I know I am old school but +/- is not too bad like his is I say he has a decent year. He is not hurting the team when it comes to goals against. People share the weird heat maps with corsi and other bs stats I could care less about, does he pass my eye test, yes.
- WhiskeyMan

My stance on Ristolainen heading into the season was to be open minded abs give him a chance. His start of the season really did have me buying into believing he was that bad but something happened. There has been clear improvement in his game. He’s not seeking out mindless hits. He’s TRYING to be a half decent defender. He’s been out in heavy defensive situations and he’s come out alright. Risto isn’t incredible. Just look at him, he’s tall and stiff but he’s not singlehandedly losing us games. DeAngelo, that’s a different story in my opinion.

He still screws up regularly. Like wtf was this?


- Tomahawk

yeah, needed to recognize to step up there, I am sure that will be covered, that can also be said about most other players. RR was guilty of plays like that on the regular, seems he has cut those moments down

I think this is an improvement year for RR, now lets see if he can maintain and even add.
- wcorvette

You’re not gonna change the minds of the haters, even if he does something well. No player plays a perfect game.

My stance on Risto is, I hate the trade that brought him here but his new contract is an average salary for a player his age. I have no issue with the contract. I don’t like moving first round picks for role players.

yeah, needed to recognize to step up there, I am sure that will be covered, that can also be said about most other players. RR was guilty of plays like that on the regular, seems he has cut those moments down
- wcorvette

again, not saying he is amazing, but plays like this happen in every game. Funny how all the good gets overlooked for one mistake, but i gets he the whipping boy for most. sanhiems play was atrocious for a while, barely any conversation about that.

yeah, needed to recognize to step up there, I am sure that will be covered, that can also be said about most other players. RR was guilty of plays like that on the regular, seems he has cut those moments down
- wcorvette

He's cut down the running around, which has been good.

What he hasn't cut down are the mental mistakes and blown coverages, because no amount of coaching can get his processing power up to speed. He's just dumb.

Like on that goal, he simply didn't realize that Cates had switched with him on the way back. The trailer was his responsibility, but instead he just skated up the ice behind Cates and went right to the net lol. Boldy must have been shocked by how much open ice he had in front of him.

My stance on Ristolainen heading into the season was to be open minded abs give him a chance. His start of the season really did have me buying into believing he was that bad but something happened. There has been clear improvement in his game. He’s not seeking out mindless hits. He’s TRYING to be a half decent defender. He’s been out in heavy defensive situations and he’s come out alright. Risto isn’t incredible. Just look at him, he’s tall and stiff but he’s not singlehandedly losing us games. DeAngelo, that’s a different story in my opinion.
- SuperSchennBros

And Risto almost won the game in OT last night, with a great puck battle win along the boards and then once he obtained the puck shot it past Fleury off the cross bar. I think Risto is overpaid, but has clearly been one of the Flyers most steady defenseman this year and deserves credit for taking coaching and changing his game. My hope is that next year Risto takes a few more chances offensively because he does have a wicked shot. I also would like to see Risto improve his zone exit passes. Risto is very good at stopping plays but he sometimes pushes the puck up to forwards that are covered, not looking, or puts it in their skates too much.

A team is never going to win with Ristolainen playing a significant role. That's what my eye test tells me. If he was a 3rd pair defenseman making less money that didn't cost an arm and a leg to acquire. He would be okay. The Flyers are getting significantly better value from Nick Seeler.
- MJL

This is the main issue. He's making too much money and as a result is slotted improperly. He's not an aware defender and is prone to just plain mental lapses. He at least used to generate some offense but even that has fallen off. I just don't think even the marginal improvement he has shown is enough to justify his cap hit. I'd rather have a cheaper option making boneheaded plays while generating no offense. Seeler is way more value than RR.

I do believe they need some physicality on their defense pairings. But it needs to be in the context of being able to lead a breakout and possess the puck. Not the old Derian Hatcher poop.

He's cut down the running around, which has been good.

What he hasn't cut down are the mental mistakes and blown coverages, because no amount of coaching can get his processing power up to speed. He's just dumb.

Like on that goal, he simply didn't realize that Cates had switched with him on the way back. The trailer was his responsibility, but instead he just skated up the ice behind Cates and went right to the net lol. Boldy must have been shocked by how much open ice he had in front of him.
- Tomahawk

understand what you are saying. players need to communicate on the ice as well. but breakdowns like this happen every game. he is what he is. lets see if his play continues.

He's cut down the running around, which has been good.

What he hasn't cut down are the mental mistakes and blown coverages, because no amount of coaching can get his processing power up to speed. He's just dumb.

Like on that goal, he simply didn't realize that Cates had switched with him on the way back. The trailer was his responsibility, but instead he just skated up the ice behind Cates and went right to the net lol. Boldy must have been shocked by how much open ice he had in front of him.
- Tomahawk

His coach probably told him "Risto, stand here. If you don't know what you should be doing go back to that spot and protect the net." It's exactly how I coach 7 year olds.

And Risto almost won the game in OT last night, with a great puck battle win along the boards and then once he obtained the puck shot it past Fleury off the cross bar. I think Risto is overpaid, but has clearly been one of the Flyers most steady defenseman this year and deserves credit for taking coaching and changing his game. My hope is that next year Risto takes a few more chances offensively because he does have a wicked shot. I also would like to see Risto improve his zone exit passes. Risto is very good at stopping plays but he sometimes pushes the puck up to forwards that are covered, not looking, or puts it in their skates too much.
- jd250

Hayes has been MIA for weeks, you wouldn’t even know he was playing unless you looked at the stat sheet. He makes 2 million more than Risto and doesn’t do very much well. I have zero confidence he scores 20 this season.

Risto makes one bad defensive play and it’s unforgivable. Tony DeAngelo makes the same bad defensive plays every shift.

There is nothing Risto can do to win over fans who will never like him.

Hayes has been MIA for weeks, you wouldn’t even know he was playing unless you look at the stat sheet. He makes 2 million more than Risto and doesn’t do very much well. I have zero confidence he scores 20 this season.

Risto makes one bad defensive play and it’s unforgivable. Tony DeAngelo makes the same bad defensive plays every shift.

There is nothing Risto can do to win over fans who will never like him.
- SuperSchennBros

hayes had maybe two or three good plays. in the o zone minus he fumble on a prime opportunity i remember a couple terrible angle shots and a few centering passes to no one. it was one of his better games in the previous ten he played, but that's not saying much. he seems to not care.

Hayes has been MIA for weeks, you wouldn’t even know he was playing unless you look at the stat sheet. He makes 2 million more than Risto and doesn’t do very much well. I have zero confidence he scores 20 this season.

Risto makes one bad defensive play and it’s unforgivable. Tony DeAngelo makes the same bad defensive plays every shift.

There is nothing Risto can do to win over fans who will never like him.
- SuperSchennBros

I think he has torn his game down to the bare bones. You are seeing less glaring miscues and somewhat better positioning. Less appalling to watch but he is still a second pair defender at best. Probably a third pair on a good team.
- mickel25

He has been very solid since January….if not a tad earlier. He’s playing with more confidence for sure as I think he understands what they are asking of him and he seems more comfortable. I think the biggest improvement is his positioning in his own end. It has seen a marked improvement. He doesn’t seem to try and make the big hit every shift and although far from perfect back there his play in his own end has been way better.

His coach probably told him "Risto, stand here. If you don't know what you should be doing go back to that spot and protect the net." It's exactly how I coach 7 year olds.
- atibus

It's just so stark the difference in awareness between Cates and RR on that play.

hayes had maybe two or three good plays. in the o zone minus he fumble on a prime opportunity i remember a couple terrible angle shots and a few centering passes to no one. it was one of his better games in the previous ten he played, but that's not saying much. he seems to not care.
- Peter Richards

To be fair, thanks to ESPN, I was unable to watch

He's cut down the running around, which has been good.

What he hasn't cut down are the mental mistakes and blown coverages, because no amount of coaching can get his processing power up to speed. He's just dumb.

Like on that goal, he simply didn't realize that Cates had switched with him on the way back. The trailer was his responsibility, but instead he just skated up the ice behind Cates and went right to the net lol. Boldy must have been shocked by how much open ice he had in front of him.
- Tomahawk

I wasn’t sure if he went to the wrong guy on that play. It mostly not the d man’s responsility to cover the late guy….although after watching it again he definitely should have stepped up and taken away space….then again that same play happens 10 times a game where the high guy/trailer has that type of look. Kid made a great shot.

He has been very solid since January….if not a tad earlier. He’s playing with more confidence for sure as I think he understands what they are asking of him and he seems more comfortable. I think the biggest improvement is his positioning in his own end. It has seen a marked improvement. He doesn’t seem to try and make the big hit every shift and although far from perfect back there his play in his own end has been way better.
- landros 2

He had a good run w/ Seeler on the third pair in January.

Ever since his ice time went back up he's been making a lot of mistakes again.

Can the Flyers please send Foerster back the Phantoms already .. he is too good for this team right now! Apparently no one gave Tysonm the memo that the Flyers need to lose as many of their remaining games as possible.

I wasn’t sure if he went to the wrong guy on that play. It mostly not the d man’s responsility to cover the late guy….although after watching it again he definitely should have stepped up and taken away space….then again that same play happens 10 times a game where the high guy/trailer has that type of look. Kid made a great shot.
- landros 2

Tomahawk just doesn't like Risto, that goal was in no way at all Risto's fault. He got back into the position he should have been in, Boldy was the forward's responsiblity. Would it have been nice if Risto stopped sooner and got his stick on the cross ice pass, sure it would have, but that is not a play a defenseman makes that often.

He's cut down the running around, which has been good.

What he hasn't cut down are the mental mistakes and blown coverages, because no amount of coaching can get his processing power up to speed. He's just dumb.

Like on that goal, he simply didn't realize that Cates had switched with him on the way back. The trailer was his responsibility, but instead he just skated up the ice behind Cates and went right to the net lol. Boldy must have been shocked by how much open ice he had in front of him.
- Tomahawk

The entire team has a habit of puck watching instead of looking around and picking someone up. These are the issues that a coach like Tortorella is supposed to correct. The details that make a team a good defensive team. It hasn't happened. You can look at the goal highlights of many recent games and see Ristolainen, who is supposed to be this physical monster, get beat around the net. Provorov has been guilty of many of the same issues. Sanhiem the last few games has played the way he did for most of last season. He's had his head up his ass for most of the season.

Hayes has been MIA for weeks, you wouldn’t even know he was playing unless you looked at the stat sheet. He makes 2 million more than Risto and doesn’t do very much well. I have zero confidence he scores 20 this season.

Risto makes one bad defensive play and it’s unforgivable. Tony DeAngelo makes the same bad defensive plays every shift.

There is nothing Risto can do to win over fans who will never like him.
- SuperSchennBros

The hate for Risto is sometimes unwarranted for sure. Other times he deserves all the criticism. I hope his current play is what we get going forward on a more consistent basis. He’s not a fun guy to play against, regardless of what seem to think. He’ll smoke a guy and will never drop the gloves…I was amused watching Reeves against him.

Tomahawk just doesn't like Risto, that goal was in no way at all Risto's fault. He got back into the position he should have been in, Boldy was the forward's responsiblity. Would it have been nice if Risto stopped sooner and got his stick on the cross ice pass, sure it would have, but that is not a play a defenseman makes that often.
- jd250

Do you know how dumb that sounds. That a poster with Tomahawk's rep and past would post based on who he likes or not? Like he's a teenage girl or something. That blown coverage was 100% on Ristolainen. He backed to the net and was puck watching. Step up, defend the zone and get a stick or body on the shot. Quality defenseman make that play routinely.

Tomahawk just doesn't like Risto, that goal was in no way at all Risto's fault. He got back into the position he should have been in, Boldy was the forward's responsiblity. Would it have been nice if Risto stopped sooner and got his stick on the cross ice pass, sure it would have, but that is not a play a defenseman makes that often.
- jd250

I still wasn’t sure…after watching that play. There was confusion between him and Cates…but Cates never left his guy.

Tomahawk just doesn't like Risto, that goal was in no way at all Risto's fault. He got back into the position he should have been in, Boldy was the forward's responsiblity. Would it have been nice if Risto stopped sooner and got his stick on the cross ice pass, sure it would have, but that is not a play a defenseman makes that often.
- jd250

Cates switched positions with RR at the Wild blueline. Risto WAS the forward on the backcheck.

He had a good run w/ Seeler on the third pair in January.

Ever since his ice time went back up he's been making a lot of mistakes again.
- Tomahawk

His ice time has increased.