Him not being a "fit" and the Flyers wanting to trade him is all pure speculation at this point as far as 29 other NHL GM's are concerned.
- mochoson

There's also common sense

Didn't Hextall say that sometimes you need to take 2 steps back to take 3 forward?

I think we can stop assuming that every possible move they make in the next few months will be from the perspective of getting better in 14-15.
- Tomahawk

Who do you play on the top line LW?

Exactly.

There is plenty of history with Hartnell to suggest that he can bounce back.

He's not a stylistic mismatch or creating a logjam at a given position, like Vinny. Hartnell has played a role on this team and played it very well, at times. I don't think now is the time to move on from him, unless you have someone better to replace him.

And I don't think that guy is walking through that door this offseason.
- johndewar

And honestly, if they can find consistency elsewhere in the lineup, then no one cares about hartnells up and down play. If some guys take another step this coming season, i think it will only help Hartnell.

As one of our few 'Natural' Left Wingers. I really don't see Hartsy Moving. He is streaky and takes bad penalties, but he's also strong in the corners, in front of the net and has been above 20 goals a year for quite awhile. Add in his Leadership and place with the organization and I don't see him moving.

Who do you play on the top line LW?
- Just5

Maybe you get somebody back in the trade, or go with somebody in-house, or a short-term UFA addition? Hard to say.

Hartnell might still be a fit today, or even tomorrow... but the wheels could fall off at any point, and you don't want to be caught with the remainder of that contract on the books when that happens.

I love hartnell and i can't thank him enough for his role and impact on the team in last few seasons, but based on the speed and growth of Jake and G, hartnell's skating ability can't keep up. It was heavily exposed against Rangers Series. If he wants his 1st line left wing position back, he has to improve his skating all summer. Get faster and learn not to fall every other shift. Hartnell down isn't funny anymore; its a real problem. Again i love hartnell, but his goals aren't always fundamental goals. i know a goal is a goal but harsy gets lucky sometimes and often this year and playoffs missed a lot of esy open chances and didn't score. idk if we should package him in a deal to land a better winger or that true #1 defender we have been looking for but i feel mixed feelings about hartsy this off season.

Maybe you get somebody back in the trade, or go with somebody in-house, or a short-term UFA addition? Hard to say.

Hartnell might still be a fit today, or even tomorrow... but the wheels could fall off at any point, and you don't want to be caught with the remainder of that contract on the books when that happens.
- Tomahawk

The flyers are razor(no pun intended) thin at LW in the organization right now. If we want to move him for a younger LW option with upside I'm ok with that.

I get the long term contract risk and all that. But like Bill said hes been pretty healthy his entire career.

I'm fine with replacing him I just think the flyers will find it hard to go get someone that will be better than him now or in the future for similar money

The flyers will win the Stanley cup next year

The flyers will win the Stanley cup next year
- funmaster18

next year, the Stanley Cup will win the Flyers.

Exactly.

There is plenty of history with Hartnell to suggest that he can bounce back.

He's not a stylistic mismatch or creating a logjam at a given position, like Vinny. Hartnell has played a role on this team and played it very well, at times. I don't think now is the time to move on from him, unless you have someone better to replace him.

And I don't think that guy is walking through that door this offseason.
- johndewar

Did Hartnell really have a down year? He had 20 goals and 50+ points while being a positive possession player. He shot a lower percentage than normal. There is reason to believe he'll score more goals next season if he plays the same way.

His contract is unappealing, but I don't think it will be that bad towards the end. He'll probably be making the equivalent of a 3rd line player

next year, the Stanley Cup will win the Flyers.
- wilsonecho91

I guess somebody is still out there lurking

Did Hartnell really have a down year? He had 20 goals and 50+ points while being a positive possession player. He shot a lower percentage than normal. There is reason to believe he'll score more goals next season if he plays the same way.

His contract is unappealing, but I don't think it will be that bad towards the end. He'll probably be making the equivalent of a 3rd line player
- PhillySportsGuy

I think there were times (especially at the end of the year) where he wasn't meshing with Giroux and Voracek.

There were other times that he did. He also showed completely unexpected chemistry with Schenn and Simmonds (ZOMG!1!! YOU KANT HAZ TWO POWER4WARDS!11!1).

I'm not the guy you need to talk off the ledge, with respect to Hartnell. He had rough patches this year, but no more than other players he played with (Hello, Claude Giroux's slow start) this year.

Did Hartnell really have a down year? He had 20 goals and 50+ points while being a positive possession player. He shot a lower percentage than normal. There is reason to believe he'll score more goals next season if he plays the same way.

His contract is unappealing, but I don't think it will be that bad towards the end. He'll probably be making the equivalent of a 3rd line player
- PhillySportsGuy

Plus, when the flyers trade VL for Phaneuf, there will be plenty of locker room drama cooked up by the Philly beatz

Plus, when the flyers trade VL for Phaneuf, there will be plenty of locker room drama cooked up by the Philly beatz
- funmaster18

The Schenn boys and Phaneuf are BFFs, yes?

The Schenn boys and Phaneuf are BFFs, yes?
- johndewar

A line in the locker room is already being drawn

The Schenn boys and Phaneuf are BFFs, yes?
- johndewar

It would be like having Dusty Rhodes and Ric Flair on the same team.

I think there were times (especially at the end of the year) where he wasn't meshing with Giroux and Voracek.

There were other times that he did. He also showed completely unexpected chemistry with Schenn and Simmonds (ZOMG!1!! YOU KANT HAZ TWO POWER4WARDS!11!1).

I'm not the guy you need to talk off the ledge, with respect to Hartnell. He had rough patches this year, but no more than other players he played with (Hello, Claude Giroux's slow start) this year.
- johndewar

To be honest, I've never felt Jake and G have had great chemistry. They're two talented players, but I've always wanted the team to find a way to move Jake down to play with Schenn. Those two would be a perfect match together.

Ideally, I wanted Jagr back, but that didn't happen.

To be honest, I've never felt Jake and G have had great chemistry. They're two talented players, but I've always wanted the team to find a way to move Jake down to play with Schenn. Those two would be a perfect match together.

Ideally, I wanted Jagr back, but that didn't happen.
- PhillySportsGuy

Jags

Did Hartnell really have a down year? He had 20 goals and 50+ points while being a positive possession player. He shot a lower percentage than normal. There is reason to believe he'll score more goals next season if he plays the same way.

His contract is unappealing, but I don't think it will be that bad towards the end. He'll probably be making the equivalent of a 3rd line player
- PhillySportsGuy

Put aside goals/points for a second... on a team plagued by consistency, discipline and keeping-feet-moving issues, would it really be that big of a net-negative to deal away arguably your streakiest and most undisciplined player, who also just so happens to be chronically guilty of not moving his feet?

Put aside goals/points for a second... on a team plagued by consistency, discipline and keeping-feet-moving issues, would it really be that big of a net-negative to deal away arguably your streakiest and most undisciplined player, who also just so happens to be chronically guilty of not moving his feet?
- Tomahawk

It's a fair point, but I think the inconsistency will improve as the team gets older. They are a, predominantly, young group of forwards. They rely too heavily on emotion throughout the game. How many times did we pray they just got to intermission before the game got out of hand?

On the other hand, how many times did we see the team raise their game when they got momentum to mount a comeback?

I just don't think switching Hartnell is going to help in that regard. They'll get better as they mature.

It's a fair point, but I think the inconsistency will improve as the team gets older. They are a, predominantly, young group of forwards. They rely too heavily on emotion throughout the game. How many times did we pray they just got to intermission before the game got out of hand?

On the other hand, how many times did we see the team raise their game when they got momentum to mount a comeback?

I just don't think switching Hartnell is going to help in that regard. They'll get better as they mature.
- PhillySportsGuy

The consistency, discipline and 60-minute issues predate the most recent youth movement, though... going all the way back to the Old City Crew. Hartnell's been one of the big constants throughout all that.

This blog makes me sad
- mochoson

yeah, but this should make you happy:

The consistency, discipline and 60-minute issues predate the most recent youth movement, though... going all the way back to the Old City Crew. Hartnell's been one of the big constants throughout all that.
- Tomahawk

I'm not sure what kind of consistency you're referring to. Every team is inconsistent. The Blackhawks and Blues looked terrible for the last few weeks of the season. I remember the Kings going several games without scoring a single goal.

I admit this team has more consistency problems than others, but I think it's due to a lack of maturity and a lack of talent. They are a fringe playoff team. They are going to win some and lose some. Would you rather them lose every other game or win 5 in a row then lose 5 in row?

The consistency, discipline and 60-minute issues predate the most recent youth movement, though... going all the way back to the Old City Crew. Hartnell's been one of the big constants throughout all that.
- Tomahawk

He consistently falls on his ass

He isn't a terrible player.

However its these kind of chronically inconsistent guys, who run so hot/cold in the most basics aspects of contributing positively that holds this team back.

When you rely on players like that to be your "go to guys", it becomes a problem when they are on the down-turn of their hot streak.

Sign inconsistency to be your core, and you have a team that as well lives and dies by its hot streaks. Everyone will magically forget about Hartnell's negatives when he is tearing it up for a few games..