See, my thing about that is this: If Hextall knifes the coach because of what the players say in exit interviews, then take that freaking sign down.

Hextall has to decide, IMO, these things:

1. Do you agree with how he uses Couturier?

2. Do you agree with how he scratches players?

3. Who the (frank) is getting fired for the PK, if anyone?

4. Did they play hard enough, and are you sure it's not the players' character for why they start slowly?

5. Do I truly feel this was a playoff team -- which he has said -- or am I just blowing smoke for the media?

I personally feel the system is one you can win with, and the PP is just fine. So, I don't know -- it's gonna be interesting what Hextall does
- AllInForFlyers

I think you can question the talent but you could also question how it's used.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/ne...763104&navid=nhl:topheads

Please tell me they have NMCs

Eight defenseman is a lot. Sure there are injuries along the way but still. Eight is a lot. Nobody is gonna hand us a number 1 stud but we're not exactly making room for one.
- SuperSchennBros

Im not entirely sold that Gudas doesn't get flipped. His habit of taking minor penalties in league leading quantities does not fit anything this team has said its trying to get away from. Add in how bad our PK was... Its just not going to yeild positive results. Plus they added Manning. You don't need both IMO.

I think Grossman could be out as well. He actually put up some numbers this year. Someone will bite.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=763104&navid=nhl:topheads

Please tell me they have NMCs
- aflyerpower8

They do; Kessel's is full, I can't remember if Phaneuf's is full or partial

Im not entirely sold that Gudas doesn't get flipped. His habit of taking minor penalties in league leading quantities does not fit anything this team has said its trying to get away from. Add in how bad our PK was... Its just not going to yeild positive results. Plus they added Manning. You don't need both IMO.

I think Grossman could be out as well. He actually put up some numbers this year. Someone will bite.
- hereticpride

Agreed; if Calgary or the Isles get physically dominated down low, I bet they take a peek at the kind of player Grossmann is

Im not entirely sold that Gudas doesn't get flipped. His habit of taking minor penalties in league leading quantities does not fit anything this team has said its trying to get away from. Add in how bad our PK was... Its just not going to yeild positive results. Plus they added Manning. You don't need both IMO.

I think Grossman could be out as well. He actually put up some numbers this year. Someone will bite.
- hereticpride

I'm not convinced he's not a 6th-7th defenseman, even with this mix.

Agreed; if Calgary or the Isles get physically dominated down low, I bet they take a peek at the kind of player Grossmann is
- AllInForFlyers

Rutherford will want Grossmann

Rutherford will want Grossmann
- PhillySportsGuy

I honestly believe there's a market for him -- he's limited in certain things, but he skates just well enough for there to be a legitimate market with him having just one season left on his deal

yes. it was very well done. but that guy's stance does suck.
- wilsonecho91

you have to understand that the "stance" question is a daily running joke in the group, along with the frowning upon of mismatched gear. it's the whole thing.

Seriously?
- Giroux_Is_God

what more is there to say? i mean, really?

Eight defenseman is a lot. Sure there are injuries along the way but still. Eight is a lot. Nobody is gonna hand us a number 1 stud but we're not exactly making room for one.
- SuperSchennBros

So if one of the young guys is ready to come up trade two Dmen for picks. Nice.

Agreed; if Calgary or the Isles get physically dominated down low, I bet they take a peek at the kind of player Grossmann is
- AllInForFlyers

Calgary has 3 second round picks. Nice.

So if one of the young guys is ready to come up trade two Dmen for picks. Nice.
- jstross

Depends on whether or not anyone wants what we have.

Calgary has 3 second round picks. Nice.
- jstross

I bet they'd give a couple of those up for a Nick Grossmann at the draft.

I bet they'd give a couple of those up for a Nick Grossmann at the draft.
- JAKEw1234

Take a 2nd and a 4th probably at best.

5. Do I truly feel this was a playoff team -- which he has said -- or am I just blowing smoke for the media?

- AllInForFlyers

I hate to be that guy, but this team has a world class goalie, a world class center, a world class winger, and a world class powerplay. This team played great hockey against great teams.

I think if they can get the pk to league average, they're a playoff team. I didn't say cup contender- still need a defense to do that- but I think this team underachieved vastly this year.

what more is there to say? i mean, really?
- hammarby31

I wish I could even begin to understand what the (frank) happens in his head.

Take a 2nd and a 4th probably at best.
- ob18

I'd still take it

I hate to be that guy, but this team has a world class goalie, a world class center, a world class winger, and a world class powerplay. This team played great hockey against great teams.

I think if they can get the pk to league average, they're a playoff team. I didn't say cup contender- still need a defense to do that- but I think this team underachieved vastly this year.
- Giroux_Is_God

If they bring their road record anywhere close to their home record then they're a playoff team.

I hate to be that guy, but this team has a world class goalie, a world class center, a world class winger, and a world class powerplay. This team played great hockey against great teams.

I think if they can get the pk to league average, they're a playoff team. I didn't say cup contender- still need a defense to do that- but I think this team underachieved vastly this year.
- Giroux_Is_God

They've got a defense that could work in Guatemala also

If they bring their road record anywhere close to their home record then they're a playoff team.
- JAKEw1234

That had to have been an outlier. That's what I see it as.

I'm not making excuses- I was ragging on this team plenty of times over the course of the season. But my point is I'm not gonna be surprised to see them improve that pk and road record, and if that happens next season, we'll be playing hockey right now.

Maybe that takes a new coach. Maybe it takes Morin and Sanheim. I say we start with the coach though.

That had to have been an outlier. That's what I see it as.

I'm not making excuses- I was ragging on this team plenty of times over the course of the season. But my point is I'm not gonna be surprised to see them improve that pk and road record, and if that happens next season, we'll be playing hockey right now.

Maybe that takes a new coach. Maybe it takes Morin and Sanheim. I say we start with the coach though.
- Giroux_Is_God

I just want it to be draft day already

If they bring their road record anywhere close to their home record then they're a playoff team.
- JAKEw1234

They are contending for the Presidents trophy if that happens. I would just be happy with a winning road record.

I hate to be that guy, but this team has a world class goalie, a world class center, a world class winger, and a world class powerplay. This team played great hockey against great teams.

I think if they can get the pk to league average, they're a playoff team. I didn't say cup contender- still need a defense to do that- but I think this team underachieved vastly this year.
- Giroux_Is_God

I'm not sure how you can admit that we need to improve on defense and believe we underachieved vastly. Bad road record, bad PK, bad defense. Yes we matched up well against good teams but we blew it against bad teams, which is pretty much a wash.

Nobody in here has shed any light on the fact that after the trade deadline, we were in the hunt to make the playoffs and the Sens were behind us. We should be embarrassed that they were able to celebrate their playoffs birth on our ice. This just isn't a good team regardless of whom we've been able to defeat. Other bad teams this season have beaten good teams this season as well. I wouldn't put too much stalk into that.

They are contending for the Presidents trophy if that happens. I would just be happy with a winning road record.
- MBFlyerfan

If our road record matched our home record we'd be 46-22-14. That's 106 points and would've put us at 6th in the league this season.