This deferring to teammates is something that you invented. Doesn't exist. Frost is always going to be more of a playmaker and passer than a goal scorer. The signs for Frost have been there all along. Is the only way you can see a sign is the player scoring a goal? Frost is just getting some puck luck now. For a smaller player, there is no timidness to his game. He just needs to continue to progress this year. - MJL
An example of deferring or timidness was that Frost goal last night. At the beginning of this season or even a month ago, there is no way Frost shoots that puck. He most likely would have had the puck taken from him and the play go the other way. Now I see Frost taking more ice when its available to him and shooting what I think is a nasty wrister a lot more. I felt earlier this season he was always looking to give the puck up versus making a play on his own. I want to see Frost be a bit more selfish from time to time and I am seeing that now which is a good thing. I too want him to continue to progress this year and I think he will. I would also like to see Tippet have a monster game more often than once a month.
Sanheim is not worth the contract offered to him and that he signed, period. - jd250
Your attempts to deflect away from the completely disastrous season that Ristolainen is having are hilarious.
A 27 year old dman who can put up 30 points without PP time and play 20 minutes a night with solid defensive results despite being paired with defensively inept partners like DeAngelo and Risto, is easily worth the contract Sanheim got.
A 28 year old third pairing dman with 2 points in 31 games, is not worth $5.1m a year, though. He's been outplayed by Seeler - a journeyman on a NHL minimum deal.
And very annoying. Not only tanking creates a losing mentality, but tells young kids and veterans alike- your success and progress are not as important as getting that guy. If they tank, they will have to purge the losing mentality regardless if they get a good draft pick or not. One won't be able to rely on the players one pushed to lose on purpose. - missingmike
You can still create a winning mentality with lesser skilled players.
Your attempts to deflect away from the completely disastrous season that Ristolainen is having are hilarious.
A 27 year old dman who can put up 30 points without PP time and play 20 minutes a night with solid defensive results despite being paired with defensively inept partners like DeAngelo and Risto, is easily worth the contract Sanheim got.
A 28 year old third pairing dman with 2 points in 31 games, is not worth $5.1m a year, though. - Feanor
Risto is not worth $5.1M a year and I was vehemently against re-signing Risto, but I think Torts and his staff are doing a good job with him and salvaging what they can. Sanheim is no where near worth over $6M per season, he is simply not that good.
An example of deferring or timidness was that Frost goal last night. At the beginning of this season or even a month ago, there is no way Frost shoots that puck. He most likely would have had the puck taken from him and the play go the other way. Now I see Frost taking more ice when its available to him and shooting what I think is a nasty wrister a lot more. I felt earlier this season he was always looking to give the puck up versus making a play on his own. I want to see Frost be a bit more selfish from time to time and I am seeing that now which is a good thing. I too want him to continue to progress this year and I think he will. I would also like to see Tippet have a monster game more often than once a month. - jd250
The example you're giving me is a hypothetical and not a part of his actual play. Frost scored a similar goal earlier in the season where he used the defenseman as a screen and beat the goaltender from distance.
If you've seen this from Frost that he defers. Why is the best example you can give me something that is invented and made up? Something that you think might have happened.
Please tell me how shooting the puck and scoring a goal is an example of deferring and timidness?
By all accounts from people around the team, Risto is having his best season as a Flyer and maybe even as a pro. - jd250
Really? Please link to these accounts.
Ristolainen has regressed significantly as a player since he came to the Flyers.
Without even looking in-depth, from a commonsense standpoint. How can a player who has had four 40 point seasons in the past be having his best season as a pro with 2 points in 31 games?
Risto is not worth $5.1M a year and I was vehemently against re-signing Risto, but I think Torts and his staff are doing a good job with him and salvaging what they can. Sanheim is no where near worth over $6M per season, he is simply not that good. - jd250
What are the specific reasons why you think that Sanheim is not that good? Are there any "people" who agree with you?
There are only two defensemen who have managed to put up an ES GF% over 50 since Fletcher revamped the Flyers in summer 2021 and turned them into the league's fourth worst team. One of them has played 4 games, and one of them has played 118 out of 120 games.
Location: Be nice from now on, NJ Joined: 03.17.2006
Jan 3 @ 11:39 AM ET
By all accounts from people around the team, Risto is having his best season as a Flyer and maybe even as a pro. - jd250
His scoring stats are WAY down, and his advanced stats are also visibly worse this season than last.
Its a weird conundrum because the EYE test does seem that he is playing less bad. It seems like he has simplified his game but the stats say he is as bad or worse than he has ever been. Both advanced and scoring.
I have to give credit finally to Frost. I have said for a while this kid has to stop deferring offensively and be more assertive and shoot more. Maybe his shoulder is finally better, but for whatever reason Frost is shooting more and driving more plays. I still think he is too timid, but he is finally showing me something and that is a good thing. Though John Gibson looks to be a shell of himself in goal for the Ducks, that wrist shot from Frost last night was gas! - jd250
I completely agree. He has looked really dangerous of late. Setting up lots of chances and making plays. Hopefully the player continues to make strides
Location: Not protected by the Mods...I mean Mob. Take your best shot! Joined: 09.01.2012
Jan 3 @ 11:59 AM ET
The continued evolution of Frost, Tippett, Cates, and York has been unexpected- in a good way. TK is playing as a clear cut first line winger. - Trox88
I’m not that high on Cates at the moment. I think I’d be much higher on him if he was on the wing. Cates’ play makes me ask of “what is Torts looking for in his centers?”
MJL made an interesting point yesterday that I both agree and disagree with. He believes Laczynski should be playing on the fourth line and he should be but only in the place of one player. Not Zac MacEwen. Not Nick Deslauriers. Tanner Laczynski in my opinion should be tried and pushed as our long term fourth line center but for what reason Torts didn’t like Tanner at center when he did play and gave him a long look at wing. Why?
Location: Be nice from now on, NJ Joined: 03.17.2006
Jan 3 @ 12:15 PM ET
I haven’t been able to watch any of the games but I’d like to see this one!!
“WJC Update for Flyers prospects:
Cutter Gauthier and Team USA play Conor Bedard and Canada tomorrow at 430pm. Flyers fans will salivate over Bedard, he's kicking some butt!” - Dave21Brown
Bedard is on another plane of existence than the rest of them. Gauthier has been really good however. Bedards OT winner yesterday was a high-lite for the ages.
Bedard is on another plane of existence than the rest of them. Gauthier has been really good however. Bedards OT winner yesterday was a high-lite for the ages. - MBFlyerfan
I saw the highlight on Canada’s TSN website, kids unreal, but undersized for a center. Gonna be interesting to watch not only where he goes but how his first year develops. He’s just on another level!
I’m not that high on Cates at the moment. I think I’d be much higher on him if he was on the wing. Cates’ play makes me ask of “what is Torts looking for in his centers?”
MJL made an interesting point yesterday that I both agree and disagree with. He believes Laczynski should be playing on the fourth line and he should be but only in the place of one player. Not Zac MacEwen. Not Nick Deslauriers. Tanner Laczynski in my opinion should be tried and pushed as our long term fourth line center but for what reason Torts didn’t like Tanner at center when he did play and gave him a long look at wing. Why? - SuperSchennBros
Torts is throwimg Cates into the deep end of the pool at center. My guess is he views Cates as the best defensive option at center currently on the roster. Also, he seems to be challenging both TK and Farabee with that task of going against another 1st line, which is interesting. I expect the Cates experiment at center to.last the rest of the season. I think long term he views Cates as a viable 3C on a good team. Right now, I don't think Torts views Tanner as nothing more then a 13 th fwd. Hopefully, it changes. I cannot write thar Brown is even an avg. 4C. I don't believe that at all.
Arizona building depth and talent with the draft. That’s how you do it Fletch.
“Heading into the semis at the WJC, Coyotes prospects Logan Cooley and Dylan Guenther each have 5 goals, ranking them tied for second in the tournament behind Bedard. Cooley ranks second in points (11) and Guenther is tied for 7th (7 points).”
What should they do? Send York back to the Phantoms? Keep Hart on IR for the rest of the season and return Ersson to the Phantoms? Healthy scratch Konecny the rest of the year? Bench Tippett, recall Bellows and install him instead near the top of the lineup? Go back to giving Frost 10 mins of ice time a game and very few o-zone starts with two among Mac, Deslauriers or Bellows as his linemates again? Tell Hayes "you know what? We've been rethinking that expectation about two-way play. No need!" Rebreak JVR's fingers?
And THEN what happens if the roughly 80 percent odds of NOT getting Bedard even if you have the worst record in the league plays out as the odds strongly favor? - bmeltzer
Your method is what they have been doing for a very long time.
It’s pathetic, and pathetic to continue to try to defend it.
No what they should have done is not extend Travis Sanheim, and to look at moving him with Provorov in season. To not hire a coach that will most certainly squeeze out a few more wins.
It’s hilarious to see this frame of mind continue to persist in the organization, and somehow use McDavid or Draisaitl as an example of why the Flyers plan is better. I’m sure Edmonton fans just hate watching those two players instead of a try hard boring low event team night after night.
Again, it’s not about success though is it? It’s about continuing to employ the country club, and ensuring that their beliefs continue to guide the franchise.
As long as they play like “Flyers”, and success is secondary. Beliefs like yours run rampant through this franchise, and it’s a direct reason for where they are.
Bedard is on another plane of existence than the rest of them. Gauthier has been really good however. Bedards OT winner yesterday was a high-lite for the ages.
- MBFlyerfan
Imagine having a chance at a true generational player, and doing everything possible to try to move away from improved odds at doing so.
Imagine trying to justify that based on some antiquated, and proud belief of being too noble to tank.
