This is all true.
I want to believe Hexy has a plan to move away from overpaying for mediocre high priced vets.

But he was here when Amac was signed, even if he wasn't the GM.

Also the Umby trade was in his watch.

Kind of scary.
- Marc D

MacDonald is not a mediocre defenseman in my opinion.

Good plan
I like it
Say hi to biggE
- Marc D

I'll be back in Key West this Friday!

Panthers won again yesterday
- rangerdanger94

And Eli threw another int

This is all true.
I want to believe Hexy has a plan to move away from overpaying for mediocre high priced vets.

But he was here when Amac was signed, even if he wasn't the GM.

Also the Umby trade was in his watch.

Kind of scary.
- Marc D

I'm a Hextall fan but he has a lot to prove. To me, he says all the right things. Don't rush players, etc. But some of his first moves are questionable to me.

And Eli threw another int
- KINGKENZO

I'm a Hextall fan but he has a lot to prove. To me, he says all the right things. Don't rush players, etc. But some of his first moves are questionable to me.
- FlyerFan16

He has really only made one significant move.

About to walk into the Garden. God I hope we play physical... Could care less about he score

If Couturier is traded to Edmonton we have to make it for Hall and make a package
Couturier, Coburn....
No way I am trading B Schenn for Perron
- 3flyerkids

I suggested some variation of that last week. It actually would help both teams to some degree. Edmonton really needs a shut-down center and a dman who can move the puck. Coburn isn't a number 1, but he could help the team for sure.

Giving up Hall would hurt, but they are strongest on the wings so they could sacrifice a strength to gain on the defensive side.

The problem is they are really overvaluing their players it seems.

- rangerdanger94

Good for him

This is all true.
I want to believe Hexy has a plan to move away from overpaying for mediocre high priced vets.

But he was here when Amac was signed, even if he wasn't the GM.

Also the Umby trade was in his watch.

Kind of scary.
- Marc D

The Umberger contract looks horrible but let's remember the whole point of that trade was to get out of an even worse contract.

So far the only bad move I can directly credit Hexy with is the Rinaldo extension.

Couturier is a good defensive player but you can get a guy like Dominic Moore or Brian Boyle to shutdown the opposing team's top players and play on the PK. If you can move Couturier now for an elite player and then fill his 3C/PK hole with a defensively responsible player in next year's FA class or through the draft then I think that you're a better team overall.
- rangerdanger94

Actually, I think they could move Couturier and put Laughton in at 3rd line center. The draft has a few more offensive centers that could slot in at #2 in 2 years. If the Flyers had G - Strome - Laughton, for example, and a LW acquired from a Couts trade, in my opinion they'd be better off in a couple of years when the defensive prospects mature.

He has really only made one significant move.
- MJL

You're right and it was terrible to me at the time and proved to be even worse. Getting nothing for Hartnell would have been better. I wasn't a big fan of the Rinaldo extension, although not a big deal. Del Zotto was a good signing but it was a forced signing when Timonen couldn't play. I hope he stays patient and finds the best way to rid the Flyers of some of these contracts. I can wait a few years for a cup contender.

Someone made the point that while they've played terrible they can play better.

Here's the counterpoint: IMO VLC, Umberger and Rinaldo cannot play any better, thats 25% of their forwards currently in the lineup. With Streit, Grossmann and Schultz, what you see is what you get. Thats 50% of their current D.

They are a bad team. The choice basically comes down to: Do you want Hextall to pull out all the stops and them finish with 83-88 points and up picking somewhere between 6-10 or do you want to stay the course, move as many vets for picks and prospects as possible, and finish with 68-73 points and a pick in the top 5?

Actually, I think they could move Couturier and put Laughton in at 3rd line center. The draft has a few more offensive centers that could slot in at #2 in 2 years. If the Flyers had G - Strome - Laughton, for example, and a LW acquired from a Couts trade, in my opinion they'd be better off in a couple of years when the defensive prospects mature.
- TheGreat28

Dunno, then they'd just be piling all the tough minutes on Laughton and his development would go the way of Coots'. Rather have at least 2 C's in the top-6 who can be trusted to play D.

They can still draft Strome, Zacha, etc. They have experience on wing.

Someone made the point that while they've played terrible they can play better.

Here's the counterpoint: IMO VLC, Umberger and Rinaldo cannot play any better, thats 25% of their forwards currently in the lineup. With Streit, Grossmann and Schultz, what you see is what you get. Thats 50% of their current D.

They are a bad team. The choice basically comes down to: Do you want Hextall to pull out all the stops and them finish with 83-88 points and up picking somewhere between 6-10 or do you want to stay the course, move as many vets for picks and prospects as possible, and finish with 68-73 points and a pick in the top 5?
- BiggE

For the love of god, option two.

That said, we really don't have any vets to move for picks...

Someone made the point that while they've played terrible they can play better.

Here's the counterpoint: IMO VLC, Umberger and Rinaldo cannot play any better, thats 25% of their forwards currently in the lineup. With Streit, Grossmann and Schultz, what you see is what you get. Thats 50% of their current D.

They are a bad team. The choice basically comes down to: Do you want Hextall to pull out all the stops and them finish with 83-88 points and up picking somewhere between 6-10 or do you want to stay the course, move as many vets for picks and prospects as possible, and finish with 68-73 points and a pick in the top 5?
- BiggE

Rinaldo doesn't have to play better. He took a couple of penalties yesterday, but overall, Rinaldo is not the problem.

Mark Streit is in the top 20 among all defenseman in scoring, and has been solid in his Flyers career. Grossmann is steady in his role.

The biggest problems right now, is getting the Couturier line going, and getting the PK improved. Those are the biggest issues with the team.

While it's not ideal, with his cap hit, Umberger can play on the 4th line and he'll be fine. They can hide Lecavalier if he's not going to produce.

What you name here is not going to decide the Flyers fate this year. How the team as a whole plays, and if the players who have bigger roles can improve will decide it.

Dunno, then they'd just be piling all the tough minutes on Laughton and his development would go the way of Coots'. Rather have at least 2 C's in the top-6 who can be trusted to play D.

They can still draft Strome, Zacha, etc. They have experience on wing.
- Tomahawk

Strome is a decent two-way defender, based on what I read. But he has more offensive upside that either Laughton or Couts. I think he could share some of the defensive load with Laughton. Also, I'm more of a "best defense is a good offense" kind of guy. I'd rather have a deep 3-line attack than 1 line you can count on to score and 2 defensive-oriented lines.

I still worry that the Flyers are too much of a one-line team with Laughton and Couts. It's way too early to judge Laughton of course, but at some point with Couts what his stats say he is is what he truly is.

It's easy for us to blame it all on lack of offensive zone draws. But at some point he's got to do more with what he has.

For the love of god, option two.

That said, we really don't have any vets to move for picks...
- hereticpride

They have a few on D:
Grossmann will get them a 2nd from a contender looking for physicality on the blue line

Schultz will get them a 4th from a playoff team looking for depth

And Coburn could likely get them a 1st and a 3rd from a contender who needs a top 4 guy.

The Umberger contract looks horrible but let's remember the whole point of that trade was to get out of an even worse contract.

So far the only bad move I can directly credit Hexy with is the Rinaldo extension.
- hereticpride

Hartnell's term was longer but at least he gave the Flyers some production. Umberger is giving nothing. If they wanted to dump Hartnell's contract, it should have been for a pick. I would gladly trade Umberger back to Columbus for Hartnell.

Gonna be a long season

- BiggE

Some folks around here are either delusional or work in the Flyers front office

Some folks around here are either delusional or work in the Flyers front office
- BiggE

That stud MacDonald is a healthy scratch today.

And that minor league poopbag VandeVelde back in the lineup.

Simmonds has two linemates who work hard, battle for the puck, take the body and make things happen. And that line has looked very good, and it seems to have given Wayne a spark. I don't break it up, and I don't agree that Simmonds is a top line player.
- wolfhounds

Simmonds has two lines? What lines have made things happen outside of the top line? Wayne Simmonds is most definitely a top line player.

Some folks around here are either delusional or work in the Flyers front office
- BiggE

Some Chelsea wisdom (and not yours ).

About to walk into the Garden. God I hope we play physical... Could care less about he score
- CACannon18

We don't have a physical team.