because hextall sucks and is incompetent. why he can't turn this team into the late 90s red wings in 10 minutes is beyond me, and frankly, it's unacceptable.
- hammarby31

Worst GM ever. Just another Homer clone.

Lord help us if he's worse.
- Doc_Sarcasm

They have to deal with it, either way. It would help if he embraced the defensive side of the game, as some offensive players have done as they got older, but really, we won't have a feel for this until we are weeks into the season.

He has pride. He has to have taken a look around the league, after being on the fourth line, and seen that some kind of adjustments have to be found, somewhere.

because hextall sucks and is incompetent. why he can't turn this team into the late 90s red wings in 10 minutes is beyond me, and frankly, it's unacceptable.
- hammarby31

Not to mention the fact that Hexy's very first 1st round draft pick has yet to pay anything even vaguely resembling a dividend yet. No points, no assists, his skill level not having improved to any measurable degree since he was drafted. Terrible.

They have to deal with it, either way. It would help if he embraced the defensive side of the game, as some offensive players have done as they got older, but really, we won't have a feel for this until we are weeks into the season.

He has pride. He has to have taken a look around the league, after being on the fourth line, and seen that some kind of adjustments have to be found, somewhere.
- AllInForFlyers

If we're still dragging on aboot Vindawg, my issue with him is that (and I know this will be refuted, but (frank) it) he seems very passive with his skating. He seems to coast a lot without the puck, kinda drifting around. I don't know if that's the case or not, but it's what I noticed. With the puck, he takes quick, hard strides and isn't afraid to take the puck against bigger players. Without it, he doesn't seem to skate nearly as hard, which is a much bigger issue that his defensive awareness.

Not to mention the fact that Hexy's very first 1st round draft pick has yet to pay anything even vaguely resembling a dividend yet. No points, no assists, his skill level not having improved to any measurable degree since he was drafted. Terrible.
- Doc_Sarcasm

He's not even Aaron freakin' Ekblad. Just a waste of a 1st rounder.

Worst GM ever. Just another Homer clone.
- jmatchett383

i happen to think homer was a good gm. he made some mistakes, but acquired a lot of talented players in short order. he was never been able to replace pronger. not going to kill him for that. he had reasons for moving frick and frack, and i'm fine with that. it brought a very nice haul. a lot of good pieces are still in place. hextall is going to take the best of those pieces and add to them mostly with our own talent over time. in 3 years our D corps will be completely different. with mason on the right track and a pretty good top 6, we'll need smart bottom 6 and hopefully a sniper in there somewhere. this is going to be an excellent team in 4-5 years.

i happen to think homer was a good gm. he made some mistakes, but acquired a lot of talented players in short order. he was never been able to replace pronger. not going to kill him for that. he had reasons for moving frick and frack, and i'm fine with that. it brought a very nice haul. a lot of good pieces are still in place. hextall is going to take the best of those pieces and add to them mostly with our own talent over time. in 3 years our D corps will be completely different. with mason on the right track and a pretty good top 6, we'll need smart bottom 6 and hopefully a sniper in there somewhere. this is going to be an excellent team in 4-5 years.
- hammarby31

Vinny? Bryz? Hello? Terrible GM, never made a good move and couldn't manage my checkbook.

If we're still dragging on aboot Vindawg, my issue with him is that (and I know this will be refuted, but (frank) it) he seems very passive with his skating. He seems to coast a lot without the puck, kinda drifting around. I don't know if that's the case or not, but it's what I noticed. With the puck, he takes quick, hard strides and isn't afraid to take the puck against bigger players. Without it, he doesn't seem to skate nearly as hard, which is a much bigger issue that his defensive awareness.
- jmatchett383

Actually, I agree with that -- he isn't the fastest, but I've seen slower players. The bigger issue is that he really does coast a little too often and doesn't skate as much as he maybe could.

If we're still dragging on aboot Vindawg, my issue with him is that (and I know this will be refuted, but (frank) it) he seems very passive with his skating. He seems to coast a lot without the puck, kinda drifting around. I don't know if that's the case or not, but it's what I noticed. With the puck, he takes quick, hard strides and isn't afraid to take the puck against bigger players. Without it, he doesn't seem to skate nearly as hard, which is a much bigger issue that his defensive awareness.
- jmatchett383

I think that an earlier point made that Lecavalier could decide to become a better defensive player, to make himself more effective without the puck. Maybe it's true that you can't teach an old dog new tricks, but it is possible. I also think that there's no doubt that his injury affected his skating and strength. And maybe he consciously, or selfishly conserved what strength he had for when he had the puck. Regardless if he's here for the season, just have to see how healthy he is, and how he plays. But for heavens sake please don't try and play him on the leftside again.

It would help if he embraced the defensive side of the game, as some offensive players have done as they got older, but really, we won't have a feel for this until we are weeks into the season.
- AllInForFlyers

The catch is that the most famous examples (Yzerman, Modano and Primeau) could still skate really well into their 30's.

i don't see this happening. i am loving everything i read that comes out of hextall's mouth, and am as excited as i have been in a long time about the future of this team. we have a lot of talent now, but they're not a true contender and they're honest about it, but even more being slowly groomed. hextall wants to win a cup here more than anything, but i believe he's determined to do it the right way. and when it happens it will be so (frank)ing sweet...it's bringing a tear to my eye right now just thinking about it...because hextall deserved a cup as a player. 87 still haunts me, and i bet if you asked him he'd say it still burns him. that burn will bring lord stanley home.
- hammarby31

Actually, I agree with that -- he isn't the fastest, but I've seen slower players. The bigger issue is that he really does coast a little too often and doesn't skate as much as he maybe could.
- AllInForFlyers

Now, on the flip side, no player is going to skate at 100% all the time. Players have lapses, and sometimes they get fatigued, or have other reasons why they're not digging constantly. But with Vinny, it seems like more of a consistent thing. If that is the case, then it doesn't matter how much he wants to be better with his backchecking and defense, because if the legs aren't moving, you're not gonna cover anyone. He has to want to skate just as hard without the puck as with it.

The catch is that the most famous examples (Yzerman, Modano and Primeau) could still skate really well into their 30's.
- Tomahawk

I don't think anybody is expecting Lecavalier to morph into the level of defensive forwards that those players developed into. But there is no reason why Lecavalier can't improve defensively to the point of being adequate and atleast somewhat trust worthy defensively.

i happen to think homer was a good gm. he made some mistakes, but acquired a lot of talented players in short order. he was never been able to replace pronger. not going to kill him for that. he had reasons for moving frick and frack, and i'm fine with that. it brought a very nice haul. a lot of good pieces are still in place. hextall is going to take the best of those pieces and add to them mostly with our own talent over time. in 3 years our D corps will be completely different. with mason on the right track and a pretty good top 6, we'll need smart bottom 6 and hopefully a sniper in there somewhere. this is going to be an excellent team in 4-5 years.
- hammarby31

I think they could start looking different around the midpoint of next season -- Laughton could be ready by then, if not earlier, and you have to figure Ghost will have gotten a look by then, and probably Alt, too.

They're not that far away. I think they will start looking really good toward the end of next season.

I I know you guys have something against responding to my posts when you feel they're too long, so let me summarize.

I know many view Hextall as our savour as if he built the last two Kings championships singlehandedly because he was assistant GM but in my opinion those championships were built on splashes. The Black Hawks on the other hand were built on drafting. Toews, Kane, Keith and Seabrook. Enough said.

Both teams weren't nearly as good as the Flyers have been the past 20 years in consistency. This isn't gonna be a quick fix.

I think that an earlier point made that Lecavalier could decide to become a better defensive player, to make himself more effective without the puck. Maybe it's true that you can't teach an old dog new tricks, but it is possible. I also think that there's no doubt that his injury affected his skating and strength. And maybe he consciously, or selfishly conserved what strength he had for when he had the puck. Regardless if he's here for the season, just have to see how healthy he is, and how he plays. But for heavens sake please don't try and play him on the leftside again.
- MJL

i've said this before, it's in his best interest to do everything he can to become a better, or perhaps i should say more useful player, even at this stage of his career. i think it's possible.

I I know you guys have something against responding to my posts when you feel they're too long, so let me summarize.

I know many view Hextall as our savour as if he built the last two Kings championships singlehandedly because he was assistant GM but in my opinion those championships were built on splashes. The Black Hawks on the other hand were built on drafting. Toews, Kane, Keith and Seabrook. Enough said.

Both teams weren't nearly as good as the Flyers have been the past 20 years in consistency. This isn't gonna be a quick fix.
- SuperSchennBros

So they need to suck consistently, get high draft picks, develop, and succeed!!

Stanley cup 2025 here we come!

edit: just poking fun

You badly missed the point. It's not about saying that they are right. It's about their thinking that this is the best player and the right fit going forward. So if they have to pay 500K more for who they think is the best play either now, or who they think has the best upside. Then our opinion as a fan that we think this player is an equal doesn't really matter, if they don't think that is the case. They obviously scouted and targeted MacDonald as the player they felt was the right fit.
- MJL

That first sentence is why there's so much animosity towards your posts. You have a lot of valid points, but the way you make them is incredibly abrasive at times. Can't it ever just be a difference of opinion?

I think they could start looking different around the midpoint of next season -- Laughton could be ready by then, if not earlier, and you have to figure Ghost will have gotten a look by then, and probably Alt, too.

They're not that far away. I think they will start looking really good toward the end of next season.
- AllInForFlyers

I think Laughton has a 50/50 shot at the 4C spot. I think Ghost will have to have a massive, overpowering preseason and camp to start the season up. Without it, I'd be shocked if he got more than 5 games with the big club (barring multiple long-term injuries). As much as I want them to win now, I'm fine with all of the young D in the AHL/juniors for the bulk of the season, if not all season.

I think they could start looking different around the midpoint of next season -- Laughton could be ready by then, if not earlier, and you have to figure Ghost will have gotten a look by then, and probably Alt, too.

They're not that far away. I think they will start looking really good toward the end of next season.
- AllInForFlyers

all of those young players are going to need some time to learn, grow, and come together after they reach the nhl. hell, look at crosby and that team of superstars...took him 4 seasons to win the cup.

we need to be patient.

Nice work so far guys keep it up I'm really enjoying the backread

i've said this before, it's in his best interest to do everything he can to become a better, or perhaps i should say more useful player, even at this stage of his career. i think it's possible.
- hammarby31

I think he has to get a better fitness routine...some of it may have been injuries, but he also cant carry the same weight at his current age he carried in his 20's. If he dropped 8-10lbs and worked hard the offseason on cardio I think he could be serviceable as a 2 way player.

i've said this before, it's in his best interest to do everything he can to become a better, or perhaps i should say more useful player, even at this stage of his career. i think it's possible.
- hammarby31

Might be easier to not ask him to change and just put him in a better position to succeed... keep him on the 4th-line, but flank him with some skill, then deploy that line as an offensive-zone specialty unit. It would require abandoning the old tried and true energy line idea, but when life gives you lemons...

I I know you guys have something against responding to my posts when you feel they're too long, so let me summarize.

I know many view Hextall as our savour as if he built the last two Kings championships singlehandedly because he was assistant GM but in my opinion those championships were built on splashes. The Black Hawks on the other hand were built on drafting. Toews, Kane, Keith and Seabrook. Enough said.

Both teams weren't nearly as good as the Flyers have been the past 20 years in consistency. This isn't gonna be a quick fix.
- SuperSchennBros

If you look at the Kings roster my friend, they were most defintiely built on drafting. The Kings and Hawks are pretty much a mirror image in how they were built. Built through the draft, and suplemented by trades and free agency.

Nice work so far guys keep it up I'm really enjoying the backread
- Giroux_Is_God

hopefully the front read will be just as entertaining.