Love his drafting.

I suppose I would just like to know where he plans on adding top tier talent from to the forward core. This team desperately needs that. This forward core with the decline of Giroux is nowhere near the caliber it needs to be.

i know the club will improve under him, but it's about building a winner - not just an above average club with an over abundance of secondary pieces.
- flyer_nutter

From the draft.

Who's had a better track record coaching kids out of the NCAA to the NHL than Hakstol during his 10 year career there? Jury is still very much out on Hakstol and I never really liked the 5 year term but Hextall didn't make the decision blindly.
- Baxter27

hakstol is only getting 1 mil a year so it's not that big of an issue

I personally think the Flyers are in a great position with prospects, but the problem is the casual fan wants that 1st round draft pick every year to be on the team and producing like an all-star.
- Glak18

They are, but imagine what they could do with the drafting skill/scouting picking top 5?

Flyers have a great abundance of prospects but I think it's a valid concern where the star power will come from.

The team on ice this year is a perfect example of too many players who are alright but lack that dynamic ability.

hakstol is only getting 1 mil a year so it's not that big of an issue
- 2Real

I think he's making 2 million a year.

The Penguins played games in every time zone in the course of a week. They were also missing 6 regulars from their lineup. The Flyers hopped on a bus and went 90 miles to Newark to play an AHL team.
- PLindbergh31

3 games in 4 days. Even Provorov looked gassed. Guess what, they aren't robots and I don't care what people think, players get spent physically and emotionally and have stinkers because of it. its not a lack of effort. You hope they can dig deep and win but sometimes it just doesn't happen. One thing goes wrong and it snowballs.

I don't know what the issue is with NJ but for whatever reason, the Flyers just don't match up well with them. its frustrating as hell but sorry, i don't believe for one moment they quit

I don't have a great knowledge of Flyers history outside of the last 20 years but of all the times the Flyers picked in the top 5, how many times have they acquired a player that had a dynamic impact on the franchise?

Yes but fans understandably want more. I get it. The Richards/Carter era was much more entertaining than the Hextall one has been so far.

Couturier and Scehnn though quality players have not lived up to the lofty expectations. Simmonds impact just seems to be taken for granted in terms of Holmgren acquiring and signing him to a steal of a deal. Voracek lost most of his shine the day he signed his 8.25 per year contract.
- Baxter27

You seem to be saying a lot of fans are dumb, and I agree.

You seem to be saying a lot of fans are dumb, and I agree.
- Feanor

I'm not saying they're dumb. I loved the Richards/Briere/Carter era too. But Holmgren constantly making trades/signings to support that core is what got them in the mess Hextall just dug them out of. That's not to say Holmgren didn't start that process by trading Richards and Carter in the first place. But he also made some reckless moves on his way out: Kubina, Vinny and Macdonald..almost Cleary.

You can't have it both ways. A GM can't make all the moves for the best current team he see's possible with a particular core while trying to build towards that in the future. I think Hextall is doing a fantastic job finding balance between the two. Fans have a right to have high expectations with a team like the Flyers. Unfortunately patience is required right now and a large contingent of the fan base doesn't have it.

I don't have a great knowledge of Flyers history outside of the last 20 years but of all the times the Flyers picked in the top 5, how many times have they acquired a player that had a dynamic impact on the franchise?
- Baxter27

They haven't had many top-5 picks.

Serge Bernier 1967 (5)
Mel Bridgeman 1975 (1)
Ron Sutter 1982 (4)
Mike Ricci 1990 (4)
Joni Pitkanen 2002 (4)
James Van Riemsdyk 2007 (2)


http://www.hockeydb.com/i...aft/teams/dr00007439.html

I don't have a great knowledge of Flyers history outside of the last 20 years but of all the times the Flyers picked in the top 5, how many times have they acquired a player that had a dynamic impact on the franchise?
- Baxter27

The following were players the Flyers selected in the top 5 of their given draft years:

Mel Bridgeman
Ron Sutter
Mike Ricci
Joni Pitkanen
JVR

Yes but fans understandably want more. I get it. The Richards/Carter era was much more entertaining than the Hextall one has been so far.

Couturier and Scehnn though quality players have not lived up to the lofty expectations. Simmonds impact just seems to be taken for granted in terms of Holmgren acquiring and signing him to a steal of a deal. Voracek lost most of his shine the day he signed his 8.25 per year contract.
- Baxter27

but yet Voracek has still out pointed Carter since the trade and the Flyers also have Cousins and Couturier in addition. I still make both of those trades. no remorse there. Now the JVR for Schenn trade there was remorse the moment it happened. hated giving up on him for a defensive dman. My reaction was oh cool, Schenn, nice pick. wait for who? (frank)

I didn't match.

Everything is literally terrible, and I mean it.

Hak's record to date as Flyers coach:

Metro
Rags:3-3-2
Pens: 2-5-0
Devils: 2-4-1
Isles: 5-2-1
Canes 5-2-0
Caps 3-4-1
Cbus 1-2-3

Take out Isles and Canes and this is grim.

but yet Voracek has still out pointed Carter since the trade and the Flyers also have Cousins and Couturier in addition. I still make both of those trades. no remorse there. Now the JVR for Schenn trade there was remorse the moment it happened. hated giving up on him for a defensive dman. My reaction was oh cool, Schenn, nice pick. wait for who? (frank)
- nastyflyergirl

Yes the JVR trade was also a bad move by Holmgren in his later years. I forgot to mention it above. Pretty ironic that Gudas has essentially become what we could've hoped for from Schenn.

I’m still trying to figure out how they both got out. After they kiss, his consciousness inhabits her body and her consciousness inhabits his (this is why she freaked out, like Lenny said). But how did their consciousness get restored to the correct bodies? And how did he get out? If their bodies physically transformed when they got their correct consciousness back, then that explains how David got out, but not Syd. Last we saw was Syd inside of David’s body trapped in a room with no door. I guess one of her buddies could have broken her out, assuming she was planted in the asylum to get close to David.

Someone please tell me if this gets explained, as it’s what I’m hung up on.
- jmatchett383

It wasn't real, son.

But keep watching. It will make a bit more sense.

3 games in 4 days. Even Provorov looked gassed. Guess what, they aren't robots and I don't care what people think, players get spent physically and emotionally and have stinkers because of it. its not a lack of effort. You hope they can dig deep and win but sometimes it just doesn't happen. One thing goes wrong and it snowballs.

I don't know what the issue is with NJ but for whatever reason, the Flyers just don't match up well with them. its frustrating as hell but sorry, i don't believe for one moment they quit
- nastyflyergirl

I would normally be okay with cutting them that slack under a normal regular season situation, but not with their playoff hopes hanging by thinnest of threads. They should be able to rise above that and play far more competitively.

Say the team just gives up and goes something liked 2-10 from here on in...think Hexy would pull the plug?
- jmatchett383

I would be mildly surprised but definitely not shocked. here is the thing, since under Lavy we have seen a very inconsistent team. the common denominator is what? the players. I don't think they quit but there is something not working. Obviously the defense is still an issue but they have brought in Gudas, Ghost and Provorov over the last few years. they obviously still lack size and speed. I'm going to continue to be patient as Hextall's plan is played out but I definitely want to start seeing more of the young players brought in. My feeling is Hextall is going to start doing that based on his comments after trading for Filppula when he said he didn't want longer term contracts that will block players who will be here sooner rather than later. they will be ridding themselves of contracts after this year and next so there are openings. the million dollar question is the coaching.....is Hakstol and company the right coach(es). I am on the fence still

Love his drafting.

I suppose I would just like to know where he plans on adding top tier talent from to the forward core. This team desperately needs that. This forward core with the decline of Giroux is nowhere near the caliber it needs to be.

i know the club will improve under him, but it's about building a winner - not just an above average club with an over abundance of secondary pieces.
- flyer_nutter

obviously they sure as poop need to get it right with the players they are drafting.

As far as G goes and even Ghost's struggles, I will say both have played a lot better of late so I am hoping very much that the issues were their surgeries and not being completely healed. Guess we will find out next year. In the case of Giroux, I am praying that has been the issue.

explain hakstol
- 2Real

what does that have to do with his initial post about Hextall not promoting young players for 5 years which is what I was responding to? Guess what, I don't agree with 100% of what organization do and I am on the fence with some things organizations do. I am neither 100% pro not 100% female dog fest. But maybe I should spend 10 pages on PEB and CVV and how Mason isn't Lundvist.

I'm not saying they're dumb. I loved the Richards/Briere/Carter era too. But Holmgren constantly making trades/signings to support that core is what got them in the mess Hextall just dug them out of. That's not to say Holmgren didn't start that process by trading Richards and Carter in the first place. But he also made some reckless moves on his way out: Kubina, Vinny and Macdonald..almost Cleary.

You can't have it both ways. A GM can't make all the moves for the best current team he see's possible with a particular core while trying to build towards that in the future. I think Hextall is doing a fantastic job finding balance between the two. Fans have a right to have high expectations with a team like the Flyers. Unfortunately patience is required right now and a large contingent of the fan base doesn't have it.
- Baxter27

I really thought Holmgren starting things out so well then got in that typical throw money everywhere and spend picks like candy mode which was fine in a non cap era but in a cap era it can be a disaster.

obviously they sure as poop need to get it right with the players they are drafting.

As far as G goes and even Ghost's struggles, I will say both have played a lot better of late so I am hoping very much that the issues were their surgeries and not being completely healed. Guess we will find out next year. In the case of Giroux, I am praying that has been the issue.
- nastyflyergirl

I'd be surprised if that wasn't brought up at some point, either by the press or by Hextall when he does the season postmortem.

I didn't match.
- Giroux_Is_God

Good luck, man

I didn't match.
- Giroux_Is_God

Hang in there dude

I really thought Holmgren starting things out so well then got in that typical throw money everywhere and spend picks like candy mode which was fine in a non cap era but in a cap era it can be a disaster.
- nastyflyergirl

in his defense... he was throwing money everywhere and spending picks from the start. People can criticize his long term visions but he kept fans entertained. When you're swinging for the fences like he was you're bound to strike out a few times. I still think he hit more homers.

I thought he started off things great after trading Richards and Carter as well but than he got reckless again once he saw how good the team immediately was.