Risto is a legitimate top 4 RHS NHL defenseman on *any* team, period. The GM stated clearly he is NOT shopping Risto because he would leave a big hole in the lineup and he is not a rental so there is no rush to move him. However, like any good GM, its Briere's duty to listen to all offers and if something makes sense for the future of the team he would consider it. But right now, it's clear unless Briere is blown away he is not moving Risto, nor should he.

The Flyers are not tanking. They are not getting rid of players just to get more draft picks or free up cap space. They understand that going down the tanking road year after year is a slippery slope and very hard to get out of. They are going to be patient, free up more cap space, give their younger players time to develop, build a winning culture and when the time is right, pull the trigger on a FA signing or a good hockey trade. Torts will continue to be their coach. They will continue to play the style they play, and that's that. So I suggest you all just sit back and root for the team to succeed, and enjoy the ride this year.
- jd250

Calling Briere a scumbag is over the top. I also don't believe that Briere is scared to make moves. I think they desperately want to make moves.
- MJL

Absolutely.... I briefly thought it was satire. Way over the top IMO. If he just stuck w the main topics without the other bs it would have been tolerable.

I think that dude needs a hug.

Risto is a legitimate top 4 RHS NHL defenseman on *any* team, period. The GM stated clearly he is NOT shopping Risto because he would leave a big hole in the lineup and he is not a rental so there is no rush to move him. However, like any good GM, its Briere's duty to listen to all offers and if something makes sense for the future of the team he would consider it. But right now, it's clear unless Briere is blown away he is not moving Risto, nor should he.

The Flyers are not tanking. They are not getting rid of players just to get more draft picks or free up cap space. They understand that going down the tanking road year after year is a slippery slope and very hard to get out of. They are going to be patient, free up more cap space, give their younger players time to develop, build a winning culture and when the time is right, pull the trigger on a FA signing or a good hockey trade. Torts will continue to be their coach. They will continue to play the style they play, and that's that. So I suggest you all just sit back and root for the team to succeed, and enjoy the ride this year.
- jd250

- No he isnt. Codi Ceci player almost 22 minutes a night. Is he a legit top pair /top 4 dman?

- This is what he said. Clearly, he isn’t looking to trade him. No team is going to meet whatever unrealistic price he has set, if he has set a price.

“I don’t know yet. There’s been teams that have called to inquire. But Ristolainen has been so good for us too, and he’s not a rental,” Briere said at his midseason press conference on Tuesday. “For us, there’s no rush to trade him. We finally have him healthy. We finally have him playing extremely well. To find a right-shot defenseman like that; to play in your top four, to play as physical as he does, they’re tough to find. We have him here for us. We get excited thinking about trading him and what kind of return we could get, but I’m not shopping him. I’m not trying to get rid of him."

- They are not tanking. They are not rebuilding. They are not retooling. They are not going for it. What exactly are they doing?

- Enjoy what ride? Maybe they make the playoffs? Wow what an accomplishment. Half the damn teams make it. You have t be really bad not to.

- Danny is a putz.

Hextall was and is a bad gm, ill never understand ppl love for his time here as a gm
- SlNlSTER

There have been so many poor decisions since the Hextall days that I can’t really hate on him too much. He had the right idea (banishing the old guard, clearing cap space, acquiring high draft picks) and you can’t deny that he had the team positioned for a real rebuild.

I dont. Hextall's plan was draft and Develop. Guess what? Rebuilding isnt a guarantee. Look how long it took EDM to get good. They had to draft in the top 10, 10 out of 12 years from 2007 to 2019. If Hextall grabbed Makar or Heiskanen instead of Nolan Patrick things would have been a lot different for him
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

That wasn't Hextall's only mistake. How about drafting Provorov over Werenski or Mikko Rantanen in 2015? How about signing JVR to a 5 year deal? How about wasting the prime years of Giroux, Voracek and Simmonds? How about firing one of the best coaches in the NHL and replacing him with a college coach? Extending Andy MacDonald for 2 more years, or signing Dale Weise to a 4 year, $2.35 million AAV contract? Drafting Rubtsov in the first round when every other team were avoiding Russian players that year due to doping claims. I could go on but this paints a clear enough picture.

There have been so many poor decisions since the Hextall days that I can’t really hate on him too much. He had the right idea (banishing the old guard, clearing cap space, acquiring high draft picks) and you can’t deny that he had the team positioned for a real rebuild.
- Dkos

I think he was close. He was still trying to thread the needle of competitive and rebuilding. Once he moved Schenn, I would have started unloading more. Held onto guys like Giroux, Simmonds and Voracek too long. I would have fully committed to rebuilding once I was moving Schenn.

That wasn't Hextall's only mistake. How about drafting Provorov over Werenski or Mikko Rantanen in 2015? How about signing JVR to a 5 year deal? How about wasting the prime years of Giroux, Voracek and Simmonds? How about firing one of the best coaches in the NHL and replacing him with a college coach? Extending Andy MacDonald for 2 more years, or signing Dale Weise to a 4 year, $2.35 million AAV contract? Drafting Rubtsov in the first round when every other team were avoiding Russian players that year due to doping claims. I could go on but this paints a clear enough picture.
- jd250

odd you dont mentiojn drafting JOB.

I think he was close. He was still trying to thread the needle of competitive and rebuilding. Once he moved Schenn, I would have started unloading more. Held onto guys like Giroux, Simmonds and Voracek too long. I would have fully committed to rebuilding once I was moving Schenn.
- J35Bacher

like danny he was a scared dog. tried to play the middle of the road apporach.

That wasn't Hextall's only mistake. How about drafting Provorov over Werenski or Mikko Rantanen in 2015? How about signing JVR to a 5 year deal? How about wasting the prime years of Giroux, Voracek and Simmonds? How about firing one of the best coaches in the NHL and replacing him with a college coach? Extending Andy MacDonald for 2 more years, or signing Dale Weise to a 4 year, $2.35 million AAV contract? Drafting Rubtsov in the first round when every other team were avoiding Russian players that year due to doping claims. I could go on but this paints a clear enough picture.
- jd250

you also said the Chuck had the Flyers on the fast track to contention. Until you realized it was all BS...

I think he was close. He was still trying to thread the needle of competitive and rebuilding. Once he moved Schenn, I would have started unloading more. Held onto guys like Giroux, Simmonds and Voracek too long. I would have fully committed to rebuilding once I was moving Schenn.
- J35Bacher

I agree and as JD pointed out above he made a lot of other mistakes, but they were in a decent position to rebuild when he was fired. Imagine if they had hired Zito to replace him.

Caddy GM Danny is starting to make Fletcher look good. And by that I mean at least Fletcher picked a direction and had a bias for action. Yeah he was a complete dope but at least he had the testicular fortitude to act.

CoGM is a scared dog and it is easy to tell during the pressers. I almost feel bad for him. The body language, the rhetoric, all are not good at all and not how a real GM should carry himself.

You're the GM of a professional hockey team. YOU dictate what the players and coaches do. Be the man, not some patsy.

Caddy GM Danny is starting to make Fletcher look good. And by that I mean at least Fletcher picked a direction and had a bias for action. Yeah he was a complete dope but at least he had the testicular fortitude to act.

CoGM is a scared dog and it is easy to tell during the pressers. I almost feel bad for him. The body language, the rhetoric, all are not good at all and not how a real GM should carry himself.

You're the GM of a professional hockey team. YOU dictate what the players and coaches do. Be the man, not some patsy.
- StepfordSam

The simple fact he can't or wont fire Rocky is all one needs to know.

Caddy GM Danny is starting to make Fletcher look good. And by that I mean at least Fletcher picked a direction and had a bias for action. Yeah he was a complete dope but at least he had the testicular fortitude to act.

CoGM is a scared dog and it is easy to tell during the pressers. I almost feel bad for him. The body language, the rhetoric, all are not good at all and not how a real GM should carry himself.

You're the GM of a professional hockey team. YOU dictate what the players and coaches do. Be the man, not some patsy.
- StepfordSam

I am wondering if the "TRIUMPTIVE" is starting to see cracks. Just my novice views but when hearing Torts talk about certain things and then the GM presser, I wonder if they aren't exactly seeing eye to eye on this.

Could the GM actually really want to move Laughton knowing there are some solid offers their and the coach portion of the triumptive not seeing that as he loves him?

Just something in my opinion, nothing I can factually point to, but something i feel might be laying under weeds here

Risto is a legitimate top 4 RHS NHL defenseman on *any* team, period. The GM stated clearly he is NOT shopping Risto because he would leave a big hole in the lineup and he is not a rental so there is no rush to move him. However, like any good GM, its Briere's duty to listen to all offers and if something makes sense for the future of the team he would consider it. But right now, it's clear unless Briere is blown away he is not moving Risto, nor should he.

The Flyers are not tanking. They are not getting rid of players just to get more draft picks or free up cap space. They understand that going down the tanking road year after year is a slippery slope and very hard to get out of. They are going to be patient, free up more cap space, give their younger players time to develop, build a winning culture and when the time is right, pull the trigger on a FA signing or a good hockey trade. Torts will continue to be their coach. They will continue to play the style they play, and that's that. So I suggest you all just sit back and root for the team to succeed, and enjoy the ride this year.
- jd250

Risto is a fine 3rd pair defenseman. A man’s got to know his limitations and he’s shown that by playing a more basic game sacrificing offense. But he is pretty much the same guy he was in Buffalo with his strengths and weaknesses. He is what he is. A 3rd pair D man.

Calling Briere a scumbag is over the top. I also don't believe that Briere is scared to make moves. I think they desperately want to make moves.
- MJL

Agree, but just don't have much in value to move.

Risto is a legitimate top 4 RHS NHL defenseman on *any* team, period. The GM stated clearly he is NOT shopping Risto because he would leave a big hole in the lineup and he is not a rental so there is no rush to move him. However, like any good GM, its Briere's duty to listen to all offers and if something makes sense for the future of the team he would consider it. But right now, it's clear unless Briere is blown away he is not moving Risto, nor should he.

The Flyers are not tanking. They are not getting rid of players just to get more draft picks or free up cap space. They understand that going down the tanking road year after year is a slippery slope and very hard to get out of. They are going to be patient, free up more cap space, give their younger players time to develop, build a winning culture and when the time is right, pull the trigger on a FA signing or a good hockey trade. Torts will continue to be their coach. They will continue to play the style they play, and that's that. So I suggest you all just sit back and root for the team to succeed, and enjoy the ride this year.
- jd250

The Flyers are the envy of the league. Everyone wants what they have!
I wouldn't want the Flyers to get stuck in an endless cycle that they can't get out of! LOL. Wouldn't want them to ruin what they have going here and create holes in a lineup that has a 10% chance of making the playoffs.

Speaking of contradictions. In one sentence you state that they are not getting rid of players to free up cap space. Then a few sentences later, you post that they are going to be patient and free up more cap space. How exactly?

As expected and predicted. With just one press conference, Briere has manipulated you off of your previous positions that they should trade Ristolainen and Laughton at the deadline. You stated that if they didn't, you would be critical. Now here you are stating that he shouldn't trade Ristolainen unless blown away. That's how easily you're manipulated. If anyone wants to know why a GM holds these press conferences. Easily manipulated fans such as yourself are the reason why.

funny read. not bad either.
- login

I pretty much agree with the author of this article 100%. Danny Briere wasn’t hired because he was the best candidate available. He was hired because:
1. He is a well regarded former Flyer who would appeal to most of the fanbase
and
2. He is willing to be subservient to the dinosaur HC and the head cheerleader, Keith Jones

Danny Briere is a patsy.

I pretty much agree with the author of this article 100%. Danny Briere wasn’t hired because he was the best candidate available. He was hired because:
1. He is a well regarded former Flyer who would appeal to most of the fanbase
and
2. He is willing to be subservient to the dinosaur HC and the head cheerleader, Keith Jones

Danny Briere is a patsy.
- BiggE

Most would agree. except the Flyer felators.

How he can sit there as the GM and still employ Rocky is beyond mind boggling.

I walked away shaking my head. This org is so out of touch.

If anyone wants to read a takedown of GMDB this one is pretty funny. Albeit, a bit much: https://thelibertyline.co...riere-undo-button-flyers/
- Flyfly

Many of us on this board agree with the premise that GMDB lacks the guts to make bold moves and it is clear he’s afraid to make a mistake.

I walked away shaking my head. This org is so out of touch.

If anyone wants to read a takedown of GMDB this one is pretty funny. Albeit, a bit much: https://thelibertyline.co...riere-undo-button-flyers/
- Flyfly

And speaking of guys to make bold moves:

Kelly McCrimmon
Julien BriseBois
Bill Zito

All have Stanley Cups and all make bold moves. Do they make mistakes? Yes. Are they frozen in to inaction when they do? No.

Desnoyer's bro is currently projected to go around 10-15... big, 200-foot, tenacious, character dude, reportedly a coach's dream... not the best skater... can the Flyers resist?

https://www.eliteprospect...er/744009/caleb-desnoyers

- No he isnt. Codi Ceci player almost 22 minutes a night. Is he a legit top pair /top 4 dman?

- This is what he said. Clearly, he isn’t looking to trade him. No team is going to meet whatever unrealistic price he has set, if he has set a price.

“I don’t know yet. There’s been teams that have called to inquire. But Ristolainen has been so good for us too, and he’s not a rental,” Briere said at his midseason press conference on Tuesday. “For us, there’s no rush to trade him. We finally have him healthy. We finally have him playing extremely well. To find a right-shot defenseman like that; to play in your top four, to play as physical as he does, they’re tough to find. We have him here for us. We get excited thinking about trading him and what kind of return we could get, but I’m not shopping him. I’m not trying to get rid of him."

- They are not tanking. They are not rebuilding. They are not retooling. They are not going for it. What exactly are they doing?

- Enjoy what ride? Maybe they make the playoffs? Wow what an accomplishment. Half the damn teams make it. You have t be really bad not to.

- Danny is a putz.
- login

Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!🙌

Most would agree. except the Flyer felators.

How he can sit there as the GM and still employ Rocky is beyond mind boggling.
- login

Desnoyer's bro is currently projected to go around 10-15... big, 200-foot, tenacious, character dude, reportedly a coach's dream... not the best skater... can the Flyers resist?

https://www.eliteprospect...er/744009/caleb-desnoyers
- Tomahawk

I think he would be a pretty good pick in the early teens.

And speaking of guys to make bold moves:

Kelly McCrimmon
Julien BriseBois
Bill Zito

All have Stanley Cups and all make bold moves. Do they make mistakes? Yes. Are they frozen in to inaction when they do? No.
- mikeyo27

Bingo!