TK could have got that deal from a number of teams. TK did not have to stay in Philly.
- jd250

I doubt any team would have offered that kind of money - and no team could have offered him that term without trading for him, which the Flyers were not willing to do

Will you ever except that Risto is just not movable this year. No team is taking that term with him coming off an injury. Add in he makes over 5 million. He has zero playoff experience. If they retain 50% maybe you find a buyer. Maybe.

Flyers are not interested in opening a spot for a young player on defense.
- furio16

I simply don't agree with you. Risto's contract is looking a lot better now that the cap has gone up considerably and will go up even more in coming years. Right now Risto's contract takes up less than 6% of the cap. Teams still value the type of player Risto is, especially playoff teams that want that physical presence. I have no doubt that if Risto is healthy this season and plays reasonably well, the Flyers will have multiple suitors for Risto at this year's deadline.

I doubt any team would have offered that kind of money - and no team could have offered him that term without trading for him, which the Flyers were not willing to do
- corduroy

The Flyers wanted to resign TK no doubt, but I think they could have traded TK also. There would have been multiple teams that would have wanted him and would sign him to a similar extension. TK is a really good player.

I simply don't agree with you. Risto's contract is looking a lot better now that the cap has gone up considerably and will go up even more in coming years. Right now Risto's contract takes up less than 6% of the cap. Teams still value the type of player Risto is, especially playoff teams that want that physical presence. I have no doubt that if Risto is healthy this season and plays reasonably well, the Flyers will have multiple suitors for Risto at this year's deadline.
- jd250

There is no such thing as a contract with a cap hit of 5M for what is now a 3rd pair defenseman, as looking at lot better. It is an extreme overpay and a cap anchor. It does not matter how much the cap goes up.

Now go and look at other teams and see how many have a player on the 3rd pairing with a 5M cap hit.

If the Flyers are willing to eat considerable salary in a retained salary deal, there would be some interest. However at 5M, there won't be any interest without the Flyers taking back a similar bad contract. Which would tell you all you need to know about your contract looking better theory.

There is no such thing as a contract with a cap hit of 5M for what is now a 3rd pair defenseman, as looking at lot better. It is an extreme overpay and a cap anchor. It does not matter how much the cap goes up.

Now go and look at other teams and see how many have a player on the 3rd pairing with a 5M cap hit.

If the Flyers are willing to eat considerable salary in a retained salary deal, there would be some interest. However at 5M, there won't be any interest without the Flyers taking back a similar bad contract. Which would tell you all you need to know about your contract looking better theory.
- MJL

You are coming from a false premise. Risto is a top 4-5 defenseman on most teams. He is not bottom pairing. The Flyers could cover maybe $1M-$1.5M of his salary if a team was willing to give them a pick, but I don't see them needing to eat 50%.

The Flyers wanted to resign TK no doubt, but I think they could have traded TK also. There would have been multiple teams that would have wanted him and would sign him to a similar extension. TK is a really good player.
- jd250

The Flyers could have traded anybody and they haven't outside of Walker, who they wanted to resign

The Flyers could have traded Laughton - they didn't

The Flyers could have made the playoffs with 3 more wins

The Flyers could have won the division with 14 more wins

The Flyers could have won the Stanley Cup - they didn't

There are a lot of things that the Flyers could have done

You are coming from a false premise. Risto is a top 4-5 defenseman on most teams. He is not bottom pairing. The Flyers could cover maybe $1M-$1.5M of his salary if a team was willing to give them a pick, but I don't see them needing to eat 50%.
- jd250

The Flyers are a bottom feeder. Ristolainen is a 3rd pair defenseman on this team and in this league now. Do you realize that a #5 defensmen is a 3rd pair defenseman? It is not a false premise. It is a reality that you refuse to accept just as you refused to accept every reality concerning Ristolainen since the day the Flyers traded for him.

The Flyers could have traded anybody and they haven't outside of Walker, who they wanted to resign

The Flyers could have traded Laughton - they didn't

The Flyers could have made the playoffs with 3 more wins

The Flyers could have won the division with 14 more wins

The Flyers could have won the Stanley Cup - they didn't

There are a lot of things that the Flyers could have done
- corduroy

In the overwhelming majority of cases, the Flyers haven't done the right things that they could have done.

I simply don't agree with you. Risto's contract is looking a lot better now that the cap has gone up considerably and will go up even more in coming years. Right now Risto's contract takes up less than 6% of the cap. Teams still value the type of player Risto is, especially playoff teams that want that physical presence. I have no doubt that if Risto is healthy this season and plays reasonably well, the Flyers will have multiple suitors for Risto at this year's deadline.
- jd250

That contract does not look better in any way. Why would a team want to waste the money they have in a cap increase on Risto?

The physical play of him is severely overrated. He has zero playoff experience.

We will disagree as don’t see multiple teams having interest unless maximum retention or an equally bad contract coming back.

You are coming from a false premise. Risto is a top 4-5 defenseman on most teams. He is not bottom pairing. The Flyers could cover maybe $1M-$1.5M of his salary if a team was willing to give them a pick, but I don't see them needing to eat 50%.
- jd250

That is just flat out false. He is not top 4/5 on most teams. What really matters is where he would slot on contending teams. That is 100% on bottom pair.

That is just flat out false. He is not top 4/5 on most teams. What really matters is where he would slot on contending teams. That is 100% on bottom pair.
- furio16

The Flyers ask very little of Risto these days and he delivers. The fact that he looks good doing nothing is not really the endorsement of his game some think it is.

The Flyers are a bottom feeder. Ristolainen is a 3rd pair defenseman on this team and in this league now. Do you realize that a #5 defensmen is a 3rd pair defenseman? It is not a false premise. It is a reality that you refuse to accept just as you refused to accept every reality concerning Ristolainen since the day the Flyers traded for him.
- MJL

I said #4-5 to consider some more established playoff teams that would want to add Risto for a playoff run. I simply don't accept that Risto is bottom pairing defenseman. He had his best season as a pro I think in the 2022-23 season and unfortunately last year he was hurt for most of the season. I do believe given the number of young defenseman the Flyers have that its time to move Risto, but that by no means is meant to imply that he is not IMO a top 4 defenseman. I agree he was bad when he came here, but he has improved under Torts and Shaw signficiantly.

That is just flat out false. He is not top 4/5 on most teams. What really matters is where he would slot on contending teams. That is 100% on bottom pair.
- furio16

Earlier in his career he was a top 4 with out a doubt. I’m not sure with his aging and now injuries starting to enter the conversation that he can get back to that level. If he can’t crack the top 4 on THIS Flyers team I don’t see him doing it anywhere else either.
He’s not what the Flyers had hoped. I’m sure Fletcher HOPED he would flourish in his new surroundings….he’s regressed. I still think he can be a serviceable D man…but not at 5 million a year…lol.

In the overwhelming majority of cases, the Flyers haven't done the right things that they could have done.
- MJL

Its a new era, and shade, of Orange. Give it a chance!

I said #4-5 to consider some more established playoff teams that would want to add Risto for a playoff run. I simply don't accept that Risto is bottom pairing defenseman. He had his best season as a pro I think in the 2022-23 season and unfortunately last year he was hurt for most of the season. I do believe given the number of young defenseman the Flyers have that its time to move Risto, but that by no means is meant to imply that he is not IMO a top 4 defenseman. I agree he was bad when he came here, but he has improved under Torts and Shaw signficiantly.
- jd250

He put up 40 plus points 4 seasons in a row in Buffalo? How has he improved under Torts and Shaw significantly? Maybe they’ve got him being more responsible but easy on the hyperbolic views…

Earlier in his career he was a top 4 with out a doubt. I’m not sure with his aging and now injuries starting to enter the conversation that he can get back to that level. If he can’t crack the top 4 on THIS Flyers team I don’t see him doing it anywhere else either.
He’s not what the Flyers had hoped. I’m sure Fletcher HOPED he would flourish in his new surroundings….he’s regressed. I still think he can be a serviceable D man…but not at 5 million a year…lol.
- landros 2

regressed in what way? Offensively sure, but then again he has not been given the same opportunities as he had in Buffalo. However defensively, which is way more important, I think he has significantly improved now that he has worked with Shaw.

I said #4-5 to consider some more established playoff teams that would want to add Risto for a playoff run. I simply don't accept that Risto is bottom pairing defenseman. He had his best season as a pro I think in the 2022-23 season and unfortunately last year he was hurt for most of the season. I do believe given the number of young defenseman the Flyers have that its time to move Risto, but that by no means is meant to imply that he is not IMO a top 4 defenseman. I agree he was bad when he came here, but he has improved under Torts and Shaw signficiantly.
- jd250

He appears to have improved because they've asked him to do less. If you stop playing him against the other team's top lines, he's not going to get beat as often. If you are a stay at home defenseman on the third pair, not on the PP, etc it limits your opportunity to make mistakes. Even with those limitations, he has only improved from god-awful to just awful. Do you think any of these numbers scream good player?

He appears to have improved because they've asked him to do less. If you stop playing him against the other team's top lines, he's not going to get beat as often. If you are a stay at home defenseman on the third pair, not on the PP, etc it limits your opportunity to make mistakes. Even with those limitations, he has only improved from god-awful to just awful. Do you think any of these numbers scream good player?


- Flyers_01

this is a 3 year weighted average, I would like to see him these numbers from 2022 onward

I said #4-5 to consider some more established playoff teams that would want to add Risto for a playoff run. I simply don't accept that Risto is bottom pairing defenseman. He had his best season as a pro I think in the 2022-23 season and unfortunately last year he was hurt for most of the season. I do believe given the number of young defenseman the Flyers have that its time to move Risto, but that by no means is meant to imply that he is not IMO a top 4 defenseman. I agree he was bad when he came here, but he has improved under Torts and Shaw signficiantly.
- jd250

The Flyers really don’t have a lot of young defenseman outside of Bonk who will be NHL level defenseman.

Earlier in his career he was a top 4 with out a doubt. I’m not sure with his aging and now injuries starting to enter the conversation that he can get back to that level. If he can’t crack the top 4 on THIS Flyers team I don’t see him doing it anywhere else either.
He’s not what the Flyers had hoped. I’m sure Fletcher HOPED he would flourish in his new surroundings….he’s regressed. I still think he can be a serviceable D man…but not at 5 million a year…lol.
- landros 2

Really is irrelevant what he was years ago.

I said #4-5 to consider some more established playoff teams that would want to add Risto for a playoff run. I simply don't accept that Risto is bottom pairing defenseman. He had his best season as a pro I think in the 2022-23 season and unfortunately last year he was hurt for most of the season. I do believe given the number of young defenseman the Flyers have that its time to move Risto, but that by no means is meant to imply that he is not IMO a top 4 defenseman. I agree he was bad when he came here, but he has improved under Torts and Shaw signficiantly.
- jd250

You keep repeating the same nonsense that Ristolainen had his best season as a pro in 22-23. He has not improved. He has steadily regressed. To the point where he has to play sheltered 3rd pair minutes to have any effectiveness. The only part of his game that made him a top 4 in the past was his offensive production. Which is now gone.


If your dog keeps running away and then you take him and put him a leash and he no longer runs away. Have you trained him not to run away?

this is a 3 year weighted average, I would like to see him these numbers from 2022 onward
- jd250

In other words, you are going to suspend reality.

https://x.com/FearghasKelly/status/1833826081754808363?t=ikoWppCa_K6oel0npe4UTw&s=08
- PT21

Wish I had some Haitian neighbors. The barking in my neighborhood is out of control. If your dog is outside barking for more than a minute I think it should be fair game.

regressed in what way? Offensively sure, but then again he has not been given the same opportunities as he had in Buffalo. However defensively, which is way more important, I think he has significantly improved now that he has worked with Shaw.
- jd250

He just didn’t drop a little in offence….he fell off a cliff… I agree he started to buy in with some of the defensive challenges he’s had through out his career but it came at a cost of little to no offence…and a drop in his physical play…..and let’s not pretend he was playing like Rod Langway back there….That to me that is an over all regression. I would be fine with the physical, 45 point d man that puts fear into opponents but that’s not him anymore. I could live with some of his mistakes that I’m sure the Flyers hoped would actually dissipate as he got older. It’s just been a disappointment.

Really is irrelevant what he was years ago.
- furio16

Just adding context to the conversation.