I think leier has a real shot in training camp. He should be ripened up to hexys standards and showed some decent offense from a phantoms team with no centers . He got a cup of coffee with the flyers last season. The only two locks for me on the bottom 6 are wiese and raffl.

I think leier has a real shot in training camp. He should be ripened up to hexys standards and showed some decent offense from a phantoms team with no centers . He got a cup of coffee with the flyers last season. The only two locks for me on the bottom 6 are wiese and raffl.
- ravishingone

I do think, if any kid sticks, it's going to be Cole Bardreau. Hextall has talked him up in several interviews and he had a strong season for the Phantoms.

I'd like to see Leier get a real shot, too. If the Flyers think these guys are ready and it's best for their development, they'll stick and guys like Bellemare or VandeVelde could easily be shipped out

Bringing up the Kings or Blackhawks in decrying Hextall's work as GM being a slow process is asinine.

The Blackhawks, prior to making the playoffs in 2009, made the playoffs once in ten years. That's where they added the pieces that made them a modern dynasty. Los Angeles won just one playoff round from 1994 to 2012. They had a stretch of 15 years where they made the playoffs just 4 times.

Hextall came into a fringe playoff team, with a few aging pieces and a tough cap situation and said from day one he was going to be patient and build through the draft and rebuild the system. That is what he's done, and likely what he will continue to do.

Unlike both the Kings and Blackhawks, he's refusing to bottom out and load up on lottery picks. He's trying to stay competitive while retooling/rebuilding. Detroit built up through the 1980's and finally got over the hump in 1997. They struck gold with a few late round picks and managed to remain a contender for close to two decades. Their situation moving forward might be a good example of what Hextall inherited.

Hextall didn't inherit a serious Cup contender. He inherited a fringe team. He's clearing the brush now. Eventually he'll start building the new house.
- Jsaquella

I don't even think he would have really minded if they had bottomed out this past season... the defense last season just didn't cooperate and played way over their heads as a group.

Otherwise, nice post

I do think, if any kid sticks, it's going to be Cole Bardreau. Hextall has talked him up in several interviews and he had a strong season for the Phantoms.

I'd like to see Leier get a real shot, too. If the Flyers think these guys are ready and it's best for their development, they'll stick and guys like Bellemare or VandeVelde could easily be shipped out
- Jsaquella

I forgot about bardreau. I hope I'm wrong but I think read is in trouble. He needs to get his confidence because he may just top out in the vandelvelde role from last year at best.

I don't even think he would have really minded if they had bottomed out this past season... the defense last season just didn't cooperate and played way over their heads as a group.

Otherwise, nice post
- Tomahawk

Hexy's not going to stand in the way of success. If the team has a real shot at the playoffs in 2017, he won't trade away a guy like Streit at the deadline. But he also realizes that trading a couple of second rounders for a guy that might win you one playoff round isn't what they need right now, either.

He's the smartest guy in the room of 50 people, but he doesn't believe it's a big enough sample size to make any real judgements, so it's a moot point.
- PhillySportsGuy

More fancy stats....

I forgot about bardreau. I hope I'm wrong but I think read is in trouble. He needs to get his confidence because he may just top out in the vandelvelde role from last year at best.
- ravishingone

He could be. With his contract, he's a safe bet to be on the team. He was a good possession driver, though and a good PK guy and did manage to score 11 goals.

a lot. Look at his faceoff totals alone in comparison to the rest of the team. he is often out just for the draw then leaves the ice as soon as the play goes up the ice.

People stress the possession part of the game with the fancy stats but yet faceoff, which is the start of possession, isn't important. that is a contradiction to me IMHO
- nastyflyergirl

im asking where you found that information

Hexy's not going to stand in the way of success. If the team has a real shot at the playoffs in 2017, he won't trade away a guy like Streit at the deadline. But he also realizes that trading a couple of second rounders for a guy that might win you one playoff round isn't what they need right now, either.
- Jsaquella

Yeah, he's not gonna actively torpedo the team, nor is he going to really put a whole bunch of pieces in play in a move to get better now.

He's just gonna keep drafting, developing, and evaluating.

I think they way they seem to want to use him, 15 isn't out of the question for Weise. I really do think they end up using him a lot like Montreal did. He's going to see PP time on the second unit, may even slide into the top six if Raffl, Laughton or whomever else struggles.
- Jsaquella

I think one area that truly needs to see a noticeable improvement is the PP2. Hopefully, he can help in that area.

Last year it seemed like it was Couts and "a bunch of other guys". If they want to keep the PP1 stacked, then there needs to be consistent contributors on the second unit. Weise and maybe Provorov (if he makes it) but probably MDZ as the lone D could all make a difference. Either way the PP2 needs an upgrade.

http://kitchenerrangers.c...ing-drafted-by-the-flyers

Story on Bunnaman, his former coach compares his game to Johan Franzen.

I do think, if any kid sticks, it's going to be Cole Bardreau. Hextall has talked him up in several interviews and he had a strong season for the Phantoms.

I'd like to see Leier get a real shot, too. If the Flyers think these guys are ready and it's best for their development, they'll stick and guys like Bellemare or VandeVelde could easily be shipped out
- Jsaquella

to where? phantoms? cant see a trade market for them

Hexy's not going to stand in the way of success. If the team has a real shot at the playoffs in 2017, he won't trade away a guy like Streit at the deadline. But he also realizes that trading a couple of second rounders for a guy that might win you one playoff round isn't what they need right now, either.
- Jsaquella

Re: Streit...

At his age and being in the last year of his contract and with all the young D prospects we have, it's probably not a stretch to say if he's still playing next year, it won't be for us.

But what's the best thing to do?

Ultimately, I guess they could play him for the entire year and just let him walk away for nothing, and with our D group in such a state of flux, that may be the lesser of 2 evils, especially if we make the playoffs. But boy, I really wish one of the young guys (Provorov) stands out at the start of the season and allows Hexy the opportunity to get something for him.

Mood?

Mood?
- jmatchett383

Moderately euphoric with a dash of melancholy

Mood?
- jmatchett383

Savory chuletas with spicy habanero salsa, yellow rice and red beans.

I think one area that truly needs to see a noticeable improvement is the PP2. Hopefully, he can help in that area.

Last year it seemed like it was Couts and "a bunch of other guys". If they want to keep the PP1 stacked, then there needs to be consistent contributors on the second unit. Weise and maybe Provorov (if he makes it) but probably MDZ as the lone D could all make a difference. Either way the PP2 needs an upgrade.
- WhirlingDervish

absolutely, this was a huge problem last year, and really for as long as i can remember. they need to put better personnel out there, having white out there was atrocious. i understand he was a big body in front of the net, but brought zero offensive ability. i would really like to see coots where jake is on the first unit. either going down low for the shot from the circle, or coming up high to distribute either down low, or to coordinate between the pp qb on that unit. i think MDZ would be very useful up top there, and provy too as you said. i think they should have some combo, outside of MDZ and coots, of laughton, cousins, weise, and raffl take the other three spots. hell, if you want provy and mdz on it, even better.

Moderately euphoric with a dash of melancholy
- BiggE

at least its not reversed, moderately melancholy sounds so depressing

absolutely, this was a huge problem last year, and really for as long as i can remember. they need to put better personnel out there, having white out there was atrocious. i understand he was a big body in front of the net, but brought zero offensive ability. i would really like to see coots where jake is on the first unit. either going down low for the shot from the circle, or coming up high to distribute either down low, or to coordinate between the pp qb on that unit. i think MDZ would be very useful up top there, and provy too as you said. i think they should have some combo, outside of MDZ and coots, of laughton, cousins, weise, and raffl take the other three spots. hell, if you want provy and mdz on it, even better.
- sjk540

As predictable as the PP1 became, the second unit could prosper just be doing things a bit differently, as in 2 D men. (but that would assume Provorov makes it). I think the talent is there, and really hope Cousins continues to grow his game 'cause offensively he really has it and could be deadly on the PP2.

So maybe Coots, Weise, Cousins, MDZ, Prov/Raffl for the PP2?

Would any of you guys be interested in taking a chance on Evander Kane? I know all of his off ice issues are a problem and he seems very immature and more worried about his money stacks than anything else, but he is a top 6 LW who can score amd is young enough to grow with the team. I think simmonds and Giroux could really help him break out of that immaturity. Now I wouldn't give up a whole lot to get him but I think he is worth a shot and I think buffalo doesn't want him around their young core.

Would any of you guys be interested in taking a chance on Evander Kane? I know all of his off ice issues are a problem and he seems very immature and more worried about his money stacks than anything else, but he is a top 6 LW who can score amd is young enough to grow with the team. I think simmonds and Giroux could really help him break out of that immaturity. Now I wouldn't give up a whole lot to get him but I think he is worth a shot and I think buffalo doesn't want him around their young core.
- irishmiller33

If he were a UFA, sure. For the price Buffalo is likely asking (some combo of top-6 forward, young D prospect, 1st rounder), no thanks.

A lot of Prince's songs sound the same, or at least sound like other Prince songs (i.e. Cream and Raspberry Beret).

If he were a UFA, sure. For the price Buffalo is likely asking (some combo of top-6 forward, young D prospect, 1st rounder), no thanks.
- jmatchett383

I don't think that price is realistic and I think buff knows that. I live in buffalo and I can tell you the fans want him gone.

As predictable as the PP1 became, the second unit could prosper just be doing things a bit differently, as in 2 D men. (but that would assume Provorov makes it). I think the talent is there, and really hope Cousins continues to grow his game 'cause offensively he really has it and could be deadly on the PP2.

So maybe Coots, Weise, Cousins, MDZ, Prov/Raffl for the PP2?
- WhirlingDervish

im on board. last year i always thought gagner could be the catalyst for a good pp2 (i know i know but hear me out). RH shot, did show some flashes of creativity, and has a good wrister. playing the half wall game like G did i thought would have suited his abilities. i also thought matt read could play there, and maybe he can still find some offense if given some PP time. fact is there are pieces to use here, they just need to be used correctly and in a way that helps the players be successful

I don't think that price is realistic and I think buff knows that. I live in buffalo and I can tell you the fans want him gone.
- irishmiller33

Well, as long as Buffalo's GM is listening to the fan base to run his team, then we'll give you a 5th rounder for him,