It's also hard to say what this team would look like without 4/6 of the team's top 6 forwards acquired in gutsy moves to get younger but still compete. People can criticize all of Homer's bad decisions but his smart ones still created a strong core to pass to Hextall.
- Baxter27

We are in agreement there...what I wouldve liked to see was going more all in on that younger core though. Where he went wrong was trying to stay competitive with FA acquisitions while trying to create a young core.

I agree the what ifs are impossible. I agree he left Hextall with more than Howson left Jarmo but that is pretty evident right now though. Both GMs have fared well in my opinion.

Hell people bring their dogs every day.. Pat Burrell brought his dogs to practice and games.
- jak521

well, dogs >>>> kids....so

lets see what hextall does to round out this team with additions via trade/free agency when the time comes to do that. The book has still yet to be written on how savvy a Gm he actually is besides his creativity to get rid of a couple of guys so far.

Agreed, can't remember the last time the Flyers were playing such an efficient brand of hockey. Great hire by Hexy that came straight out of left field.
- Baxter27

efficient is a good word. I've never seen such consistent effort and just every line playing the same way, everyone towing the line.

I kind of agree with the team stance. It's a workplace, not a playground.

His reaction, however, is kind of extreme.
- Scoob

I agree with it as well. The team didn't say he was no longer welcome, they just don't want him there every day.

I kind of agree, but even an accidental elbow should be looked at if it's elbow to head to boards like that.
- BulliesPhan87

Sorry, but I see it as Toews' head accidentally hitting VDV's elbow. No reason for the hearing, nothing to see here, move along move along.

I agree with it as well. The team didn't say he was no longer welcome, they just don't want him there every day.
- PLindbergh31

Nobody forced him to retire. He chose that.

lets see what hextall does to round out this team with additions via trade/free agency when the time comes to do that.
- orangekrush2010

I'm more excited to see what happens on this year's Cinderella run to the stanley cup finals

Pure hearsay, but apparently the other players liked the kid and weren't happy about it. I think they just wanted to piss the guy off so he'd retire and clear the books.

As for the "what job lets you bring your kid everyday", this isn't a remotely typical job, so I don't buy that argument from the GM.

I'm not saying the GM has no authority to request this, but why would he wait until camp to address it? Outside of forcing a retirement, I don't see the point.
- BulliesPhan87

His employer has every right to do what they did, and he has the right to quit as he did. I guess that is the easiest way to sum it up.

NHL Player Safety
@NHLPlayerSafety
Philadelphia's Chris Vandevelde will have a hearing tomorrow for elbowing/illegal check to the head on Chicago's Jonathan Toews.
- BulliesPhan87

Well, that makes it easy. Jake replaces VDV.

I'm more excited to see what happens on this year's Cinderella run to the stanley cup finals
- funmaster18

Some of our players are really starting to grow on me. I've always was a schenn basher and was up for trading him bc he's too inconsistent and didn't see him as part of our core, but he is really starting to flourish and i no longer look at him as a 3rd liner.

However, I do love Couts but still stick by my wish that we had another center to slot on the 2nd line who is more offensively dynamic. Not because Couts can't be a 2C but I'd like to eventually roll 3 legit lines and have him anchor that 3rd line (like JStaal in Pitt). The 2C I'm referring to is someone we can draft and groom. Also, we can certainly look to upgrade the 2nd line wing spot (not schenn).

Not denying Hextall hasn't had to make some shrewd moves to help the situation. I also think it's overblown that Homer left him with a mess. The only current roster player with a contract that could be seen as albatross is Macdonald. If he can consistently find his niche like he has lately, that contract isn't all that outrageous.
- Baxter27

Homer was a joke. Hextall inherited a flock of albatrosses and has been able to clean up Homers mess in half the time that was expected, not to mention picking up some nice draft picks along the way. Look what he got for Cobourn and Kimo. Hextall will really shine in a few years when he finally has cap space, picks and prospects to really build this team.
The writing was on the wall for me when Homer left and Hextall took over.

Homer catches a lot of flak for leaving Hextall with a mess. His free agency record is rightfully criticized. However, his stamp on the current line up shouldn't be ignored. Hextall deserves a lot of credit for steering the Flyers on the right course but Homer deserves some for starting the process.

10-28-17-Homer/Clarke/Homer acquired
12-14-93-Homer acquired
21-52-24-Homer acquired
76-78-25-89-19-Hextall acquired

53-47-Homer acquired
32-55- Homer/Hextall
23-3-Homer/Hextall

Mason-Homer acquired
Neuvirth-Hextall acquired
- Baxter27

There. All fixed up.

Homer was a joke. Hextall inherited a flock of albatrosses and has been able to clean up Homers mess in half the time that was expected, not to mention picking up some nice draft picks along the way. Look what he got for Cobourn and Kimo. Hextall will really shine in a few years when he finally has cap space, picks and prospects to really build this team.
The writing was on the wall for me when Homer left and Hextall took over.

- all-pgh

i obviously like what Hextall has done so far but lets not act like he did a TON so far. Got rid of some contracts, hired Hakstol sure. Draft picks aren't really solely his decision. Lets see what he does when he has more of a clean slate, still has time to mess it up.

Some of our players are really starting to grow on me. I've always was a schenn basher and was up for trading him bc he's too inconsistent and didn't see him as part of our core, but he is really starting to flourish and i no longer look at him as a 3rd liner.

However, I do love Couts but still stick by my wish that we had another center to slot on the 2nd line who is more offensively dynamic. Not because Couts can't be a 2C but I'd like to eventually roll 3 legit lines and have him anchor that 3rd line (like JStaal in Pitt). The 2C I'm referring to is someone we can draft and groom. Also, we can certainly look to upgrade the 2nd line wing spot (not schenn).
- orangekrush2010

Hey if we can get a better number 2 center, it will just make our depth that much better. Couts is great. I think he's still getting better. Seems like his confidence is increasing on the offensive side of the puck, which is exactly what he needs.

As far as Schenn goes, he is finally turning into the player I thought he was going to be. He was killing people last night. When he's physical and involved, everything else falls into place for him

His employer has every right to do what they did, and he has the right to quit as he did. I guess that is the easiest way to sum it up.
- PLindbergh31

I hear the MLB Network was reporting the manager had to persuade the team to play today, that they were considering boycotting over the whole ordeal. Seems the GM doesn't have his finger on the pulse of the team fwiw

There. All fixed up.
- mayorofangrytown

That's fair, Clarke had the reigns for his "Whoops I forget" final draft. I just suspect Holmgren was calling the shots behind the scenes.

That's fair, Clarke had the reigns for his "Whoops I forget" final draft. I just suspect Holmgren was calling the shots behind the scenes.
- Baxter27

the scouts are the ones really doing the heavy lifting in the drafts.

Homer was a joke. Hextall inherited a flock of albatrosses and has been able to clean up Homers mess in half the time that was expected, not to mention picking up some nice draft picks along the way. Look what he got for Cobourn and Kimo. Hextall will really shine in a few years when he finally has cap space, picks and prospects to really build this team.
The writing was on the wall for me when Homer left and Hextall took over.

- all-pgh

I like the cut of this guys jib.

Pure hearsay, but apparently the other players liked the kid and weren't happy about it. I think they just wanted to piss the guy off so he'd retire and clear the books.

As for the "what job lets you bring your kid everyday", this isn't a remotely typical job, so I don't buy that argument from the GM.

I'm not saying the GM has no authority to request this, but why would he wait until camp to address it? Outside of forcing a retirement, I don't see the point.
- BulliesPhan87

(frank) that kid. Laroache is an idiot

Sorry, but I see it as Toews' head accidentally hitting VDV's elbow. No reason for the hearing, nothing to see here, move along move along.
- Corporate_hater

- Scoob

it really wasn't all that terrible.

Homer was a joke. Hextall inherited a flock of albatrosses and has been able to clean up Homers mess in half the time that was expected, not to mention picking up some nice draft picks along the way. Look what he got for Cobourn and Kimo. Hextall will really shine in a few years when he finally has cap space, picks and prospects to really build this team.
The writing was on the wall for me when Homer left and Hextall took over.

- all-pgh

Wow. The heat on this take could heat 1000s of homes in the Yukon in December.

Homer was a joke. Hextall inherited a flock of albatrosses
- all-pgh

So did Homer when he took over from Clarke. Clarke was the presiding GM for the worst season in franchise history. Homer presided over the turnaround.

Look what he got for Cobourn and Kimo.
- all-pgh

Homer was the one who brought both of those players into the organization in two pretty damned good deals.

Homer made some FA signing errors, but let's not take not a dump on the guy's contributions. Yeah, it was time for him to go, but it's not like he twiddled his thumbs for 10 years and waited for high picks to fall into his lap or begged the governor for a new arena or anything.

Sorry, but I see it as Toews' head accidentally hitting VDV's elbow. No reason for the hearing, nothing to see here, move along move along.
- Corporate_hater

I don't even know what to say tbh

NHL Player Safety
@NHLPlayerSafety
Philadelphia's Chris Vandevelde will have a hearing tomorrow for elbowing/illegal check to the head on Chicago's Jonathan Toews.
- BulliesPhan87

I hope he gets suspended. it will solve the problem of "who sits when Jake gets back" pretty easily