Out of curiosity, who would you like to see the Flyers hire as a replacement for Berube?

I ask, because I'm very much on the fence. I've had enough of Chief, but outside of a handful of guys who I would simply like to see get a chance to coach soon (not necessarily with the Flyers next year though), I can't think of anyone to whom I would immediately be willing to hand the reins.
- Doc_Sarcasm

Bonus point for using "whom" and "reins" properly

I don't think he wants to fire him. I really don't. He might not want to extend him, but I don't think he wants to turf him
- AllInForFlyers

Honestly, he needs to do one or the other. Unless the coach has the pedigree of a Babcock, going into the final year of a deal without an extension rarely ends well. The players know the coach is in that last year, and will likely be pretty secure in feeling that the coach will get the axe before any of them are moved.

I'm sure Hextall doesn't want to fire him, they were teammates, that creates a bond. However, he needs to do what is best for the team and he needs to do it quickly. IMO, moving on and hiring a new coach is what's best for the team.

Bonus point for using "whom" and "reins" properly
- AllInForFlyers

I'm sure my dad would be so terribly proud that for all of his money that was spent on my English degree, I can occasionally summon up the effort to use the language properly. More or less.

I don't think he wants to fire him. I really don't. He might not want to extend him, but I don't think he wants to turf him
- AllInForFlyers

Hextall is a smart enough GM to know that this isn't a coaching issue, that led to the season the team had. At the same time, he doesn't want to repeat the same situation next season.

Out of curiosity, who would you like to see the Flyers hire as a replacement for Berube?

I ask, because I'm very much on the fence. I've had enough of Chief, but outside of a handful of guys who I would simply like to see get a chance to coach soon (not necessarily with the Flyers next year though), I can't think of anyone to whom I would immediately be willing to hand the reins.
- Doc_Sarcasm

Some of the following may or may not become available, but they are all guys I'd prefer over Berube:

Babcock
McClelland
Hitchcock
Tippett

Also, I would not be opposed to looking outside the NHL and bringing in some new blood. The 2 most successful coaches in team history, Fred Shero and Mike Keenan, neither played nor coached in the NHL prior to being hired by the Flyers.

My only real frustration with Hexy's presser is this:

Time to poop or get off the pot. Either fire Berube or sign him to one a year extension, but make a (frank)ing decision. Leaving him dangling or bringing him back as a lame duck coach is both unfair to Berube and in no way helpful to the team.

Personally, I'd like to see Berube go, I think there are better coaches out there and more who will likely become available soon. But either way, make a damn decision.
- BiggE

Like who?

Guys like Babcock, Julian, Tippet and McLellan are all still with their teams. The AHL season isn't over yet so their might be guys there too but you'll have to wait.

Yes they might be let go, but as of now they are still employed.

He doesn't have to make the move right now. By saying he is still evaluating just by times.

For what it matters, Hextall said the Berube decision is a singular matter, and isn't based on who becomes available. As far as Lecavalier, I guess Hextall should come out and say, if we can't trade Vinny, we'll buy him out. Good strategy.

- MJL

Haha! Yeah, definitely not happening regarding VL. And I think the part about Chief being a singular matter is probably more to protect the guy from further criticism and keep his coveted replacement (should their be one) close to the vest.

He did say he definitely will resign MDZ too. I believe that is his intention at this moment. A team could ask for him in return in a potential trade or to move up in the draft etc. He doesn't even know what will come up.

Like who?

Guys like Babcock, Julian, Tippet and McLellan are all still with their teams. The AHL season isn't over yet so their might be guys there too but you'll have to wait.

Yes they might be let go, but as of now they are still employed.

He doesn't have to make the move right now. By saying he is still evaluating just by times.
- J35Bacher

You can fire Berube and hire the next coach in a few days, a few weeks or even in June. They do not have to be simultaneous events.

Some of the following may or may not become available, but they are all guys I'd prefer over Berube:

Babcock
McClelland
Hitchcock
Tippett

Also, I would not be opposed to looking outside the NHL and bringing in some new blood. The 2 most successful coaches in team history, Fred Shero and Mike Keenan, neither played nor coached in the NHL prior to being hired by the Flyers.
- BiggE

I keep hearing (and this doesnt necessarily mean that it is true) that Babcock wants some degree of general managerial authority in his next contract. If that is true, I think it highly unlikely that he comes here, unless Mr. Snider is willing to shiv Hextall to bring Babcock on board.

I know a couple of boys in the AC inlet that could make the problem disappear.

Just sayin....

- BiggE

In the words of The Boss, "Meet me tonight in Atlantic City."

Haha! Yeah, definitely not happening regarding VL. And I think the part about Chief being a singular matter is probably more to protect the guy from further criticism and keep his coveted replacement (should their be one) close to the vest.

He did say he definitely will resign MDZ too. I believe that is his intention at this moment. A team could ask for him in return in a potential trade or to move up in the draft etc. He doesn't even know what will come up.
- kellyblaise7

Never know what might happen.

You can fire Berube and hire the next coach in a few days, a few weeks or even in June. They do not have to be simultaneous events.
- BiggE

Problem is we have no clue who will be available in the coaching pool.

Yes you can fire Berube. But what happens when none of the targets are available. Do you just hire someone you're not really that high on just for the sake of a new hire. If that was the case I would just let berube coach on a one year deal. He can thinkf it like a "prove it" year.

You can fire Berube and hire the next coach in a few days, a few weeks or even in June. They do not have to be simultaneous events.
- BiggE

You can, but what happened to poop or get off the pot?

Some of the following may or may not become available, but they are all guys I'd prefer over Berube:

Babcock
McClelland
Hitchcock
Tippett

Also, I would not be opposed to looking outside the NHL and bringing in some new blood. The 2 most successful coaches in team history, Fred Shero and Mike Keenan, neither played nor coached in the NHL prior to being hired by the Flyers.
- BiggE

Honestly, he needs to do one or the other. Unless the coach has the pedigree of a Babcock, going into the final year of a deal without an extension rarely ends well. The players know the coach is in that last year, and will likely be pretty secure in feeling that the coach will get the axe before any of them are moved.

I'm sure Hextall doesn't want to fire him, they were teammates, that creates a bond. However, he needs to do what is best for the team and he needs to do it quickly. IMO, moving on and hiring a new coach is what's best for the team.
- BiggE

I just think they are in a tough spot with it, because if I had to guess, Hextall likes their style of play and he isn't giving a (frank) about anybody complaining about their roles

IF, and I repeat IF, Chief comes back, I can easily see Hextall purging part of the roster if they quit on Chief, as well as giving Chief the heave-ho

I mean, let's be honest. Hextall put that damn sign up because they feel the inmates have had a nice little run. I don't think they are interested in hearing this particular roster moaning, at all

I mean, seriously. What have they ever won? Why should they have any say in who the (frank)ing coach is?

The Schenns, MacDonald -- hell, anybody not named Giroux or now Voracek, maybe Streit too, can have a big bowl of STFU and start producing consistently for a winning team

I know a couple of boys in the AC inlet that could make the problem disappear.

Just sayin....

- BiggE

Haha.

most ridiculous thing i've ever heard

how can they conceivably bring a coach back after announcing that they still dont know if he's good enough for the job


what will change over the next few days?

most ridiculous thing i've ever heard

how can they conceivably bring a coach back after announcing that they still dont know if he's good enough for the job


what will change over the next few days?
- Crimsoninja

The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.

I just think they are in a tough spot with it, because if I had to guess, Hextall likes their style of play and he isn't giving a (frank) about anybody complaining about their roles

IF, and I repeat IF, Chief comes back, I can easily see Hextall purging part of the roster if they quit on Chief, as well as giving Chief the heave-ho

I mean, let's be honest. Hextall put that damn sign up because they feel the inmates have had a nice little run. I don't think they are interested in hearing this particular roster moaning, at all
- AllInForFlyers

Aside from Vinny, all the player comments I've read have heavily supported Chief and his coaching style with Simmer, Ryan White and Jake leading the way in their effusive praise.

Coots said he isn't happy with the perception of him as strictly a shutdown center, but I don't think he said he didn't like his role, did he? And Hexy said he doesn't perceive Coots that way. He said he wants and expects him to become a great two-way, 200ft player.

I'm not petitioning for Chief's return, but worth noting his players seem to genuinely like him.

Me, I just want a Cup and that's it. I don't care who the player or coach is, if we can upgrade that position I'm all for it.

I just think they are in a tough spot with it, because if I had to guess, Hextall likes their style of play and he isn't giving a (frank) about anybody complaining about their roles

IF, and I repeat IF, Chief comes back, I can easily see Hextall purging part of the roster if they quit on Chief, as well as giving Chief the heave-ho

I mean, let's be honest. Hextall put that damn sign up because they feel the inmates have had a nice little run. I don't think they are interested in hearing this particular roster moaning, at all
- AllInForFlyers

Again, I don't think Berube is a horrible coach by any stretch, but I just don't think he's that good.

He left an utterly ineffective Matt Read and Umberger both in the lineup and on the 2nd pp unit for way too long. He benched MDZ for at least 4-5 games too many, I'm pretty sure he'd already gotten the point by then. Playing VLC on a 4th line was just pointless, if you can't work him into the top 6, he's basically useless. His handling of, and comments about Mason down the stretch were at the very least questionable.

Again, he's not the worst coach out there, I just think he's far from the best as well.

most ridiculous thing i've ever heard

how can they conceivably bring a coach back after announcing that they still dont know if he's good enough for the job


what will change over the next few days?
- Crimsoninja

Baba-Roobey is going to take a hockey aptitude exam Saturday morning. Hope he remembers his # 2 pencil.

Aside from Vinny, all the player comments I've read have heavily supported Chief and his coaching style with Simmer, Ryan White and Jake leading the way in their effusive praise.

Coots said he isn't happy with the perception of him as strictly a shutdown center, but I don't think he said he didn't like his role, did he? And Hexy said he doesn't perceive Coots that way. He said he wants and expects him to become a great two-way, 200ft player.

I'm not petitioning for Chief's return, but worth noting his players seem to genuinely like him.

Me, I just want a Cup and that's it. I don't care who the player or coach is, if we can upgrade that position I'm all for it.
- kellyblaise7

Absolutely, whatever needs to be done.

Aside from Vinny, all the player comments I've read have heavily supported Chief and his coaching style with Simmer, Ryan White and Jake leading the way in their effusive praise.

Coots said he isn't happy with the perception of him as strictly a shutdown center, but I don't think he said he didn't like his role, did he? And Hexy said he doesn't perceive Coots that way. He said he wants and expects him to become a great two-way, 200ft player.

I'm not petitioning for Chief's return, but worth noting his players seem to genuinely like him.

Me, I just want a Cup and that's it. I don't care who the player or coach is, if we can upgrade that position I'm all for it.
- kellyblaise7

I don't read much into what the players say. For the most part, they are pretty guarded when speaking to the media (for which I don't blame them at all!) and most players don't want to get the reputation as a guy who talks out of school about the coach. Players are taught from a very young age, that what happens in the locker room, stays in the locker room.

Even towards the end of the Keenan era, when most of the players couldn't stand the guy, they rarely said negative things about him to the media. To the GM sure, but not to the public. Hell, I want a Cup too, it's been way to long. I just don't think that Craig Berube is the coach that will lead you to one.

most ridiculous thing i've ever heard

how can they conceivably bring a coach back after announcing that they still dont know if he's good enough for the job


what will change over the next few days?
- Crimsoninja

Agreed. If he truly hasn't made a decision on Berube, he really has made one.

If he really is waiting for Babcock or McLellan, what happens if he doesn't land them? Berube's already on the hot seat, what happens next year if there's an influx of kids? Does Berube coch to keep his job or develop the kids?

The other factor, and I say this as no fan of Berube, is if they don't make a move until June or July, he doesn't have much time to get a new gig. That's not fair to him, after years of faithful service.

I get being patient, but this is a dog and pony show.

Some of the following may or may not become available, but they are all guys I'd prefer over Berube:

Babcock
McClelland
Hitchcock
Tippett

Also, I would not be opposed to looking outside the NHL and bringing in some new blood. The 2 most successful coaches in team history, Fred Shero and Mike Keenan, neither played nor coached in the NHL prior to being hired by the Flyers.
- BiggE

If Babcock gets resigned I'd be looking hard at Blashill from Grand Rapids