Absolutely. Saves cap space, bonus dollars, etc.

Never forget these entities are still businesses.
- johndewar

Haha..I think there was sarcasm in his reply.

But seriously, the big issue is that true top pairing guys are a rare commodity these days. The reality is that teams started holding onto those guys about 4-5-6 years ago, except maybe when the team was rebuilding or cash-strapped, or the player was older, etc. And then, the cost in assets was so prohibitive. That was the thing that got me.

I still think the Pronger trade was a mistake because of his age, the assets we gave up, and the contract we had to sign him to. The cost to get Weber would have killed this team, especially given the state of the farm system at the time.

http://www.philly.com/phi...ere_is_risk_involved.html


How does this stuff get written?
- MBFlyerfan

I'm not a big Mike Sielski fan, but this wasn't one of his usual Flyers hatchet jobs.

The only issue I'd take with this article is this quote:

"In professional sports, when I was growing up in the '70s, there was competition," an NHL agent said in the immediate aftermath of Kovalchuk's departure. "There was the WHA in hockey, the ABA in basketball, the USFL in football.

There was no USFL in the 70's. It was the WFL, which lasted only two years, but had a bunch of guys (star level players) jump from the NFL.

That they were able to take Tampa to 7 with that M.A.S.H unit of a defense was simply remarkable. They would have won for sure.
- MBFlyerfan

If Hitchcock gets let go in St. Louis, would you bring him back to coach?

Absolutely. Saves cap space, bonus dollars, etc.

Never forget these entities are still businesses.
- johndewar

That's the truth good sir.

http://www.philly.com/phi...ere_is_risk_involved.html


How does this stuff get written?
- MBFlyerfan

Risk seems a bit lower, now that the KHL is in financial turmoil w/ the fall of the Ruble.

Add to that, Provorov has a game that would translate really well to NA pros. Really polished and well-rounded... not really a guy who relies on razzle dazzle... a lot like Maatta.

If Hitchcock gets let go in St. Louis, would you bring him back to coach?
- hockeylover

Only if Bill Barber's interview doesn't go well....

If Hitchcock gets let go in St. Louis, would you bring him back to coach?
- hockeylover

Yeah, IMO, he's the 3rd-best coach on the face of the planet, after Tippett and Babcock.

Yup.

I'm sure positional/organizational need figures gets included into the ranking calculus... just depends on how heavily they decide to weight it.

Like in 2013, it was huge... its debatable whether or not they jump up to take Morin if they aren't fresh off losing Pronger forever. Like if it's Kimmo that goes down, BPA might have ended up being Mirco Mueller or Morrissey or Pulock.
- Tomahawk

Agreed. I think the major benefit of a long-term strategy like what Hextall is advocating is that players project to reach the NHL at different intervals, and the long-range planner can factor this into the strategy. So you look at organizational depth based on projections of where players will be 1 year out, 2 years out, etc.

My problem with Morin was lack of offensive upside and development time. I'm in the minority, but I still think he is two years away, and probably 3 or 4 from really becoming a shut down guy. Pulock looks to be in the league next year and has a chance of impacting the Isle's much more quickly.

Fortunately, with Sanheim and Ghost on board, I don't hate the pick as much as I did on draft day. But I still am not sold.

If Hitchcock gets let go in St. Louis, would you bring him back to coach?
- hockeylover

I would prefer Babcock, but lets just say that I wouldn't be rioting in the streets if they brought Hitch back. One thing he does do, despite his shelf life, is to get his teams to work hard night in and night out.

Yeah, IMO, he's the 3rd-best coach on the face of the planet, after Tippett and Babcock.
- Tomahawk

The Blues had a ton of talent, and were first round fodder the last 3 years under Hitchcock. Idk, he's 63 years of age now? I wouldn't recycle him.

If Hitchcock gets let go in St. Louis, would you bring him back to coach?
- hockeylover

I would consider it but he's not on the top of my list...If I were Hextall. Hitch was only ever able to win with multiple hall of famers on his roster. Nieuwendyk, Hull, Modono, Belfour and dont forget about Hatcher, Lehtinen, Sydor, Zubov, Verbeek, Carbonneau, I could go on and on. That team was built to win up and down the lineup.

I remember Lindros had been out for a while and he was still the best player on the ice, and it wasn't even close.
- MBFlyerfan

Yup, he was the only reason they were in even in game 6 as the rest of the team was badly outplayed. Sadly, once he was knocked cold in game 7, you could just visibly see the team deflate.

That team really did overachieve, IMO, the 03-04 was a much better club.

If Hitchcock gets let go in St. Louis, would you bring him back to coach?
- hockeylover

If they get Hitch the kind of guys he can work with, sure, I'd be OK with it. I like Hitch.

I don't pin St. Louis' problems solely on him.

That said....he's not my first choice.

If they get Hitch the kind of guys he can work with, sure, I'd be OK with it. I like Hitch.

I don't pin St. Louis' problems solely on him.

That said....he's not my first choice.
- johndewar

I mean give him an upgrade of MacDonald and L. Schenn over those two bums Shattenkirk, and Pieterangelo, and he will move mountains.

If Hitchcock gets let go in St. Louis, would you bring him back to coach?
- hockeylover

I'd certainly bring him in for an interview and consider him. However, Hitchcock has said in the past that he prefers working with a veteran lineup. If you are committing to patiently building through the draft and development, he might not be the right guy.

http://www.philly.com/phi...ere_is_risk_involved.html


How does this stuff get written?
- MBFlyerfan

http://www.theglobeandmai...ial-ruin/article22138117/

Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League on the verge of financial ruin

The Blues had a ton of talent, and were first round fodder the last 3 years under Hitchcock. Idk, he's 63 years of age now? I wouldn't recycle him.
- PLindbergh31

Ironically, the guy Hitch took over from couldn't get the Blues into the playoffs at all.

And he's now a head coaching candidate again, because at least he had the decency to fail at a young age.

The Western Conference is pretty stacked. This might be the first year where you look at the Blues' exit and think that, you probably lost to a team you shouldn't have.

http://www.theglobeandmai...ial-ruin/article22138117/

Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League on the verge of financial ruin
- Flyers_01

Many could have predicted that happening

http://www.theglobeandmai...ial-ruin/article22138117/

Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League on the verge of financial ruin
- Flyers_01

That is partly where my criticism lies. Plus, you don't come over to North America from Russia at age 15 simply to go back to the KHL. You are coming over here to play in the NHL.

Plus I like that he spent two seasons at Wilkes Barre, he knows the area and will be somewhat comfortable here.

If he is there at 7, unless somehow Marner or Strome drop, I take Provorov.

If they get Hitch the kind of guys he can work with, sure, I'd be OK with it. I like Hitch.

I don't pin St. Louis' problems solely on him.

That said....he's not my first choice.
- johndewar

Yup, I can think of 3 reasons St. Louis went out in the first round, and none could be blamed directly on Hitch.

1. They got lousy goaltending at the worst time.

2. While they are deep at center, they lack that true #1 franchise guy (Crosby, Toews, Kopitar) that most cup winners seem to have.

3. Their D, while tremedously skilled, is very soft. There was a play, and I don't remember which game, where JayBo was just pushed off the puck so easily it was pathetic. As much as we often rip guys like Grossmann, St. Louis could use 1 dman like big Nick.

Yeah, IMO, he's the 3rd-best coach on the face of the planet, after Tippett and Babcock.
- Tomahawk

I think Hitchcock is a great coach, and a brilliant strategist. My concern with him would be his tendency to bury young players. The key with this team is going to be growing the young defensemen. I was not a fan of what Berube was doing with Ghost, as an example. He forced him to play so safe in those couple of games, that it really diminished Ghost's whole value proposition.

I want a coach that is willing to let the young players play their game, make their mistakes and grow from them, within reason of course.

Not sure Hitch is that guy.

Haha..I think there was sarcasm in his reply.

But seriously, the big issue is that true top pairing guys are a rare commodity these days. The reality is that teams started holding onto those guys about 4-5-6 years ago, except maybe when the team was rebuilding or cash-strapped, or the player was older, etc. And then, the cost in assets was so prohibitive. That was the thing that got me.

I still think the Pronger trade was a mistake because of his age, the assets we gave up, and the contract we had to sign him to. The cost to get Weber would have killed this team, especially given the state of the farm system at the time.
- TheGreat28

nonono there was no sarcasm from me lol

Many could have predicted that happening
- ob18

As soon as oil prices began dropping, it was only a matter of time.

Yup, I can think of 3 reasons St. Louis went out in the first round, and none could be blamed directly on Hitch.

1. They got lousy goaltending at the worst time.

2. While they are deep at center, they lack that true #1 franchise guy (Crosby, Toews, Kopitar) that most cup winners seem to have.

3. Their D, while tremedously skilled, is very soft. There was a play, and I don't remember which game, where JayBo was just pushed off the puck so easily it was pathetic. As much as we often rip guys like Grossmann, St. Louis could use 1 dman like big Nick.
- BiggE

Grossmann for Tarasenko?

Many could have predicted that happening
- ob18

Probably gonna start seeing a substantial influx of players from the KHL in coming seasons as guys get freed from their contracts there... Kovy and Radulov most notably.