Whats his plan though?
- PhillySportsGuy

As I see it, he's making development and drafting a priority. He's bringing in character vets for the AHL and they're going to feed the pipeline rather than dump picks.

As far as the draft, it seems skill and skating ability will trump toughness and grit. Every guy they picked was a skill guy. There's no Rinaldos, Klotzes or even Ghoulbournes.

Hextall's MO, at a guess, is to draft the skill and then add the grit and toughness as free agents. That should provide two immediate benefits. One, drafting and developing youngsters keeps costs on skilled players down, for at least a few years and two, if you're targeting grinders and toughness in FA, you're not handing out huge deals on July 1st and avoiding hamstringing yourself when your 32 year old former star is declining and you have 4 years left at significant cash

Can't believe I watched ghosts of girlfriends past lol... This offseason is boring

Whats his plan though?
- PhillySportsGuy

Seems to me that it's about accumulating draft picks and building through the draft. He has a longer term plan for this team if it means not doing everything you can to go win a cup year in and year out. It's also clear that he has a vision for the phantoms to be a real landing spot for our high end prospects rather than just a roster that needs to be filled with undrafted college free agents

What if a meteor hits the earth tomorrow?
- funmaster18

*puts tin hat back on

Well let's be honest. It really should be if we trust Hexy to do the right things going forward. People will have to deal with girouxs best years being burned in this transition phase.
- Just5

I don't think that is acceptable. There has to be a solution other than "well, I guess we're just not going to be very good for the entirety of Giroux's prime years."

Looks like VandeVelde is back, Ren Lavoie is saying something about him & the Flyers in French

English Ren just tweeted, one year, $575K for VandeVelde.

Looks like VandeVelde is back, Ren Lavoie is saying something about him & the Flyers in French

English Ren just tweeted, one year, $575K for VandeVelde.
- Jsaquella

dominoes

As I see it, he's making development and drafting a priority. He's bringing in character vets for the AHL and they're going to feed the pipeline rather than dump picks.

As far as the draft, it seems skill and skating ability will trump toughness and grit. Every guy they picked was a skill guy. There's no Rinaldos, Klotzes or even Ghoulbournes.

Hextall's MO, at a guess, is to draft the skill and then add the grit and toughness as free agents. That should provide two immediate benefits. One, drafting and developing youngsters keeps costs on skilled players down, for at least a few years and two, if you're targeting grinders and toughness in FA, you're not handing out huge deals on July 1st and avoiding hamstringing yourself when your 32 year old former star is declining and you have 4 years left at significant cash
- Jsaquella

This is silly but I haven't been this excited about the Phantoms since frick n frack. I agree, he seems to have a plan with an eye on the future. We will have to wait and see if he will, and can with other pressures, stick to it. I like his depth AHL singing thus far. I believe in the ideas that winning in the AHL can do a lot for your prospects confidence and development.

I don't think that is acceptable. There has to be a solution other than "well, I guess we're just not going to be very good for the entirety of Giroux's prime years."
- ThirdEye

I think there are many issues that far exceed that one.
It's not like giroux has good foot speed. The elements of his game that make him special aren't going to be lost in his early 30's. Especially of he quits the Grab ass and starts training like an animal

What's more likely?
- SuperSchennBros

That everything is ok and the flyers world will not end with VL on the team

I don't think that is acceptable. There has to be a solution other than "well, I guess we're just not going to be very good for the entirety of Giroux's prime years."
- ThirdEye

I like your name

This is silly but I haven't been this excited about the Phantoms since frick n frack. I agree, he seems to have a plan with an eye on the future. We will have to wait and see if he will, and can with other pressures, stick to it. I like his depth AHL singing thus far. I believe in the ideas that winning in the AHL can do a lot for your prospects confidence and development.
- coffee junkie

LA did similar things with Manchester, and instilled a winning philosophy througout the organization.

I don't think that is acceptable. There has to be a solution other than "well, I guess we're just not going to be very good for the entirety of Giroux's prime years."
- ThirdEye

I don't think that's the case at all...The upcoming season will likely be the one that is a "throw away" and even then they should be competitive.

Today's the day for trades e34
- Winning

Troll posts endless meaningless rumors, Ebagillion

That everything is ok and the flyers world will not end with VL on the team
- funmaster18

Was everything alright during the 2012-13 shorten season that we're not that far removed from?

Was everything alright during the 2012-13 shorten season that we're not that far removed from?
- SuperSchennBros

Yeah Vinny really (frank)ed us that year

LA did similar things with Manchester, and instilled a winning philosophy througout the organization.
- Jsaquella

remember when the flyers won the Calder cup and short time later the flyers almost did?

Yeah Vinny really (frank)ed us that year
- funmaster18

I don't know what this means, we just made the playoffs with Vinny.

remember when the flyers won the Calder cup and short time later the flyers almost did?
- funmaster18

I agree with the overall point of developing the farm system...However to compare the kings and flyers situations is a bit ridiculous to me. The kings beat the best teams in the west twice en route to winning there cups...the flyers went to the finals once and that year they got lucky that Jaroslav Halak played out of his mind and beat the Caps and pens that year, neither of which I feel we could of beat that year...not to take anything away from the 2010 flyers playoff run

I don't know what this means, we just made the playoffs with Vinny.
- SuperSchennBros

I was talking about the team having VL and and Schenn on the left wing. You brought up a season that VL wasn't on, so you tell me

Who sets up these goals?
- SuperSchennBros

Ok well, if you're talking about Giroux getting hurt when you posted "what if he gets hurt", then Jake moves up to first line wing and sets up these goals in the interim. Moreover this kind of is a knock against your point, because theoretically the " top line sniper" shouldn't be setting up goals. If G gets hurt, then that proverbial top line winger is in effect hung out to dry. But, luckily we have Jake to step in and be the set up man.

If the "he" in the what if he gets hurt post is one of our 6 20 goal scoring forwards, well...we have 5 more for the top line.

Ok well, if you're talking about Giroux getting hurt when you posted "what if he gets hurt", then Jake moves up to first line wing and sets up these goals in the interim. Moreover this kind of is a knock against your point, because theoretically the " top line sniper" shouldn't be setting up goals. If G gets hurt, then that proverbial top line winger is in effect hung out to dry. But, luckily we have Jake to step in and be the set up man.

If the "he" in the what if he gets hurt post is one of our 6 20 goal scoring forwards, well...we have 5 more for the top line.
- Giroux_Is_God

what if everyone gets hurt next year. What will the flyers do?? Omg

what if everyone gets hurt next year. What will the flyers do?? Omg
- funmaster18

Draft Connor McDavid or Jack Eichel

what if everyone gets hurt next year. What will the flyers do?? Omg
- funmaster18

WHAT IF IT RAINS ON THE FOURTH OF JU-

....oh...right

WHAT IF IT RAINS ON THE FOURTH OF JU-

....oh...right
- Giroux_Is_God

Then I will get drunk inside watching Germany destroy France (hopefully)