Bill Meltzer: Flyers Gameday: 10/28/21 @ VAN; Flyers-EDM Wrap; Phantoms Lose in WB/S

Bill, it’s being reported as hip/groin by some folks, any details or truth?

Bill Meltzer: Flyers Gameday: 10/28/21 @ VAN; Flyers-EDM Wrap; Phantoms Lose in WB/S
- bmeltzer

Pleasantly surprised with last night's win. Hopefully the momentum will roll into tonight

Thanks as always Bill. I don't think anyone could have imaged how well Cam has fit in so far with this team. It's been fun so far.

Good game.

Can someone please explain to me why we re-signed Sanheim to a $4.6m/year contract in the off-season?

I said it then, and I will say it again.....that was a mistake. He's been terrible so far.

But Cam Atkinson came to town to play! Great to see. Exciting player.
Anybody missing Voracek? Because I'm sure not.

Good game.

Can someone please explain to me why we re-signed Sanheim to a $4.6m/year contract in the off-season?

I said it then, and I will say it again.....that was a mistake. He's been terrible so far.

But Cam Atkinson came to town to play! Great to see. Exciting player.
Anybody missing Voracek? Because I'm sure not.
- Nh_kong

I think we are seeing why it is only for 2 seasons and not a long term deal.

Good game.

Can someone please explain to me why we re-signed Sanheim to a $4.6m/year contract in the off-season?

I said it then, and I will say it again.....that was a mistake. He's been terrible so far.

But Cam Atkinson came to town to play! Great to see. Exciting player.
Anybody missing Voracek? Because I'm sure not.
- Nh_kong

I don't think he will still be here in 2 years... I think this is his last chance to prove himself and honestly I am not sure how I feel about moving him yet.. if he is what he is at this point next season then package him up and ship him out
But if he puts it together he does have potential to be a good player

Bill, it’s being reported as hip/groin by some folks, any details or truth?
- ClaudeFather

That's what many of us suspect. But never confirmed. AV and Ellis tap-danced around it.

So does everyone still think cam isn’t a 30 goal scorer anymore?

Bill, first the score was 5-3 last night, not 6-3. I am very happy you mentioned how well RR played last night, since this game is an example of how watching the game vs. only looking at advance metrics can tell two very different stories. RR last night played a great game, winning puck battles, making smart plays and clearing the slot area. If he continues to play like this, the Flyers will have hit a home run with this trade.

Finally, any word on the status of Wade Allison?

So does everyone still think cam isn’t a 30 goal scorer anymore?
- Peter Richards

When did everyone say he wasn't a 30 goal scorer?

Excellent job last night. Keep up the good work tonight. :thumbs-up:

It was Ristolainen's best game but still not good enough to justify the trade. Right now the Flyers weakness is 2nd line center and the 2nd defense pairing. That needs to improve if the Flyers hope to do anything.

Bill, first the score was 5-3 last night, not 6-3. I am very happy you mentioned how well RR played last night, since this game is an example of how watching the game vs. only looking at advance metrics can tell two very different stories. RR last night played a great game, winning puck battles, making smart plays and clearing the slot area. If he continues to play like this, the Flyers will have hit a home run with this trade.

Finally, any word on the status of Wade Allison?
- jd250

Bill stated that it was his best game which is a low hurdle to get over. He did not say he played a great game.

That's what many of us suspect. But never confirmed. AV and Ellis tap-danced around it.
- bmeltzer

when the gonna send Samu to juniors bill? zero sense healthy scratching him.

It was discussed this past summer. Most seem overly concentrated on Risto.

Bill stated that it was his best game which is a low hurdle to get over. He did not say he played a great game.
- MJL

I'm curious, what do you expect from RR? What in your eyes did he do wrong last night? I'm sure he was not perfect, but I certainly didn't notice anything bad from him.

Bill, first the score was 5-3 last night, not 6-3. I am very happy you mentioned how well RR played last night, since this game is an example of how watching the game vs. only looking at advance metrics can tell two very different stories. RR last night played a great game, winning puck battles, making smart plays and clearing the slot area. If he continues to play like this, the Flyers will have hit a home run with this trade.

Finally, any word on the status of Wade Allison?
- jd250

Why do keep felating and pumping up RR?

Why do keep felating and pumping up RR?
- hello it's me 2050

didnt you troll this question on the last blog?

I'm curious, what do you expect from RR? What in your eyes did he do wrong last night? I'm sure he was not perfect, but I certainly didn't anything bad from him.
- jd250

Well he badly lost a puck battle and was weak on the puck on the Hymen goal.

I'll explain it to you. Right now if we look at the Flyers to this point in the season. They're not a team who carries play. They're a team that is scoring well and getting good goaltending. It's about winning. Certainly that is subjective. I consider winning to being one of the top teams in the league and in the mix for the Cup. Not just being improved and in the mix for a playoff spot.
The difference between the two situations is being able to be a team that pushes and carries play. That dictates to opponents. When you're defending more, no matter how well you do that, that is losing hockey. You aren't going to be a contender playing that way. With the moves that were made and what they gave up, in my perspective they need to be a contender or they're a failure.

With regards to Ristolainen specifically, what I see to this point is a player that can only defend. The difference between a bad game for him and a decent game is how well he defends. How he limits his mistakes. Overall he is not good in his own end. That is not what is needed from a 2nd pair defenseman. That is not what you trade a 1st, 2nd and a roster player for as well as having to re-sign him. He makes zero impact on the transition game or in the offensive zone in terms of attacking. We can get what we get out of him from a player like Braun, albeit less of a physical edge. To this point we're not getting enough out of Sanheim either. His play pushing is not there like it has been in the past. The pairing is an issue.

Where do you set the bar? I know where I set it.

didnt you troll this question on the last blog?
- bradster

troll? No. I asked when the new blog just came up. Why do you ask?

Well he badly lost a puck battle and was weak on the puck on the Hymen goal.

I'll explain it to you. Right now if we look at the Flyers to this point in the season. They're not a team who carries play. They're a team that is scoring well and getting good goaltending. It's about winning. Certainly that is subjective. I consider winning to being one of the top teams in the league and in the mix for the Cup. Not just being improved and in the mix for a playoff spot.
The difference between the two situations is being able to be a team that pushes and carries play. That dictates to opponents. When you're defending more, no matter how well you do that, that is losing hockey. You aren't going to be a contender playing that way. With the moves that were made and what they gave up, in my perspective they need to be a contender or they're a failure.

With regards to Ristolainen specifically, what I see to this point is a player that can only defend. The difference between a bad game for him and a decent game is how well he defends. How he limits his mistakes. Overall he is not good in his own end. That is not what is needed from a 2nd pair defenseman. That is not what you trade a 1st, 2nd and a roster player for as well as having to re-sign him. He makes zero impact on the transition game or in the offensive zone in terms of attacking. We can get what we get out of him from a player like Braun, albeit less of a physical edge. To this point we're not getting enough out of Sanheim either. His play pushing is not there like it has been in the past. The pairing is an issue.

Where do you set the bar? I know where I set it.
- MJL

traded a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd pair dman for.......possibly another 3rd pair dman?

Not sure, but I do think he has the ability to be a very good #4/5 with the right partner. His ability to be strong on the PK/PP2 rounds him out. If York and Zamula can slot into 3 and 6 roles, I think that is a pretty solid D grouping. We did give up a 1st for him along with Hagg (a former 2nd)...most want him to succeed...so it is more pushing back against the team negative narrative. It they end up signing Risto to a 5 yr 6.5M cap it could be a little of an over payment, but I think he has more upside that Hagg as long as he has a good partner...the down side is that Sanheim continues to struggle and has not found his way yet.

Not sure, but I do think he has the ability to be a very good #4/5 with the right partner. His ability to be strong on the PK/PP2 rounds him out. If York and Zamula can slot into 3 and 6 roles, I think that is a pretty solid D grouping. We did give up a 1st for him along with Hagg (a former 2nd)...most want him to succeed...so it is more pushing back against the team negative narrative. It they end up signing Risto to a 5 yr 6.5M cap it could be a little of an over payment, but I think he has more upside that Hagg as long as he has a good partner...the down side is that Sanheim continues to struggle and has not found his way yet.
- JW98FlyerFan

I would not be happy at all with a #5 defenseman who makes 6.5M. Honestly, if this is what were going to get from Ristolainen. Grit your teeth, realize the mistake and cut bait.

That's what many of us suspect. But never confirmed. AV and Ellis tap-danced around it.
- bmeltzer

Sounds like something that is going to hamper him all year, not a good sign. All the injury prone stuff looks like it is true unfortunately