John Tortorella is Wholly Unimpressed with Rasmus Ristolainen's Game, Joining Pretty Much Everyone Else
Since John Tortorella took over as head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers, they have looked nothing like the pile of garbage they were last season. Torts' preachings have resulted in a total buy-in from the team, at least for now.
We'll see where they are at come game 70.
But there is at least one guy with whom John Tortorella is totally unimpressed: Rasmus Ristolainen. Wait a sec...you mean to tell me John Tortorella is unimpressed with this guy?
That's right. Torts took questions earlier today, one of them pertaining to the recent decision to make the Finn a healthy scratch. It is common for a coach to offer up a compliment-sandwich in moments like these.
"He does ____ well but could use some work in ____. We really like ____ part of his game, though."
Not Torts, though. At least, not for Ristolainen. Tortorella spoke plain and true, basically saying what most of the hockey community has been saying for the last few years: that Ristolainen stinks.
"He just hasn't met (my expectations)," Tortorella said Monday. "I think he just needs to play better. I don't think he's played well enough. He's going to get another crack at it, but everything about his game, I think, needs to be better."
Listen, I'm sure he is a great guy and he could *definitely* beat me up. But that doesn't change the fact that the guy doesn't play good hockey in the NHL. Especially for how much money he makes, CHUCK FLETCHER.
Ristolainen's 16.4% expected goals share is dead last in the league - by over 10% mind you - of skaters with at least 60 5v5 minutes this season, per Natural StatTrick. The other night, he had such a bad game, that it made its way onto a highlight reel of poor play; often referred to as a 'lowlight.'
Exhibit A:
For the record, it brings me absolutely zero pleasure to criticize these athletes. None. Zilch.
But I mean, come ON. How did someone convince Chuck Fletcher to A) trade a 14th overall pick + Robert Hagg + a 2nd round pick this summer for Ristolainen and B) pay him $25 million? This man is an NHL General Manager making such poor decisions. That should give everyone who reads this the utmost confidence in themselves in whatever career path they should choose.
Tortorella did confirm that Ristolainen will get another shot at a later date, but this just sheds a tremendously poor light on the GM, who went through so much to acquire and subsequently keep him.
The good news for the Flyers is that John Tortorella has the goods, and he might just be able to squeeze a playoff berth out of this team. It is extremely unlikely, but their start - and the poor starts of other teams - is a promising sign.
Graphic: JFresh
| POLL | ||
NOVEMBRE 7 | 124 ANSWERS John Tortorella is Wholly Unimpressed with Rasmus Ristolainen's Game, Joining Pretty Much Everyone Else What should the Flyers do with Ristolainen (4 yrs, $5M per) if he doesn't find his game? | ||
| Pay someone to take him via trade | 45 | 36.3 % |
| Buy him out | 33 | 26.6 % |
| Keep him & hope for the best | 46 | 37.1 % |
| LIST OF POLLS | ||
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