I wonder if the Avs would have interest is Laughton now. They're decimated by injuries and currently have a poopy record.
Any chance DB can move in for a mild fleecing?
- Bob Habib

Honestly I believe we are not seeing a trade now or later, not because teams don't want Flyer players, but because I think the fans are more anxious to trade the players than Briere. I really don't believe Briere sees opportunity to get future value, I believe he wants to keep what he has and make it work....unless it is so lopsided that he has to take it.

And after the Flyers beat the Bruins tomorrow, your boy Montgomery will be fired. Yup, Jack Adams award winner, modern coach, best season in NHL history and he will be out of work very soon. Can't make it up!
- jd250

So if they don't fire him after a loss....the reason would be.....?

Honestly I believe we are not seeing a trade now or later, not because teams don't want Flyer players, but because I think the fans are more anxious to trade the players than Briere. I really don't believe Briere sees opportunity to get future value, I believe he wants to keep what he has and make it work....unless it is so lopsided that he has to take it.
- Glak18

What is he trying to make work? If he is trying to make this work, we have the wrong GM.

What is he trying to make work? If he is trying to make this work, we have the wrong GM.
- MJL

I'm not Briere to know what his true intentions are, but like I said I don't personally believe he is going to trade a player fans think should be traded for the same reasons.

It's just my gut feeling, what does that mean? Probably nothing.

I understand the want to get out of Rostolainen's contract. I personally would give Risto more responsibility regardless of who is healthy and who isn't. With Drysdale, the Flyers keep going back to that dry well. Zamula has been bad all around and I don't understand how he's earned and managed to keep PP time this season. I would put Ristolainen on the power play or at least I would have coming out of camp. I kinda feel Sanheim is more deserving at the moment but the point is, if there was anything Risto was actually good at in Buffalo, it was decent production on the power play. I know many will disagree but how else do you wanna shop him? Put him in a situation to produce, sell to the highest bidder.

I'm not Briere to know what his true intentions are, but like I said I don't personally believe he is going to trade a player fans think should be traded for the same reasons.

It's just my gut feeling, what does that mean? Probably nothing.
- Glak18

If this is a continuation to the Risto debate, the Flyers need to make the player work for them before he can work for anymore else. Putting him on the top pair is a good start. Risto has to be put in a situation to somewhat succeed.

I understand the want to get out of Rostolainen's contract. I personally would give Risto more responsibility regardless of who is healthy and who isn't. With Drysdale, the Flyers keep going back to that dry well. Zamula has been bad all around and I don't understand how he's earned and managed to keep PP time this season. I would put Ristolainen on the power play or at least I would have coming out of camp. I kinda feel Sanheim is more deserving at the moment but the point is, if there was anything Risto was actually good at in Buffalo, it was decent production on the power play. I know many will disagree but how else do you wanna shop him? Put him in a situation to produce, sell to the highest bidder.
- roenick97

I said pair Risto with Sanheim before the season started, people obviously said that's stupid. Guy has a cap hit of 5.1m and took a lot of assets to get, sounds like dumb reasoning, but you better play him and keep pushing him to be what they wanted or man up figure something out to get rid of him. Not playing him only guarentees one thing, his value will be garbage...which seems to be the Torts way of what I have seen.

Same goes with Coots, he makes too much on a lousy team to bury him on the 4th line. If they just can't turn it around and they lose, great the team gets a possible better player in the draft.

If this is a continuation to the Risto debate, the Flyers need to make the player work for them before he can work for anymore else. Putting him on the top pair is a good start. Risto has to be put in a situation to somewhat succeed.
- roenick97

I responded to you and 100% agree. Said the same with Coots before he had the hat trick, which happened to be the one game I missed this year.

I'm not Briere to know what his true intentions are, but like I said I don't personally believe he is going to trade a player fans think should be traded for the same reasons.

It's just my gut feeling, what does that mean? Probably nothing.
- Glak18

I agree, what the fans as a whole want is not normally reality. I think your gut feeling is accurate

With the cap going up further next year, Risto's contract becomes less and less of an issue. I don't think teams would give upa conditional 1st as Colorado did last season for Walker, but I can see a 2nd if the Flyers cover some money or take a short contract back.
- jd250

You do realize the Flyers got a first for walker because they took a contract on

I said pair Risto with Sanheim before the season started, people obviously said that's stupid. Guy has a cap hit of 5.1m and took a lot of assets to get, sounds like dumb reasoning, but you better play him and keep pushing him to be what they wanted or man up figure something out to get rid of him. Not playing him only guarentees one thing, his value will be garbage...which seems to be the Torts way of what I have seen.

Same goes with Coots, he makes too much on a lousy team to bury him on the 4th line. If they just can't turn it around and they lose, great the team gets a possible better player in the draft.
- Glak18

If the Flyers continue to play him long term on the first pairing, that will just solidify the reality of what the player is. He wasn't very good when he was in his prime playing on the top pairing in Buffalo. At least then he could put up some points. That ability has dried up. I don't see playing Ristolainen on the top pair increasing his value.

Game Details according to www.sportsnet.ca

VENUE
Wells Fargo Center
CITY
Philadelphia, PA
REFEREES
Justin Kea, Francis Charron
LINESMEN
Brad Kovachik, Mitch Hunt
ATTENDANCE
14,122 🫣

Many think Risto is untradeable and the Flyers are stuck. If that is the case then play him in a top 4 role with good minutes. They have nothing to lose. Maybe there is a slim chance he does ok and draws some interest.

Many also think he can be moved if put in a position to succeed. Well playing 16/17 minutes a night on the 3rd pair is the best chance you have for that happen. Would a team bite with 50% retention?

There is also the Flyers thought process. Will they want to trade him?

If the Flyers continue to play him long term on the first pairing, that will just solidify the reality of what the player is. He wasn't very good when he was in his prime playing on the top pairing in Buffalo. At least then he could put up some points. That ability has dried up. I don't see playing Ristolainen on the top pair increasing his value.
- MJL

It worked for that Andrew MacDonald guy....

(on the Islanders)

Many think Risto is untradeable and the Flyers are stuck. If that is the case then play him in a top 4 role with good minutes. They have nothing to lose. Maybe there is a slim chance he does ok and draws some interest.

Many also think he can be moved if put in a position to succeed. Well playing 16/17 minutes a night on the 3rd pair is the best chance you have for that happen. Would a team bite with 50% retention?

There is also the Flyers thought process. Will they want to trade him?
- furio16

Play Risto in a top 4 pair role until he proves he can’t handle it. Last season of being “only a third pair defenseman” was a bad example. Nobody knew what the Flyers were getting in Sean Walker. Risto gets hurt in camp, Walker was able to take advantage. Simple. Anyone who says they knew exactly what they were getting in Walker is a lair. Even Briere said on record he wasn’t sure but that’s the name of the game. Play Risto in a position he can succeed until he can’t, than push him back again. There has to be some risk here.

As for Risto’s time in Buffalo, that has nothing to do with right now. Different role, different situation, different overall team.

It worked for that Andrew MacDonald guy....

(on the Islanders)
- Glak18

The Flyers traded for him when he was playing top pair on the Islanders. Not after he declined as an older player.

The Flyers traded for him when he was playing top pair on the Islanders. Not after he declined as an older player.
- MJL

Yeah that decline started the moment he pulled that Flyer jersey over his head.

Also that was my point...playing top pair, not a top pair.

Yeah that decline started the moment he pulled that Flyer jersey over his head.

Also that was my point...playing top pair, not a top pair.
- Glak18

Andrew MacDonald no matter how many chances and opportunities he saw was ever good as a Flyer. I’ll take two Ristolainen’s over one Andrew MacDonald.

Yeah that decline started the moment he pulled that Flyer jersey over his head.

Also that was my point...playing top pair, not a top pair.
- Glak18

I get that but the equivalent situation would be a team trading for MacDonald not when he was an Islander but after he was with the Flyers for 2-3 seasons.

I get that but the equivalent situation would be a team trading for MacDonald not when he was an Islander but after he was with the Flyers for 2-3 seasons.
- MJL

No, I am looking at it the other way. The Flyers paid what they did because AMac was shoehorned into that top pair minute eater that made him look better than he was.

No, I am looking at it the other way. The Flyers paid what they did because AMac was shoehorned into that top pair minute eater that made him look better than he was.
- Glak18

Okay but is the obvious decline of Ristolainen from a player who could at least put up points in Buffalo to a player who had to be demoted in role and usage with the points drying up. Suddenly going to be removed from history because he's playing some games up in the lineup due to the injury to York? That situation was not the case with the other player at the time. It's not the same situation.

I have thought from the start some were a tad too hard on Risto and his overall game…his defence in Buffalo was often over looked because he produced offensively and was a physical player. In Philly he’s never really put up the offensive numbers and it became apparent he needed to play better in his own end…yes he was still physical but a lot of his hits took him out of position.
To the players credit he has obviously worked to transform his game into a defensive guy who’s hard to play against… I think he’s skating well and making the outlet passes that are needed to be successful. .I think last year it showed and this year it’s continued…I’m not sure what he could get today in a trade…but if he can put the next 40 games or so into the same category he’s playing to lately then I think he’s is a tradable asset. Today I’m not so sure…then again it only takes one other GM or a desperate situation.

I have thought from the start some were a tad too hard on Risto and his overall game…his defence in Buffalo was often over looked because he produced offensively and was a physical player. In Philly he’s never really put up the offensive numbers and it became apparent he needed to play better in his own end…yes he was still physical but a lot of his hits took him out of position.
To the players credit he has obviously worked to transform his game into a defensive guy who’s hard to play against… I think he’s skating well and making the outlet passes that are needed to be successful. .I think last year it showed and this year it’s continued…I’m not sure what he could get today in a trade…but if he can put the next 40 games or so into the same category he’s playing to lately then I think he’s is a tradable asset. Today I’m not so sure…then again it only takes one other GM or a desperate situation.
- landros 2

Exactly well said, agree ir obviously needs to continue to trade deadline, my only concern is even if there is a market for him, I'm not sure the Flyers trade him

Flyers could have traded for that Laffs defenseman that just went to the Sharks, but nah.

I have thought from the start some were a tad too hard on Risto and his overall game…his defence in Buffalo was often over looked because he produced offensively and was a physical player. In Philly he’s never really put up the offensive numbers and it became apparent he needed to play better in his own end…yes he was still physical but a lot of his hits took him out of position.
To the players credit he has obviously worked to transform his game into a defensive guy who’s hard to play against… I think he’s skating well and making the outlet passes that are needed to be successful. .I think last year it showed and this year it’s continued…I’m not sure what he could get today in a trade…but if he can put the next 40 games or so into the same category he’s playing to lately then I think he’s is a tradable asset. Today I’m not so sure…then again it only takes one other GM or a desperate situation.
- landros 2

His defense in Buffalo wasn't overlooked. It was objectively bad. Ristolainen is now playing in a conservative defense first system. It's the equivalent of playing a packed in zone in basketball. He deserves credit for playing well when asked to move up. Like any player. Best to judge over a large sample.