in flyers franchise history again.
I would prefer to see how the kids do and bring any tweeter 7th defense guy I can see that some here disagree, and that is perfectly fine, it's just at this time I think this was a hurried decision to sign him. I do like the way he played the game and I like how willing he was to sacrifice his body to block a shot but outside of that he didn't do much for me
- Bob Habib

What legitimate reason is there to believe it was a hurried decision? What would you expect from a 7th defenseman?

Dumba would make a nice plan B in case Ellis does not recover
- jd250

It’s who I thought they were gonna get before Ellis.

What legitimate reason is there to believe it was a hurried decision? What would you expect from a 7th defenseman?
- MJL

No need to do it before late July / august.