Rasmus Ristolainen: The $5M, 0 percentile defenseman

[BillDineen]

We should not be confident that anyone will give us a first back for Risto. First, Fletcher is probably in too deep on this one to do anything but extend.



But more importantly, his value in the offseason was fueled by dumbass Hockeyguys GMs who convinced themselves that the problem with Risto was playing in Buffalo, and that they could fix him. That fantasy is gone. He doesn't suck because he was in Buffalo. He sucks because he sucks.

His offense isn't there either

 

[FLYguy3911]

I love Jonesy begging to see his slapper every game. Gotta be in the OZ first.

 

[Rebels57]

Gotta be the worst dman to ever lace them up for the Flyers. Looks worse than Rathje when he had no knees.

 

[Magua]

When people patronizingly talk about the eye test for players who blow statistically or if they appeal to authority, just use this as your go-to example. Oedipus would stab his eyes out again if he could.

Gotta be the worst dman to ever lace them up for the Flyers. Looks worse than Rathje when he had no knees.

Relative to expectation (certain people’s) and cost? He honestly could be. If I have to watch him for 5 more years, that’s pretty much the death knell in my daily watching.

 

[Rebels57]

When people patronizingly talk about the eye test for players who blow statistically or if they appeal to authority, just use this as your go-to example. Oedipus would stab his eyes out again if he could.



Relative to expectation (certain people’s) and cost? He honestly could be. If I have to watch him for 5 more years, that’s pretty much the death knell in my daily watching.

I wanted to give a clean slate before judging him here but the early returns are worse than the worst case scenario I had in my head.

 

[Striiker]

So it turns out that someone’s previous play actually does have some relevance when joining a new team.

Crazy.

But hey, at least he got a clean slate and everyone who disliked the trade immediately was scolded.

 

[Flyerfan4life]

So it turns out that someone’s previous play actually does have some relevance when joining a new team.

Crazy.

maybe Risto just isnt buying into AVs system

#lockerroomcancer

 

[Embiid]

So the Flyers have Joni Pitkanen 2.0?

Atkinson offset by Risto is what mediocre GM's like Flechter do...

 

[BringBackHakstol]

Dogshit player. Simple as that

 

[eramosat]

At this rate...what kind of contract will the NHL offer Risto?

I assume a fair amount still...although it will take a team with the need and the cap. He may compare well with $3.5mil vets x 2years? No idea, but veteran defencemen of the kind of f/t experience he has, including PP1, will get their spot, and benefit of the doubt from at least a couple of teams.

Still hoping, and thinking, there's a good chance he rounds into a better form. Not nearly $5.4M form, let alone a 1st and a 2nd for a 1 year rental, simply a D grade trade...but just more reliable in all aspects of his game.

 

[Asnito]

I wonder how many people who were fluffing him when he was acquired are going to venture back in here to face the music.

 

[FLYguy3911]

gIvE hIm A cHaNcE

 

[Striiker]

gIvE hIm A cHaNcE

aNyoNe wOuLd LoOk bAd iN BuFfAlO

hE wOnT hAvE tO dO aS mUcH hErE

 

[eramosat]

I wonder how many people who were fluffing him when he was acquired are going to venture back in here to face the music.

It was always the wierdest gamble, that really had so little chance of working out favorably. Pretty big overpay for a questionable player whom you couldn't even have for multiple years at good moneyiof they turned out well.

Ultimately, team success this season is the important story, not Risto. But tell me there was no other player to fill a 2nd pair role in the entire league? For that cap plus trade capital? Seriously?

 

[Striiker]

It wasn't even a gamble. They did the hockey equivalent of setting money on fire.

This was the only way it could ever go and now we just have to pray he isn't re-signed.

 

[eramosat]

It wasn't even a gamble. They did the hockey equivalent of setting money on fire.

This was the only way it could ever go and now we just have to pray he isn't re-signed.

This has always been bullet point #2 in my sig in the massive sleight-of-hand Fletcher pulled off in order to try to convince Flyers fans back into the arena in order to ensure a $-profitable season, as opposed to an on-ice success. Next year is soo far away.

 

[GapToothedWonder]

Those plump sausage lips gross me the f*** out.

 

[BillDineen]

gIvE hIm A cHaNcE

Chuck and AV conspiring to keep Risto's stats poor so they can get his extension cheaper, but NEXT year, he will really break out

 

[bennysflyers16]

Change the title please, there is no Good.

 

[Starat327]

You guys are judging way too fast. He hasn't even played 289 games in the orange and black yet.

 

[HaNotsri]

G:
He's leading your team in hits
He will eventually hit his hot streak of the season
There's a small chance Eichel is playing against you guys 8th of march and Risto will smash him (I think he broke some of his ribs once already when trying to hit another player).

B: I really hoped Risto would have instant success with you guys, he's probably doing his best but he's just too dumb...

 

[BritainStix]

He's also a terrible skater. He's not as slow as Hagg, but he's certainly worse on his edges.

 

[TomppaKoo]

So the Flyers have Joni Pitkanen 2.0?

Atkinson offset by Risto is what mediocre GM's like Flechter do...

Joni Pitkänen played 30 minutes / game and was a good passer and a very good skater who pinched in quite a bit to help Canes offense, which was not stellar at that time. Risto is (tries to be) a physical shut-down defenseman. It is ridiculously stupid to compare Pitkänen to Ristolainen.

 

[ybnvs]

He's also a terrible skater. He's not as slow as Hagg, but he's certainly worse on his edges.

That's the only thing he does better than Hagg?

I'd rather have Hagg, the picks, and the cap space back, and I f***ing hated Hagg in O&B.

 

[Ghosts Beer]

He has been bad. Sanheim has been bad. That pairing so far sucks just as much as Sanheim-Myers did.